Unfathomable

Melissa

It was raining on her last day at the hospital. The social worker walked Riley out to her small Ford Pinto holding a black umbrella over her throbbing head. The rain lightly hit
against the umbrella as she stepped into the car and latched her seatbelt. The car came to life and rolled out of the parking lot and into a road filled with trees and beautiful scenery. She was going to get help, because she deserves better, is what the social worker said.

     She noticed two raindrops sitting next to each other and started to cascade down the window together. She pictured them racing like she would do as a child. She stared at them and saw them merge into one and a smile touched her cracked lips.

They rolled over hills and through forgettable cities on their journey to Riley's new home.  She couldn't help but be afraid. Her mind had put a blockade on her memories from Taylorsville and she knew it was because of something terrible that happened there. During the car ride she couldn't figure out what to focus on so she wouldn't get car sick. She looked at the analog clock that sat on the dashboard.

Watching as the small hands cascaded under the glass. She thought about the little gears inside of the clock and how that if just one was missing or forgotten the entire thing would fall apart. 

    Not wanting her mind to go down a rabbit hole she shifted her gaze to the social worker. She was a short round woman with a pinched face. She wore basic clothes and had a hairstyle from the 80's. She saw that she was wearing a name badge and realized  that she had forgotten what her name was.

Trying not to be awkward she leaned forward in her seat and reached for the water bottle under her feet. She glazed at the name on the ID badge 

Melissa day. 

Oh yeah thats what her name was. I don't know why I forgot that. 

Riley started to think of something to start up a conversation between them so the car wasn't awkward and quiet. Riley hates when it's too quiet. She can hear her heartbeat in her ears and becomes too focused on her breathing. 

    Clearing her throat Melissa opened her mouth to say something then shut it again. She didn know what to say to this poor girl. She had been in this field of work for years and every time she sees something like this it takes a little piece of her soul. She was so young when her father died and after that her mother just went downhill. It's always harder on the kids when they get older because they understand the situation. They know what their parents are doing and more than half the time they always blame themselves. They take on the guilt that their parents have and it interalizes inside of them. It eats away at their mental state taking their innocence bit by bit until they can't take it anymore and they try to take themselves out of their parents life to try and make it easier on them. Luckily this little girl was saved and she's going to get help.

    Riley stared out the window and watched the scenery pass by like an old VHS tape being played forward. She wished she could make it go in reverse. If she could take it all the way back to when her father died maybe she could have done something about it. Maybe she wouldn't be in this situation at all. She was about to go down the rabbit hole of thought when Melissa cleared her throat again after finding the words to say.

¨So, Riley, um I think you are really going to like it up at Taylorsville. They say that almost everyone that goes there comes out a brand new person.¨ 

Riley could hear her say it with a smile and knew she meant well but hated her for making it seem like this was a good thing that happened.

¨Yeah. I should know, this is my second time coming here. I am really hoping that it's a short stay and the last time I ever go there.¨ Riley started with a little bit of fire under her tongue. 

It's not like it's her fault you're in this mess. You are the one who put yourself in this situation. You had to go and gouge out half your fucking arm and for what? To get back at your mother who was just coping with something in her own way? What kind of sick person are you to have an attitude with someone who just wants you to get better?

    Is this how you would have treated your dad if he tried to help you?

Riley shook her head as fresh tears stung her eyes. It seemed she had been crying a lot more recently and she didn like it. It made her feel weak and vulnerable. She was always the strong one in the house after dad was gone. She did everything while her mother was in rehab and even when she got out it's not like she could help around the house without complaining. 

Rileys irritation grew more as the road went on. She couldn't pinpoint what exactly she was angry about but it seemed like everything. She couldn't help but notice everything in the car that was just pissing her off. Especially the way the lady who is blind to when a child is hurting is breathing! She sighed loudly indicatacating her irritation. Melissa rolled her eyes and pulled over. Riley looked at her confused.

"Why are you pulling over?"

"It looks like you need to relax." Her tone was darker than before and Riley got an uneasy feeling.

She suddenly felt like she needed to get out of that car immediately.
Melissa caught her arm as she reached for the door.
"You're not going anywhere."

Melissa reached behind her and pulled out a small syringe full of a dark liquid.

Riley started screaming in fear. 

What's happening! What Is this crazy bitch doing! She's going to kill me.

Maybe you should let her.

"NO!"

She screamed at the voice in her head. Melissa took this chance and dug the needle into Rileys arm and let her go.
She already felt dizzy.

"What did you put in me?" she asked as her psyche went in and out of consciousness.

"Just something to put you at ease Riley. You won't know how to get out of there if you don't know the way back, now will you?" she said as kindly as she possibly could.

Riley stared at her in fear as she lost consciousness.

What's going to happen to me?

Her last waking thought resonated with her.