A White Room

Chapter 2

It wasn't to long after and Chris got a phone call. Asking him to come back in and visit Chandler again. Chris wasn't going to say no. He was waiting for the call.

So, the day came and Chris walked to the psyche ward and up to Chandler's room. He walked in.

Once again, Chandler was laying on the padded floor, but practically jumped to a sitting position when he heard the door. "Chris!"

"Hey Chan. You actually behaved."

"Talking to you is honestly the most entertainment I've had in 2 years. So yea. I behaved, so I wouldn't be bored."

"I mean that's fair," chuckled Chris. There was a pause. Chandler was just looking at Chris and Chris wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Chris, you know what's wrong with me... But what's wrong with you? Not everybody is willing to walk into a psyche ward. And most people aren't willing to walk into a room where they know someone prone to violence is in. So what gives?"

Chris sighed, "I'm not sure. I'm sure there's something. Not sure what, " He fixed his long sleeves. "What's it like in a straight jacket all day?"

"My shoulders ache," Chandler said. He was annoyed. Chris avoided his question. "Why won't you answer my question?"

Silence followed. Chris didn't need Chandler worrying about him on top of everything else. "I don't want you worrying Chandler."

"Well I'll worry either way. Might as well tell."

"You're stubborn."

"Not always. I usually give into shit pretty damn easily. But, ya know, this is something important," Chandler said. Keeping his dark brown eyes locked in on Chris' blue eyes. Chris quickly tore his eyes away.

"Important? No. You got the wrong man. I've got nothing big going on."

"So you've got something going on. Tell me Chris."

Chris looked at Chandler, why did he feel like he could trust this guy. Chandler and him only met because Chris volunteered to talk to a person in a mental hospital. And for some reason, Chris feels like he can trust Chandler. He feels like he has known Chandler longer than the day he has.

"Come on Chris! Tell me! I'll keep the secret," Chandler pressured.

"Will you?"

"I will. Promise."

Chris sighed. "Fine."

"So, what's going on Chris? Tell me your secrets," Chandler smirked. He had more than curiosity to blame for asking. He wanted to know if Chris was like him. Insane.

"Where to start..." Chris had no clue what he could say, there was a long list. But after Chandler staring at him for a few frozen moments, Chris started to speak, "I was diagnosed with depression 4 years ago, after I self harmed for two years," Chris pulled up his sleeves to show scars.

"Those aren't all self harm scars," Chandler mentioned, he wasn't dumb. He knows the scar from needles when he sees it.

"Yea. They aren't. Had a few years of rough time. Ended up with a drug addiction. I've kicked it but, the scars still remain." Chandler nodded, listening closely. A drug addiction and depression weren't insanity but they definitely meant he was a different type of person.

"Thank you for telling me Chris."

"Yeah...fair is fair right?" Chris said, fixing his sleeves. Falling silent.

"Right." Chandler said, he felt like he was being grabbed. He hates that. The dumb hallucinations. The bullshit that got him thrown into a empty white room.

"Are you okay Chan?" Chris asked softly.

"Hallucinations. Shitty and useless hallucinations," Chandler growled out.

"Oh. Anyway I could help?"

"Talk with me...tell.me more about what was going on. Why you started to self harm." Chandler mumbled softly.

Chris paused, but he wanted to help Chandler, so he started talking. He talked about how it started due to his girlfriend of 3 years breaking up with him, he fell into a depression. Chris talked about how he jumped between people, boys and girls both. He spoke about how he found the drugs he became addicted to, through a friend who left once things got bad.

Chandler listened, focusing on every word. And he realized, Chris is insane. Just in a different way. Chris doesn't feel things that aren't there, he doesn't attack things that threaten him, Chris is insane for having people hurt him and still wanting to let people in. Eventually Chris's voice trailed off. Silence fell. But it was comfortable.

Slowly Chris moved to sit on the floor like Chandler was. Chandler slowly moved to sit closer to Chris. They both were calm and quiet.

Chandler wanted to reach out and hold Chris' hand, but Chandler was restrained. "Next time," Chandler mumbled, "I wanna be allowed to not have my jacket on."