Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 96: Hayden

Monday, 12:01 PM EST

I was packing what little belongings I brought with me here, trying not to wake Ren. She was zonked out when Dan pulled me into the hallway to tell me that he couldn’t sell her out last night, but that he’ll do it now and have them investigate. 

“You said she was drinking, right? And smoking?” he asked me, “They’ll do a blood test, for sure!”

I was here when I told him okay. I took one last look at her, facedown in her pillow with her hair strewn all over the place. I didn’t want to say bye to her though, so I didn’t try to wake her up.

I zoned out as soon as my name was called over the loudspeaker informing me of my mother’s arrival. Nerves overcame my body, that weird feeling in my stomach never went away, and I was just over everything.

Hugging both Dan and Frank was mindless. They both sent me off with words of encouragement that I didn’t even hear. My goodbye with Ella was mindless too, aside from a short moment of jealousy when I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame.

My goodbyes with Sarah brought me back a little. It was enough to hear her excited words as she took her filled out questionnaire from my hand. 

“I’m going to miss you a lot, Hayden!” she told me, “But now, I’ll always have this to remember you by! I love it, thank you!” 

I smiled at her and gave her a hug.

“I’m going to miss you too, little girl,” I told her, stroking her soft hair before pulling her away from me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t better to you, but things are going to get a lot better for you around-”

Loud yells interrupted me. Loud yells, screams, and then one of the nurses shoving me and Sarah apart as she rushed down the hall.

The room broke out into clamor. “What’s happening?” someone asked, panicked. “I don’t know!” another responded. 

The weird feeling in my stomach got stronger, but i had no time to think about it before a few of the nurses still in the community room demanded our attention. We could tell they were just as confused as we were.

“Hayden Gold!” my name was called over the loudspeaker. “Please make your way to Section C for pickup!” 

It was an inconvenience to the nosy nurses trying to figure out why the others were still screaming down the hall, so they rushed to get me out of there. I was lead to the two large white and blue doors all the kids here dream about walking out of one day.

But I was still curious. What happened?

I turned back as the large white doors opened, catching glimpse of the chaotic scene I’m leaving behind. 

That was my mistake. 

The nurse that shoved through me and Sarah as we said goodbye ran down the hallway with a look of terror on her face. She rushed to the group of nurses huddled around watching the kids. She intended to whisper, but failed.

“She’s not breathing!” she wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “What do we do? Serenity is not fucking breathing!” 

I knew why I had that feeling in my stomach. I remembered what it was that I forgot... Dane's drugs.

The doors shut. 

The big white doors… my heart’s doors… my mind’s doors…

Everything just shut, leaving me in the dark.