Sane or Insane | ✔

I. Glimpse Of Her World

LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON
October 7th, 2019

Lorraine absentmindedly twiddled her thumbs and bit her lower lip, trying her best to suppress an excited squeal. "Am I daydreaming?" She wondered as she pinched the back of her hands, assuring herself that it is not one of her daydreams.

"Oh, man." A small smile crept in her face as the realization hits her. "It's all real!" She rejoiced, her face beaming with light. "Mom, Dad." Lorraine held her breath and nervously played with the spoon.

Paul and Freeda stopped eating and stared at their daughter, confusion written all over their faces. "What is it, Honey?" Her mother asked.

Lorraine met her parents' confused gaze and enthusiastically nodded at them. "I did it," She hopped off the chair and happily skipped towards them, extending the phone to her mother. "I... I can't believe it!" Lorraine ran her sweaty palms through her shorts and chuckled. 

Lorraine excitedly watched her parents' eyes moved from left to right as they read the message carefully. She felt her body tremble with adrenaline, her heart pounding with tension, and her eyes teary with gladness as satisfaction wrapped her in its arms like a warm blanket.

Warm and Welcoming.

"I succeeded," She whispered to herself, feeling odd. She played this scenario in her head for a million times but still, it made her feel strange. Perhaps it's because no matter how many times she visualized this certain moment, she never truly believed that it would happen.

She thought it would remain nothing but a silly little daydream forever, but she proved herself wrong.

"Oh, honey!" Her mother chimed, interrupting her train of thoughts. She held both her hands and gently squeezed it. "I'm very proud of you!" Her mother cupped her cheeks and leaned forward, kissing her forehead.

"Mm-hmm," Lorraine chuckled. "I know, Mom." She rested her palm on top of her mother's hand and smiled.

"I guess I should stop calling you 'Honey' and start calling you Ms. Psychiatrist." Her mother joked, making Lorraine snort.

"Nah-uh," Lorraine shook her head and gently removed her mother's hand against her cheeks. "That's much worse, Mom."

"Yeah," Her mother bit her lower lip and stifled a laugh. "I know, I love it---"

"Wait," Her father cut them off, his voice stern and concerned. "Let me be clear---" He stood in front of Lorraine and stared at her with a straight face. "You're assigned to the Vurmingham Asylum?" He pointed the phone and raised a brow at her. "As in the one for the criminally insane scumbags?" His father stared at her as if she said something ridiculous. "Please, tell me you're joking, Kiddo." Her father huffed and puffed like a child, his hands resting on his hip.

"Umm," Lorraine worriedly looked at her mother and expected her to say something but she simply shrugged. "What-what's wrong, Dad?" She asked, locking eyes with her father. "It's not so bad, is it?" Lorraine let out an awkward chuckle as she observed his expression and body language.

"What's bothering him so much?" She wondered, staring at him skeptically.

Paul straightened his posture and clenched his jaw; almost as though he's asserting superiority and miserably failing at it. "Seriously, Dad?" She thought to herself as she stared at him, his muscles are tensed and expression's cold.