The Rush
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Chapter 8
"Why don't you have a seat Mr. Mitchell." a beautiful woman gestured to a upholstered chair on the opposite side of her desk, "I am Doctor Ingrid Collins."
"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Collins." Logan smiled politely, taking the proffered seat.
"Let's see here." Dr. Collins said, clearing her throat and reading over Logan's file, "It says that your mother found you hanging in your bedroom. You tried to commit suicide."
"Yeah." Logan admitted, blushing.
"What brought you here?" she inquired, looking up at Logan, "What brought you to this situation?"
"It just got to be too much." Logan replied, "My life was falling apart and I just couldn't handle it anymore. I didn't want to handle it."
"That's a very honest answer." Dr. Collins applauded, "You are clearly quite an intelligent boy, so it makes it even more surprising that you would be sitting here after trying to commit suicide."
"Sometimes intelligent boys end up in these types of situations." Logan sighed, "Honestly, I can't believe that things spiraled out of control like they did."
"Maybe there was something else?" Dr. Collins asked, "Being the son of Ted Mitchell can't be easy. He is one of the most powerful lawyers in Minnesota, and a city councilman. It's no secret that he demands perfections. However, your grades are perfect and you are very involved in the community."
"I didn't think I had to tell you everything." Logan pointed out, "You're really pressuring me."
"Ordinarily you wouldn't have to." Dr. Collins replied, "However, this meeting is to decide the next course of treatment for you or to decide if you're well enough to end the suicide watch."
"I see." Logan gulped, "I guess I'm not doing very well."
"Logan, I am worried for you." Dr. Collins admitted, "I honestly don't think that ending the suicide watch is a good idea. Talking to you now, it wouldn't surprise me to see you back here in a few months or less."
"I'm not going to try to kill myself again!" Logan exclaimed, "I just want to go home."
"I am afraid that isn't possible." Dr. Collins frowned, "I am recommending an addition 24 hours of observation just to be on the safe side. You will be placed into the treatment wing of the hospital where you will participate in group therapy sessions as well as individual counsoling."
"Fine." Logan rolled his eyes, accepting defeat.
"If you go out that door," Dr. Collins stood up and handed Logan a sheet of paper, "and give this to the secretary, you will be all set. I'll call the Psychiatric Wing to make sure they have a room ready for you."
"Great." Logan moaned as he slumped out the door.
Ten minutes later, two very large, muscular men were leading Logan down the residential corridor to a large wooden door with a small thick window. One of the men pulled a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door. The other man opened it, and gestured for Logan to step inside. With a look of pure desperation on his face, Logan sighed deeply and walked into the room.
The room was small, painted entirely white and without windows. Against the wall were two beds and on one of the beds was a boy who looked to be about Logan's age. He was a couple inches taller than Logan, with wavy black hair and pale skin with the barest trace of caramel. Logan noticed that this boy had a prominent jawline, dark red lips, and the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen. Looking down, Logan could see that the boy was reading the bible.
"You must be the new guy." the boy said with an accent that Logan couldn't trace, "I am Peter, it's nice to meet you."
"I'm Logan." Logan replied without emotion, "It's nice to meet you too."
"What brings you here?" Peter inquired, "If I can know, of course."
"I tried to hang myself." Logan answered bluntly, "What about you? And what's up with that bible?"
"I find when life takes a darker turn, that my faith always helps me find my way back to the light." Peter smiled, "My parents are having my observed because of some anxiety problems. Sometimes, when I am feeling tense the prayer helps me find my center."
"I never thought it of it that way." Logan replied as he sat down on the empty bed, "I guess it must be nice to have something to turn to when you're feeling like you're going crazy. I wish I did."
"Can't you turn to your friends?" Peter asked.
"They all deserted me." Logan frowned, "My friend realized that I had a crush on him, and so he cut me out of his life. My other two friends did the same."
"You're gay?" Peter raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?" Logan clenched his jaw, and narrowed his eyes.
"Not at all." Peter chuckled, "I am too. That's another reason my parents had me sent here."
"They found out you were gay and put you in a mental hospital!" Logan's eyes become wide.
"Nope." Peter clarified, "They could tell something was bothering me, and since I wouldn't talk to them they sent me here. It hasn't been that bad so far, and since it's only one day for you I think you'll survive."
"Thanks." Logan grinned, "I'm sorry about your parents and your situation. You seem like a nice guy."
The boys spent the rest of the day in their rooms, talking and getting to know each other. To there surprise, they realized that they had quite a bit in common. Peter had grown up in Shakopee, but had gone to the public school. Both boys enjoyed art, theater, and science and bonded over their commonalities. Logan learned that Peter had a passion for writing and photography, which he found completely fascinating. By the time Peter began yawning, the boys were shocked to see that nightfall had rolled around and it was time for lights out. Logan slept peacefully that night, and with a smile on his face for the first time in weeks.
THIS LINEBREAK HAS A BONER
The next morning, Logan woke up to the sound of a hard fist pounding the door. Looking over, he noticed that Peter's bed was empty and had been neatly made. Logan groaned and forced himself out of his bed, slumping across the floor with hard, heavy footsteps. He reached for the handle, and twisted it. The door opened to reveal the same guards from yesterday standing in the doorway with twin scowls on their faces.
"You were supposed to be in group therapy half an hour ago." one of them grumbled, "Let's get moving."
"Can I get dressed first?" Logan asked, rolling his eyes.
"No time for that." the guard grabbed Logan's arm and pulled him from the room.
"Great." Logan sighed as he was being lead down the hallway.
Five minutes later, the guards freed him in a room with chairs set up in a large circle. The seats were filled by various young men who were Logan's age. He scanned the area for Peter, but did not see him. He sat down in the seats, and sighed, wondering if the day could get any worse. To his relief, the group therapy was mostly other people talking and so he wasn't forced to say anything. Logan wanted to listen to the woes of the other patients, but he couldn't focus on them; his mind was elsewhere. He wanted to know what his new friend was up to.
An hour later, Logan was leaving the group therapy room and heading for the common area. It was a large room with several couches, televisions, and gaming centers. It was where most of the patients hung out while they weren't in their rooms. Logan thought for sure that if Peter wasn't back in the room, he would find him there. He walked further into the area, scanning faces. Sure enough, he found Peter sitting in a chair by himself holding an x-box controller.
"Peter!" Logan called.
"Logan!" Peter called back, "Over here!"
Logan quickly walked over to where Peter was sitting and sat next to him. Peter handed Logan a controller, and Logan took it, awkwardly. Sure, he played video games occasionally but they had never really been his thing. He usually just watched Carlos and Kendall play each other, rather than actually get involved himself.
"How was group therapy?" Peter inquired.
"It was kind of pointless." Logan frowned, "I have no clue how I am supposed to convince these people that I am not going to try to kill myself again. They just don't seem to get it."
"It's their job to be suspicious." Peter laughed, "They get paid extra for being extra suspicious."
"That would explain quite a bit." Logan laughed in reply, "They're more overbearing than my dad."
"So are you ready to go home?" Peter asked.
"I guess." Logan shrugged, "This place wasn't that awful. At least I made a new friend."
"It was a pleasant surprise." Peter smiled, and Logan smiled too, finding that he really liked Peter's smile. There was something quite comforting about it.
"I have individual counsoling later." Logan sighed, "It's going to be a real joy."
"Let me know how it goes." Peter placed a comforting hand on Logan's shoulder.
"Thanks." Logan rose from his seat and began walking away.
As he reached the door, Logan paused and turned around. Peter was still sitting there, playing his video games. Logan suddenly felt the strangest urge to go back and wrap his arms around Peter's thin body, and thank him for being such a good friend. With a sigh, Logan embraced the emptiness and turned around. It was time to face his demons.
THIS LINEBREAK IS IN THERAPY
"How was your first night?" Dr. Collins asked with a bright smile.
"Oddly pleasant." Logan revealed with a matching smile, "I was surprised to find that this was exactly what I needed."
"This is quite a change from yesterday." Dr. Collins pointed out, "It's rare that such a breakthrough is made so quickly unless something brings it on. Did something happen?"
"I finally felt able to open up and be myself." Logan sighed happily, "I made a friend who made me feel...priceless."
"That's fantastic." Dr. Collin's grinned, "However, I must caution you against depending on someone else for your own happiness because in the end you will get hurt. Never mind the fact that it's not fair to the other person to put that pressure on them."
"I know.' Logan's face fell, "He's just such a great guy."
"He?" Dr. Collins raised an eyebrow, "Am I wrong to assume that your new friend attracts you in a way that isn't quite platonic?"
"Well, I really don't know." Logan admitted, "But I can finally admit that I am gay and that I tried to end my life to deal with the pain of being rejected by my best friend who I am in love with."
"This clarity is incredible." Dr. Collins nodded approvingly, "It sounds like you are really making great strides."
"Doctor Collins?" Logan spoke up, "Would it be possible, after I leave, to continue seeing you?"
"I think we could work something out." Dr. Collins smiled, "I would love to continue working with you and I am happy to sign my signature to the affidavit that recommend you be released from the hospital."
"Thank you, Doctor Collins." Logan rose from his seat, "I'm feeling really confident about this."
"I couldn't be happier for you." Dr. Collins clasped her hands together in joy.
Logan left her office feeling better than he had in months. Now, all he had to do face the outside world.
-Chapter End-
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