Decalcomania

Pt2

         I shared a room with my mate Olivia, the room smelled nice, perfectly organized and decorated. The room contained two small beds, neatly made, two straight-backed chairs, a washstand, a bureau without any mirror and a small cabinet. Near one of the beds, there were dormer windows and had no drapery curtains, it was facing the building directly. You can clearly see the yard and the windows of the patients' rooms.

Olivia peacefully fell asleep while I grabbed a book and I plopped myself down on the bed right underneath my window, the rain was pouring gracefully outside, gently tapping against the windows and bringing soothing sounds to my soul. I have always loved rainy days like these, so calm and warm, like a natural melody every bit as beautiful as a mother's soulful hum. Speaking of mothers, my mother loved this atmosphere too. she used to make us hot chocolate with whipped cream and small glittery marshmallows. I suddenly craved some.

I watched the rain splashing outside until my eyes fell on the building, all the windows were closed except one window, I gazed closely but it wasn't really clear since the sheets of the rain poured heavily each second. That's odd, why would they leave the window open, it must be really cold outside and whoever is in that room, he will catch a fever. Then it hit me, the room must be in the dissociative disorders corridor, and there is a patient there, how can they be so careless and ignorant. I kept staring at that window until the rain slowed down and the moon made its appearance on the night sky. it hung like a great luminous pearl on the radiant breast of heaven. the moonlight splashed down its watery white-silver glow onto the place. Like the heavens above wanted me to see something, but what can it be!

"Elyse, close the window, it is cold!" Olivia mumbled and snuggled onto her blanket. I nodded lightly and closed the window, still feeling restless about whoever was in that room. "Turn the light off!" again she mumbled, I signed and took one last glance at the window before turning off the light and drift to sleep. And again, just like every single night, I was chained in the darkness of that nightmare, it was always the same, me hiding under the dining table, watching the masked man walking closer with the knife, making sweeping movements to a music only he could hear. He would be closer, then further away and then closer again. whispering my name in the most possessive way you could ever hear, he wanted me, No, he wanted my soul instead. I can see her as well, on the floor, the blood flowed thickly from her body, It came as a red fountain to spread over the already wet floor. She locked her eyes with mine, begging me to stay safe and hidden. But I couldn't ...

My eyes shoot open as if it's an emergency, as if sleeping had become a dangerous thing, my heart skipped a beat and few drops of sweat beaded on my forehead, I could feel them trickling slowly. I blinked, closed my eyes, and blinked again. the nightmare is gone and I'm back to reality again, I sighed deeply and lowered my head, feeling drops of new liquid other than sweat, streaming down my face, tears, I hated that man and I hated that nightmare. I sat up, dragged my feet off the bed, and rubbed my knuckles onto my eyes. but then, my legs suddenly weakened, It started with a cough that seemed to be centered in my throat because there is no air getting into my lungs, very shortly thereafter, the coughing stopped and I started to wheeze. It got harder to breathe and my chest started to hurt, It feels like what little air there is in the room is being vacuumed out and I can't get any of it in my lungs. I looked at Olivia who was peacefully sleeping and I tried to call out for help but I couldn't, my voice was gone, along with my breath. It happened before, in fact, it happens always. I slowly managed to reach my bag and get my Asthma inhaler out, I pushed it into my mouth and inhaled the air I needed, my body relaxed at the arrival of the air to my lungs and I slowly threw my body on the ground. It felt terrible just like every time, these attacks never stop.

"You are awake already!" her sleepy voice interrupted my dark thoughts. I chuckled and nodded, "we need to be there on time, it's our first day!" I weakly said. I took a refreshing shower, the sensation of the steamy water calms me, it takes my mind off things. All the things I honestly don't care about and all the things I can never get out of my head. I usually like to spend more time in the shower, but today I had to finish and go to meet my patient, the woman I will be taking care of.

I stepped out of the bathroom and dressed in a floral maple syrup corduroy A-Line miniskirt, brown mahogany pintuck lace cotton blouse and crepe suede Lenor boot. Lastly, I styled my hair to a simple messy bun and put on some make up. I don't know if I'm ready or not, but I know this is what I want to do, this job means a lot to me, I want to make her proud, I want to make my dear mother proud. I remember how I used to accompany her to her cabin, she dedicated her soul to her patients and I want to do just the same. We walked inside the building, again the hit of terror punched me on my stomach. The darkness and the sounds, it scared me. "Good morning" Stephan appeared from nowhere, still the same expressionless face and same clothes. "your patients are waiting for you!" he announced and handed us some files and keys, everyone nodded and head on their ways. Alexander and I walked together to the dissociative disorders corridor since we both have dissociative patients.

"Room 400!" Alexander said the moment he laid his eyes on the door, "I shall be going!" he smiled and walked to where his patient was. I, myself also walked searching for the room I'm supposed to work in. as I walked on the corridor I noticed Miss Layla, standing next to one of the doors, she peeked from the small glass panel of the door, completely focused at whatever she was stalking that didn't seem to notice me at all. I wondered what was she watching with all that joy on her face, like she was staring at some type of magic, the dirty smirk on her face was too visible to be unnoticed.

"Good morning!" I said, louder enough to have her attention on me, she shivered at the sound of my voice and immediately turned around, "Oh, it's you!" she raised her eyebrows, "you are supposed to be in your patient's room by now." Her eyes scanned me up and down, I could tell how much she disliked me, and I felt the same to be honest, there was something odd about her, her attitude and her actions just irritated me. I nodded and walked away before she surprisingly grab my wrist, "Just follow the rules and stay on the line!" she blurted out, her tone full of venom and arrogance. "best of luck" she chuckled, already turning to leave. Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked away, leaving me standing there, cursing under my breath.

"Mum!!" I immediately stopped on my track as soon as the voice crossed my ears, my body felt numb for a moment, the voice was so soft and husky, I don't know if this mixture can ever be, but I really heard it. I took a step closer to the door, debating my own head if I should peek from the small glass panel or not.

"Mum! Don't hurt me, please!" it came out as sobthis time, louder than the previous one. My heart suddenly became too heavy andevery part of me went on pause while my thoughts spread all over the place. Iput my shaky hand gently on the cold metal door and faced the panel. A coldshiver ran down my spine the moment my curious eyes met a figure of a malelying on a metal bed, his hand was hanging on the side of the bed. I couldn'tsee his face clearly because of the light, it barely touched his features."Don't hurt us!" he screamed. His chest rose repeatedly, like he was havingtrouble breathing, his head moved left and right, he was having a nightmare. Mybody shivered at his voice and my lips parted, I tried to say something,anything, but the corridor was terribly empty, and I didn't know who should Icall for help. I was afraid to interfere since I had no idea about his illnessor why was he there, let alone, the door was closed and I had no keys to getin. "Hey, it's alright!" I gently called out, lightly knocking on the door, "nobodycan hurt you!" my voice came out softer than before. I watched him closely, nottaking my eyes off his frame, his chest cooled down a little bit and his headfell on the side. "You are safe!" I whispered. I felt the urge to stroke hishair but ...