OCD // h.s short story

m a k e a w i s h

The VHS that he watched three times a day broke.

He didn’t figure out that it was broken until he stuck it in, and all that showed up was a fuzzy screen. His lip quivered, calling for his sister.

“Gemma!”

She ran down the stairs to see her little brother sitting on the couch with watery eyes.

“What’s wrong, Harry?” She asked, sitting down next to him. She made sure she didn’t get too close, she knew Harry would run to the showers if she touched him when he didn’t want to be touched.

“It broke.” He replied, pointing to the TV screen. Gemma looked at the screen, sighing.

“We can get it fixed though.” She said. She smiled to try to reassure him, but it just made him more upset. The only thing that was running through his mind was how it was broke.

“It won’t be the same.” He wailed, tears pouring down his cheeks. And yeah, he was right. It wouldn’t be the same. The picture of his sixth birthday, his mother picking him up so he could reach to blow the candles out, wouldn’t be a little fuzzy, but a perfect picture. He didn’t want that. He wanted the little fuzz that covered his mom’s face, while she smiled. He didn’t want to see her face perfectly. He didn’t want to know what she looked like exactly before she left.

He was fifteen when he was taken to a doctor (and his mom left). Apparently, counting every sentence in every paragraph in the book you’re reading isn’t normal. Or color coating your food at dinner. Or washing your hands and locking the door twenty-five times a day. But that’s not the point.

Gemma stared at Harry. She felt like a lost parent, watching their child in pain, but not being able to do anything about it besides comforting them. Harry wasn’t too big on the comforting thing though.

“You can watch a different one, H.” She said. He shook his head, him arms flying out in front of him. Gemma sighed, again, reaching out to him. Pulling him closer and whispering in his ear comfort words. He started calming down after an hour. “Okay, Harry. Are you okay now?” Gemma asked. Harry nodded. “I’m going to take the VHS to get fixed. Alright? I’ll be back.” she said.

“But Gemma.” He said, desperate. He doesn’t like being alone.

“I know. I’ll- I’ll get someone to watch you. Hold on.” She walked out the front door, going across the hall, knocking on the neighbor’s door.

A girl with long, brown hair answered the door, rubbing her eyes.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked, yawning.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you? I just really need someone to watch my brother for me.” Gemma said. She felt ridiculous asking a stranger to watch her nineteen year old brother, but it had to be done.

“Oh, uh. Yeah, okay. I mean, alright. Any rules I need to follow?” she asked, stepping out of her apartment.