The Self-Harmed

~Sleep Tight~

Clara and I walked to the showers in silence. I could tell she wanted to say something but she was working up the courage. Finally she sighed.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"I needed your help." I set my things down on a bench in front of the shower I was going to use. "And you didn't want to. Friends help each other, and you didn't want to help me."

"Just remember Charlie." She lifted up her shirt to show her sticking out ribs. "Not every suicide note looks like one."

She dropped her shirt, grabbed her things and left. A couple seconds later I heard a shower on the other side of the lockers turn on, and then she started humming. I sighed stripped off my clothes and then turned on the shower.

"Today, "Mr. Pepper said, "We're going to do a project about nature. This Saturday we're going to take a field trip to the park, Simmer down! Once we're at the park You'll be set free, with your partner and you'll take pictures of what you think your pictures should be of. You're partners will be based on the same grade range. So Ryder and Charlie will be partners."

Yippy. Because of course that was just the thing to do. Everyone looked to the right front half of the room at Ryder's head, then to the back where I sat.

"I'm going to give you the rest of the class to talk with your partners. " Mr. Pepper said, after he paired the rest of the class. "There has to be a total of Twelve photos. So keep it down, and go see your partners."

Everyone got up and made their way to their partners. Ryder looked back and I looked out the window. He pulled out the empty chair next to me, and sat down.

"I've been in here for two years, so you'll have to show me where all the good spots are."

"I have a better idea. You take six pictures of flowers and bugs, and I'll do the rest."

"You're still mad."

"Stop talking to me, before I make you depressed."

"We're partners, you have no choice but to talk to me."

"Oh yeah?" I smirked.

I grabbed my things and left the class room.

"Uh Charlie?"

"I have to throw up." I told Mr. Pepper as I passed.

I just turned the corner and I heard the door open and then pounding feet. I plastered myself against the wall, as Ryder ran past me into the first girls bathroom in the hall.

I rolled my eyes and I went to my room. The door was knocked on and then it opened.
"Hi Charlie." Ms. Sammie said. "Mr. Pepper said that you weren't feeling well. Is everything alright?"

"Yes. I'm just having trouble with one of the students in my class."

"Do you need to tell someone? Who's the student?"

"It's that Ryder Nicks kid."

"Ah." She nodded. "I'll have Maggie talk to him. That's his nurse. Do you need someone to talk to? I could see if your Doctor is open."

"I'm tired. I think I'll take a nap."

"Alright, if there's anything I can do for you, let me know. Coming to a recovery unit out of the blue can be hard on some people. How are you sleeping at night?"

"Horrible. I barely sleep, and I always wake up with purple baggy eyes."

"Are you taking your sleeping pills?"

"I get sleeping pills?"

"Oh dear."

"What?"

She reached into her apron and gave me a bottle of pills.

"Don't worry," I took the bottle. "I won't tell."

"Good." She smiled. "I could lose my job."

She left the room and I popped the top. What kind of nurse give a bottle of sleeping pills to a crazy kid? I poured some onto my hand. Working up the courage I pushed the small pills around my palm with my fingers. Is this really it? Yes. It's time.

"Oh well." I raised my hand in a salute,  "See you on the flip side, Owen."

I dumped in the pills and took a drink of my water. I took another hand full and tossed the blanket over my head. And then I was dreaming.