Wrong

•12•

⚠ Conversion therapy ⚠

*Eddie's POV*

I woke up the next morning feeling scared and sore. My body aches after everything Dan's done this past week. And I'm terrified about being left alone in this cramped closet, with no light except for the tiny sliver coming from under the door.

I look over and notice a glass of water next to me. Dan must've brought it in when I was sleeping. He's being a douche right now, but he's smart. A person can only go 3 days without drinking, so he's giving me water. But no food, as people can go 3 weeks without eating.

I took a small sip of the drink, slightly soothing the burning sensation on my neck. I don't have to look in a mirror to know that it's bruised. I can still feel his grip, firm and deadly. I thought I was actually going to die...

But Dan would never hurt me that badly where I could die. He loves me so much, I know it. But I need to learn my lesson because I keep messing up.

A faint pounding started me. It sounded like it was coming from downstairs, but Dan already left for work. He leaves at 5:30 AM every morning, so by the time I wake up every day, he's already gone.

"Eddie, are you home?" a voice called. Stan. He can't be here. He'll see me and judge me even more than he already is.

"Spaghetti Man, we just wanna talk!" Richie's here too. I still can't believe he told Stan... "Please let us in?"

I honestly wish I could. Maybe then, they could see how bad it's gotten with Dan. How he's forcing me to stay locked in a CLOSET. Kinda like how my mom did, metaphorically.

I never told the Losers WHY my mom gave me the "gazebos". They just thought she was crazy. But I know the real reason...

They were supposed to fix me. I came out to her in 7th grade. She didn't accept it, telling me that being gay is a sin. She's not even that religious, but she still told me that it's "against the word of God".

So every day, she forced 9 pills down my throat. And 3 times a week, I would see a doctor, Dr. Hartley. He would tell me that I was wrong, all that bullcrap. I knew that they were wrong, but that didn't help the "treatments".

One time, it got bad, really bad. I had doodled a picture of Richie and I in my notebook. In the drawing, I was curled up in his arms and he was kissing my forehead.

My mom found it, but luckily she didn't realize it was Richie. All she cared about was that it me with another guy.

She took me to Dr. Hartley, who gave me a large, blue pill. I swallowed it dry, thinking it was just another gazebo. But I started to feel tired and dizzy. Dr. H led me into a back room I'd never been in before. There was a large machine in the room and a small bed.

I wandered onto the bed, feeling like maybe a nap would help me. But I couldn't fall asleep.

I felt restraints being tied to my wrists and ankles, but I didn't think much of it. I felt too tired to think. Dr. Hartley put something in my mouth and told me to bite down if I needed to.

He hooked up two rods to my head and started asking me questions. Even though I was drugged up, I still remember everything he said to me.

"So, Edward. You haven't stopped your feelings towards people of the same gender?"

I shook my head, unable to speak because of the thing in my mouth. I suddenly felt a sharp, almost electric pain in my head, but I didn't pay too much attention to it. It's probably just a headache because of the meds.

"Do you have feelings for people of the opposite gender?" Dr. H asked with hope in his voice. I spit out the rubber thing in my mouth.

"Nah man, I'm hella gay." I said and laughed. Dr. H frowned and shoved the thing back into my mouth. I felt another shock go through my head, more painful that the last one. I started to think that maybe that wasn't a headache...

This kept happening for a while. I would go to therapy to talk once a day, and on Wednesday night, I would get shocked. But I never told any of the Losers. They would've just looked at me like I was a wounded puppy, and that would hurt more than keeping a secret.

So yeah. My mom metaphorically kept me in the closet and Dan physically kept me in a closet. It's kinda funny if you think about it, I guess.

"Eds c'mon, open the door! I'm sorry, just please let us in!" Richie called out. I had almost forgotten they were here.

"Richie, I don't think he's home." Stan sighed.

"He's supposed to be home at this hour...but I guess you're right. We'll come back later."

There was a short pause, then I could hear a car starting up and driving away.

*Richie's POV*

"Stan he was SUPPOSED to be home! What if Dan did something to him?!" My worried voice filled the car as we started driving away.

"I'm sure nothing happened Richie. He's probably just asleep, or shopping, or out doing something with Dan."

"I guess you're right... I'm just worried about him."

"Obviously," Stan chuckled. "You've been in love with him for forever." I shoved Stan, feeling my face heat up.

We kept laughing and joking for the rest of the car ride. But there was still this nagging voice that's telling me Eddie isn't ok. And I'm really starting to believe it.