Felix had been really good recently. Annette had noticed that he was taking his medicine when he was supposed to. According to Ingrid he had stopped trying to avoid group and had started to participate a little bit. The nurses had stopped finding weapons hidden in Felix's room for the past three mornings. Annette couldn't be more proud of her boy.
When Annette saw him today, he was standing next to a tall man with the same hair, a backpack leaned on the ground against his ankle. They were at the nurses station talking with Mr. Dr. Eisner. Annette skipped up to them.
"Morning Felix. Is this your dad?"
Felix's crossed arms and sharp glare were not followed by harsh words like she had come to expect. "Yes."
Before they could talk further, a nurse came around from the nurse's station. "Annette, will you come with me for a second?"
"Sure," she said brightly, following the nurse to her bedroom.
When they got there, the nurse bent down so he was on the same level as her. "Annette, Felix is leaving today."
"... What?" Annette didn't believe his words.
"The doctors have decided that he has improved enough to go home."
Annette's chest began to feel heavy. "But he can't leave."
Calm, quiet and patient, the nurse asked, "Why not Annette."
"He's sick. He's ill. You've seen the scars on his arms," her words came out faster and faster with each sentence.
"Those are old wounds. He's healing now."
"But he needs to be here, he needs me." Annette was becoming frantic.
"Annette-"
"NO! You don't understand. He won't make it without my love. I can't protect him if he leaves. What are you going to do if he relapses and I wasn't there to help him? He isn't ready to leave, it's not safe."
"Annette-"
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" tears were streaming down Annette's face, her breathing was coming out in short spurts.
The nurse waited a moment to see if she was going to say anything else. When she didn't, he said "This isn't about you Annette. This is about Felix. He can't stay here forever."
Annette crumpled, sitting down on the bed and rubbing furiously at her eyes. She pressed her mouth into a stubborn frown and refused to look at the nurse. Finally, she said, "Whatever, I hated him anyways."
The nurse watched her for a moment, expression unreadable. "Would you like me to have Dr. Eisner to come speak with you when he is done?"
"It doesn't matter does it," she barked, throwing her hands in the air.
"Alright, I'll have him come by." The nurse left Annette in the room by herself, still sniffling and radiating frustration.