Ryuugazaki: I'm already thinking of what I can write for the spiritual successor of this. I'm still up in the air about doing it though.
Chapter Twenty-One
(Wednesday, 7 October 2015 – 8:10am, Detroit, Michigan)
In addition to the anxiety he was feeling, Yuri was hallucinating this morning. He kept hearing laughter and heavy footsteps where there was silence; that large shadow that looms over the rink when he skates sat in the corner of the room. All of the coping skills his therapist and psychiatrist have taught him went out the window. He didn't draw or stim like he usually would at his desk. Instead, he sat there with his head down. His Xanax wasn't helping as well as it usually did. His Lexapro was a lie. The only thing that did its job was the Zyprexa and it did it passably well.
"Yuri." Victor touched Yuri's back. "Are you okay?" Yuri put his head up and nodded. "Are you sure? You look out of it." Yuri nodded again. "Okay, солнышко." Victor slid a note under his palm. "This might not be the best time." Yuri took the note and put it in his sweater pocket. Victor pulled his desk closer to Yuri's. "Do you feel sick?" Yuri hesitated, but made a sound that could be interpreted as a "yes." Yuri didn't know how to explain to this person that he liked that he's hearing voices and that there's a giant shadow in the corner and he's internally trembling and he doesn't know what to do.
"Victor?"
"Yes?"
"You might not understand this, but hold my hand. Please." Victor grabbed Yuri's hand and brought it to his mouth. "Thank you."
It was 8:20am now. Yuri wasn't any better.
"Hey, Yuri. Can you walk?" Yuri murmured a "yes." "Follow me." Victor grabbed his bag and Yuri's, and led Yuri out of their classroom. Victor led Yuri to the back of the library. It was lightly populated right now and Victor was grateful for that. "Lay down." He motioned to the sofa that was in their area. Victor sat and placed their bag by his legs. Yuri laid down on Victor's lap, using his arm as a pillow.
"You should go to class."
"I'm not going to leave you alone." Victor stroked Yuri's head gently. The shadow was sitting in the corner, observing them; the voices were still as loud. Victor grabbed Yuri's hand and squeezed it. "When you feel better, will you tell me what happened?" Yuri nodded. "I don't really understand what's going on, but, if you don't want to nap, is there something you'd like to talk about?"
"Whales." Yuri rubbed his eyes with his fist. "I'd like to talk about whales."
"Alright, tell me about whales." Yuri nodded.
"They make such pretty sounds." Victor nodded. "And they're so big and lovely." Yuri yawned. "I want to touch a whale. We should go to an aquarium."
"I don't think they have whales in aquariums," Victor plainly said.
"I will go home and find a whale just to touch it, Victor." Victor was chuckling. "I want this. I want this a lot."
"I'm sure you do." Victor stroked Yuri's head. Yuri felt Victor's phone buzz. "That's Chris. Hold on." Victor shifted and fished his phone out of his pocket. "Oh, did I tell you that he said I can give you his number?"
"No, you did not." Yuri shifted. "How did you forget something like that?"
"I was looking at art. Give me your phone." Yuri gave Victor his phone and unlocked it. Victor gave Yuri Christophe's number and gave Yuri his phone back. Yuri put his phone in his sweater pocket. Victor grabbed Yuri's hand again. "Do you want to move your arm? It might get numb." Yuri moved his arm from under his head and brought it to his chest. He feels vulnerable right now: he's having an episode with Victor at his side and Victor hasn't left yet. "Yet," Yuri mused. The thought almost depresses him. Victor was mumbling the lyrics to a song as he stroked his head. This was comforting for Yuri.
#
(Wednesday, 7 October 2015 – 11:45am, Detroit, Michigan)
"Hey, sleepyhead," Victor said, gently. "Are you better now?" Yuri looked at the corner. The shadow was still there, but it was reduced in size. The laughter and loud footsteps have stopped. Yuri nodded. "It's time for your math class. Do you want to go?" Yuri nodded. "I'll walk you to class." Yuri slowly sat up, rubbed his eyes, and reached for his bag. "Remember to text me if you need me." Victor picked up his bag and got up. He helped Yuri up and they walked hand in hand to Yuri's math class.
Ryuugazaki: If I write a successor to this, y'all would really hate me for what I would have to do.