Sane

5

I rolled back over in the bed, wanting nothing more than to just try and sleep my worries away. I know in the long run it probably isn't a good idea, but I barely have the energy to think and I feel exhausted. My mind has been filled with nothing but more and more questions, with a hint of wishing about getting out of here in the back of it.
I'm trapped, and until I try and find a way out there's nothing I can do about it.

After what seems like forever, I heard the door open and someone step inside the quiet room.
The sound of Dr. Dean clearing out his throat resonated in the room and I recoiled at the idea of having to look at his face.

"Miss Camp, may I ask why you're still dressed in the clothes you came in with?" His voice was high pitched, giving off plenty of sarcasm.

"Im not wearing your bullsh*t clothes if that's what your asking." I rolled my eyes as I spoke, even if he couldn't see it.

"And why's that may I ask?" At this point I wanted to punch him square in his jaw.

"Why wear something from here when I don't even belong here. " My voice was harsh, that's what I wanted.

He just hummed, placing more items on the desk the same color of the clothes. Probably more of them.

"I assure you, you'll want to wear these..."

I turned around and looked at him, my eyes squinted the slightest.

"What are you getting at." It wasn't a question, I demanded an answer.
A small smirk graced his chapped lips.

"Ohhhh well let's see. Hmmmmm, maybe I could get security to hold you down and we can force you to wear them. Trust me, that's always an option." He quirked an eyebrow, feeling satisfaction in knowing my blood was boiling.

"Oh, an by the way you should go to your group meetings. I think their very beneficial for all of our patients here."

"Maybe I could if the damn doors weren't locked." I cocked my head, attitude lacing my voice.

He chuckled, shaking his head in the progress.
"Silly girl, there's a button over here that you push, the woman at the front desk will see a camera of your room and see why you want to get out, if she feels you have reason then she'll unlock your door with her button. It's our... latest security method."

Great...I have to push a damn button to get out.
I scoffed, he's got to be kidding me.

"You can't be serious. Your basically holding me captive here!" I almost shouted getting myself all worked up.

" Oh I'm very serious." His tone got darker, deeper.

"It's best if you just accept it, it isn't so bad after all." He hummed in satisfaction before making his way out the door.

My breathing was heavy, and the idea of throwing something against a wall was very appealing.
I needed something, just something to get my anger out.

This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

I chanted into my head.

How is this even fair? What did I do to deserve this?

Tears threatened to grace my waterline as everything that pathetic excuse of a doctor told me rippled through my mind.

No, I'm not going to cry.

C'mon Destiny you're stronger than that don't you dare waste anymore tears on this place.

I nodded to myself, closed my eyes and tilted my head at the ceiling. I tried my hardest to block out everything out and think about something other than me being forced to stay here.

"Destiny baby, what's wrong?" I didn't reply I just shook my head in protest. Momma always knew when something was wrong with me no matter what.
Sob after sob racked through me, convulsing my little chest each time one was uttered from my lips.

"Oh baby." She grabbed me and placed me on her floral dress covered lap, the smell of coconut and Shea butter gracing my senses and I leaned into her and silently continued shedding tears.

"Destiny I need to know what happened." Her voice was still soft, just a little deeper. Momma always had a deeper voice compared to my friend's mom's. She spoke proud and confident, like nothing in the world could hurt or touch her.

She placed her hand on my messy mop of curly chestnut hair, and gently ran her hands through it the best she could. The feeling alone made me feel better already. Of course she already knew that, it always worked before.
Once my sobs were hushed and the only tears that were left were soaked into her dress, she leaned back and tilted my head up.

"Now tell me Destiny, what happened."

My lips quivered but I still managed to express my distress.

"T-to-today at-t school-" a small cry escaped my lips as my breathing picked up again.

"Breath baby." Momma hushed me lightly. She ran her hand gently through my hair again encouraging me to continue.

"T-today at s-school w-wendy was braidin' J-Jenny and Maya's h-hair and I asked her to b-braid my hair and she said you can't braid hair like mine and it's meant to look messy all the time and everyone l-laughed." My lips began quivering again and new tears yearned to be shed.
She smiled lightly and shook her head.

"Destiny Camp what have I told you?"  I looked down wanting to avoid her stare.
I wanted to answer her, but my voice deemed it unfit and I feared a cry would erupt from my lips.

"Destiny..." I shook my head, the humiliation from their laughing still echoed in my mind and I desperately wished it away.

Momma sighed and spoke loud and firm.
"Destiny listen to me..." I looked into her dark shiny orbs, my lips still quivering.

"You are a very smart and beautiful girl Destiny. You are very educated for your age and that's the difference between you and them. Just because they have their opinion on something doesn't necessarily make it true. Be smart Destiny...out-educate them and make them look ignorant."

I listened hard to everything she was saying and copied it the best of of ability into the back of my mind.
The very next day I walked into the building with two beautiful and identical Dutch braids, each having a small bright colored accessory at the bottom to hold them into place. Multiple girls with my hair type asked me to braid their hair to which I told them about my momma's hair styling skills.
After that day my mom got a hobby of doing hair for free and I got a new set of more empathetic friends.

"Dr. Dean and security needed in A-wing please. I repeat Dr. Dean and security needed in A-wing promptly."

I opened my mouth and tilted my head back down, seething at the intercom for interrupting my much needed thoughts.
I sighed and closed my eyes for a second before snapping them open.
If I want to get out of here I'm gonna need to think everything through and make a plan.
A small smile of hope made it way to my lips but didn't fully exceed what it felt like inside.

Alright Destiny. It's time to outsmart them.