Chapter 11

(Greenwood-Dr. Hunts Office)

An overwhelming feeling of tiredness and rapid headaches sizzles through every aspect of my body. Seated on the white sofa does not help nor does the white uniform. I pull my left sleeve over my left hand. "How long will she be in this state?" I hear my mother asks. I look over to see my parents seated in front of a desk. An unfamiliar doctor sits behind it.

"The anatomy of each patient is very diverse. Shock therapy has its ups but also downs. Over the next few weeks, her body will go through such functions as it tries to readjust itself." He writes on his notepad. Shock therapy? I was just in the hospital having miscarried. Paul was sitting next to my bed. Sam was there.

I look across the office at the wall calendar. August 20th. Nine months? It has been nine months. How is that possible? I don't understand. "We understand. We simply want her to understand that we are helping her." Mom responds. Helping me? "Help will go a long way. Mary-Ann has a long recovery ahead of her." Nothing is wrong with me.

Bzzz! I roughly grab my ears as the buzzing sound. The office becomes silence. BZZZZ! My ears pop. Wetness soaks my eardrums. I'm bleeding. I touch the blood and look at the dark redness on my fingertips. What is going on with me? The doctor kneels in front of me and wipe my left ear out with a white tissue.

"Symptoms will become frequent, Mary-Ann." "I'm not crazy." I tell him. I'm really not. "Of cou-" "You did this to me." I spit out to my mother. She did this to me. "She is telling the truth." My father says. "To help with the mental illnes-" "You seem to have one for the action that you have did, Ann."

"It is best to keep a peaceful environment around Mary-Ann. Upsetting the patient has been known to create disastrous situations. A few has known to run during their release stint." The doctor says. Release stint. "What is he talking about?" "You'll be released for a three-day stint."

"No. I'm not going nowhere with them. I want nothing to do with them." These two individuals are not my parents. They made me crazy. "Your release has been approved in which you will be released for 72 hours." He walks back to his desk. I shouldn't be with them after they destroyed my life.

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Mom opens my bedroom door and I walk in with a somber expression on my face. I look around my room to see the only change that has been made is my dirty clothes basket is empty. "We were able to get your diploma. With enough credits, you graduated." She walks over to my white dresser and take the burgundy diploma.

I ignore her walking over to my bed and taking a seat on it. She ruined my life. Dad walks in. "Is Claire dead, Dad?" "She was released from the hospital two months ago." "Was it your child?" "Of course not." "From how your wife is acting, I have to start believing that it was the truth." "Of course, you would be mad. Your mother ruined your life listening to others."

"Listening to othe-" "The damage has been done, Ann." Bzzz! I've learned to accept the buzzing noise. If this cowboy is after me, why not quickly come kill me? All of what i have seen is possibly a faded illusion of a reality that will never happen. What type of supernatural ability do I have to be a target? Can I see the future? I have yet to have a vision.

"Are you hungry?" Dad asks seated on the bed. "Was it the truth, Dad? It has to be, right?" "No. It was a lie." "I don't see how I should have paid for you cheating on your wife. Seeing how she is, I would cheat also. She's evil." "Your mother has her ways but what she does is to protect who she loves the most." "Herself, Dad. The community must think highly of who she is."

He puts his hand on my back, but I slap it off me. "Don't touch me." "It will take time to rebuild yourself." "Nothing was wrong me until it was decided that your wife is an atheist. God frowns on those who hurt innocent." "I have made peace with God for what I have did out love for my daughter." Mom says. More towards yourself. "We will leave you time for yourself." Dad says getting off my bed. Whatever you do, I won't like it. "I will hate yo-" "Don't use that tone when you are speaking to your mother." "She is no mother of mine and never will be, Dad."

(La Push Beach)

The weather is much more chiller in August. The rainy season never lets up until mid-November. I hold the blue wool blanket close to my chest as I stare out at the waves. It has been nine months since I was forced to enter Greenwood. What type of parents allow such an act? A father who might have cheated and a mentally unstable mother.

My entire life has been ruined by a community of strangers. The good friend that I thought to have been a backstabber. During those nine months, I recall no type of memories. Perhaps it is due to the deep trauma that I endured. I'm scarred beyond repair. The main reason why I tried to pick up a bat and smash all that held a reflection. I'm crazy.

I run my fingers across my bare scalp. I am really crazy. "The current in the water is dangerous. Not recommended that you take a swim." A young man says behind me. "I'm black. I ain't that foolish to take a swim, Jacob." "You know of my name." "You're friends with the man who touched my back after my car accident. I think his name was Quil. Slim with height?"

"That's Quil. The last I heard you were in Greenwood." "Three-day release. I snuck out leaving a note for my parents. Let them know or I'll end up in prison for attempted vehicular manslaughter." "Yeah. I heard." I'm pretty sure everyone has heard over the months. Those who I knew in high school are most likely gone to college or doing whatever with their life.

"How did you get here? I don't see a car." "The parking lot was empty when I walked through the forest." "The forest is dangerous." "Not more than the individuals who lives in this world." "Those individuals can also be in the forest." "I'll remember that." I get up from my seat on the sand and wipe sand off my pants.

I heavily breathe out turning to face him. Oh, wow. He's gained muscled in his body since the last time I have seen him. Wow. His physical features nearly match Paul. Let me stop thinking about Paul. I haven't seen him since that one last visit. "Milk does the body good, right?" "A little bit. Planning on walking in the forest?" I ignore his question walking by him. "I have a car. I can take you home." Home. He can take me home.