I was leaving today. Being locked away at the age of eighteen. I'm not crazy, as I've explained.

I stared out of the window. The scene screamed at me, making me remember every memory. My first kiss. The time I met my friend Nudge deep in the woods. The time I fell from the swing and broke my arm.

All of it seemed so distant. Like it happened a thousand years ago.

My door was thrust open and my father walked in. He grabbed my bag off the bed and took my arm. I didn't fight it, because it was no use.

He brought me to the car, opened the door, and helped me in. My mom was sitting in the front seat beside my dad.

I stared out of the window as the familiar scenery passed by me. Maybe, if I was lucky, I'd see it all again in five years.

We pulled up to a building that I'd only seen a handful of times. The sign read "Heartlands Mental Health Rehabilitation Center."

My parents got out. I followed them willingly. When we stepped inside, the cold air hit my face like the impact of an explosion. They brought me over to a desk where this woman was sitting with, I'm guessing, her son.

She looked up and smiled. "You must be Max" she said. I stared blankly back at her. "Can I see your wrist for a second honey?"

Willingly, I streatched my arm out. She fastened a plastic bracelet onto my wrist. It read Vanessa Maximum Ride-18-Room212

"Follow me sweetie" she said. I followed her to a door with a large 212 in the middle. She unlocked it and led me in.

The walls were a light blue. On the wall, painted in big black letters was "FLY ON." There was a white curtain on the wall. A black beanbag chair sat in the corner.

"Nick and his friends painted it for you. It's not often we get someone as young as you."

I walked away and sat by the window. After a couple of seconds, the door closed and I heard the lock twist. Outside, I saw my mom's car pull away. The afternoon turned into night.

I sat on my bed and wrapped a blanket around me. Someone opened the door and walked in. "Here you go honey" the woman whispered, placing a tray of food on my table.

I ignored it and climbed into bed.

The morning sun shone through my window. My stomach grumbled but I ignored it.

The door opened and that annoying nurse came in. She sat my breakfast on the edge of my bed.

I stood up and sat by the window. It seemed so peaceful.

FOUR DAYS LATER

FANG POV

"She hasn't eaten anything since she got here" my mom said.

"What should we do" the other nurse asked.

"Well, there isn't much we can do."

I stood up and walked over to my mom. "I don't want to be rude, but can I try?"

My mom looked at me. "Sure, it's worth a try."

I took the tray from her and walked in. She was sitting by her window, staring out at the sunny sky.

"Hello, I'm Fang." She didn't turn. "I know you don't talk. That's okay. I don't think you're crazy though." She turned to stare at me.

Her brown eyes asked the question she didn't. 'You don't?'

"No. You're just misunderstood." She smiled at me.

"You need to eat Max." She shook her head.

"Please? For me?" She stared at me for a minute. Deciding I was safe, she nodded and took the tray.

"I'll come back later" I said, and walked out.

"Mission accomplished" I said to my mother.

"How?" She looked genuinely confused.

"I told her I knew she wasn't crazy. That she's just misunderstood" I said, proud of my work.

"Nick! You can't tell a mental patient stuff like that!"

"She's not mental though. She knows it, I know it, you know it, and her parents probably do too. I think they just want to get rid of her" I said.

She rolled her eyes and walked off.