"Oh, look at the time," Sami said. "I keep babbling away when I'm around you."
"I don't mind," Portia said.
"I'm not being paid to tell you about my dogs and horses," he chuckled.
"I like hearing about them," she said.
She stood up and walked towards the door.
"I know what you're doing," he said.
She looked over her shoulder and put on her best smile.
"We can't keep moving forward like this. Sooner or later you have to come to terms with what you did," he said.
"I don't remember," she said.
"But you know what happened. You have the proof on your wrists. And Seth can help you fill in the blanks," he said.
"I need my own memory, Sami. Not someone else's," she said.
"I understand," he said.
She sighed and turned to face him fully.
"Why was I placed here?" She asked.
"You know why," he answered.
"No, why this asylum of all places? My boyfriend works here. Is it even legal for him to be this close to me when I'm getting treatment?" She asked.
"As long as he's not the one treating you, it's legal," he said. "I understand your concern. It feels weird having him around you. I can put in a word to get you transferred if you'd like."
She wanted to tell him to go ahead but she stopped herself. Seth would be furious with her. He would never allow it. And even if she did get transferred, where would that leave Elias? They had a fight the day before but she still cared about the man. More than she probably should. She couldn't just leave him here alone.
"No, it's okay. I just wanted to make sure everything is in order. I don't want Seth to get into trouble," she said.
"You're a good girlfriend," he smiled. "Alright, off you go. I have another patient waiting."
She walked out of his office and headed for the common room. The first thing she saw was Billie hugging Elias. There was a woman looking a lot like Billie that she hadn't seen before. Probably Billie's mother.
"You be good now, Elias," Billie said.
"Never," Elias grinned. "Stay strong, Billie. Never go off your medication. And don't worry. Peyton will forgive you. Otherwise she wouldn't have written you those letters. She understands it wasn't you. It was that ugly thing taking over your brain."
"I wish you could come with me," Billie said.
"No, my life is in here," Elias said.
Elias looked over at Portia and then back at Billie.
"Take care," he said.
Billie walked over to her mother. The two women left the common room. Elias looked over at Portia again. He didn't dare go near her. Not after what she had said the day before. To his surprise she walked over to him.
"I know you don't work with him," he said.
"Thank fuck," he said.
"And I want you to know..." She started.
"Portia!" Seth called.
They both looked towards the door. Seth was standing there, waving her over. She nooded and looked at Elias.
"I'm in love with you too," she whispered.
She turned and walked over to Seth. He grabbed her upper arm and firmly made her follow him. They walked to her room where he closed the door.
"How is therapy coming along?" He asked.
"Slowly," she answered.
"You need to say you did it," he said.
"But I didn't," she said.
"Yes, you did!" He gritted his teeth. "I swear to god, if there wasn't a camera in this room... You did it, Portia. Next time in therapy you tell Sami you did it. If not, maybe a straitjacket and a padded cell for a month will help your memory."
"You can't do that to me," she said shocked.
"Watch me!" He threatened.
He opened the door and stormed out of there. She sat down on the bed and stared at the wall. She felt like crying but no tears came out. She was in too much of a shock.
"Are you okay?" Elias asked.
She looked towards the door and found him standing there.
"I did it," she said lowly.
"Did what?" He asked.
"I tried killing myself," she said.
"Why the fuck are you saying that now?" He asked.
"I have to," she answered. "He's gonna hurt me way worse if I don't. Two days from now when I talk to Sami again, I have to say that I did it. There's no turning back once I put the words out there."
He walked over and sat down next to her. His pinky finger hooked her pinky finger. It was all he dared to do with a camera on them.
"Let's go brush your hair. They're used to seeing that," he said.
She nodded at him. They walked across the hall and into his room. As many times before he started brushing her hair. He parted it and started making two French braids.
"You need to get out," he said.
"I can't," she said.
"You will get out," he said. "Tonight."
"Does that mean...?" She started.
"I'm giving you the key. Both keys. I have one for cell doors too. You gotta stay awake. When the night guard takes his round, you gotta be ready. Listen for him. He stops at every door to look inside. Once he's past your door, get out of bed and stand ready. You can hear him unlock the door down by the end. He likes to go in there to drink a beer because no one is watching. It takes him three minutes. You only got three minutes to escape. Lock your door again so he thinks you're still in there. Sprint as fast as you can and get out of here. No one will know until tomorrow morning when they come to let you out. Get as far away as you can tonight," he said.
He finished the final braid and got out of bed.
"Let's go," he said.
They walked to the blind spot in the hallway. He lifted up his foot. Not the one that had the key to the closet. The other slipper apparently had the two keys to freedom hidden. He pressed them into the palm of her hand. His face was one of hurt.
"I'm gonna miss you," he said.
"Elias," she whispered.
"Get out!" He said firmly.
He left her standing with the keys in her hand while he headed towards the common room. He had done everything he could do. He had handed her the keys that he had always hoped he one day would be brave enough to use himself. He had given her both the keys and his heart. He had nothing left to give.