Matt was sitting in the psychiatrist's office, in the NC Moore regional hospital. On the psych ward.
He had been there a little less then a week. So he was still being evaluated. His medicine was for the time being changed. His doctor, Mr. Dave Williams had prescribed him a new kind of anti-depressant which was to be giving to him gradually. The drugs had less side-effects then his previous. And he was now back on his anti-hallucinations but on a slightly higher dose. He was being carefully and closely monitored for any side-effects that might occur with the change of dosage amounts. The doctor was very hopeful that with the new brand of anti-depressants and the higher dose of anti-hallucination that Matthew would be more at ease, more calm. And that he would get to where he could do the therapy that he needed to get better. It was all up to Matthew's willingness to talk, to open up about his feelings, and his emotions. The doctors wouldn't' be able to help him, if they didn't know what was and has been going on. Matt held the cards, so to speak. And it was all at him to start the process of getting help and getting well. He just needed to discuss what he's been going through, how long he's been experiencing the illusions and what and when did he take the drugs, since Matt did confess to also having taken some form of street-drugs along with his prescribed medicines. And of course Matt had mentioned drinking alcohol. All at the same time as he was taking his medications. which could have been adding to the hallucinations and adding to the reason why his anti-depressants weren't working. They were being interfered by the booze and street-drug combination that Matt had been consuming.
"So you were gonna tell me about the dreams you've been experiencing since your father's death." Doc. Williams replies, his hands laid neatly in his lap, his note-pad lays on the lamp-stand next to his chair. He looks at Matthew, patiently waiting for Matt to be ready to open up to him.
"The nightmares, there not just regular dreams. They are nightmares." Matthew corrects him.
Doc. Williams nods his head in agreement. "Yes, I'm sorry. Nightmares. Would you like to talk about them?." He asks calmly.
Matt was wearing a sweat-pants and a tank-top. He wore flip-flops. And his hair looked like it hadn't been brushed since arrival.
"..I just remember being in this dark place. In our old home. I'm laughing. I can hear my little brother crying. And my parents." Matt looks down. Doc. Williams grabs his note-pad and begins jotting down what Matt says. He looks up and over to Matthew. Waiting for him to continue when ready. " I think I'm playing a game, I'm too little to understand how worried my parents are. Not knowing where I am. I can hear them yelling, shouting my name. I continue to sit there, giggling." Matt has tears streaming down his face now. The doctor grabs a box of tissues, that were also on the lamp-stand. He hands them over to Matt. Who shakes his head, that he didn't want any.
"It's okay to be getting emotional Matthew, there's nothing to be ashamed of. It's good that you feel something."
Matt nods his head. "I know. I remember what you said before. I'd like to continue now." Matt whispers.
Doc. Williams nods. "Yes, when your ready."
"I can hear foot-steps coming to the stairs, I look up. I see the light being out-casted by a figure. I can hear my dad whispering something up above the stairs. That's when I run to the back of the room. I hide behind some boxes. Christmas decorations." Matt replies
"Yes." Doc Williams says.
"..He comes down-stairs with..with..my mother." Matt looks down, shaking his head. He places his hands in his face. He begins sobbing silently.
"It's okay, Matthew. Your doing a good job." Doc Williams replies as he places a comforting hand to Matt's knee.
Matt looks up. "He was really mad at me, when he found me. I was giggling. He heard me. He came behind the boxes. Saw me sitting there. He..he yanks me up. He was just really mad. I remember him yelling. My mom runs down-stairs at the point. She's got her hands to her mouth. She was crying. I made her cry. Worrying over me. I was just playing a joke, and I made her cry." Matt stats, still shedding tears.
"What happened when he found you. What was he yelling?." Doc. Williams asks.
"That I had worried mama, all for nothing. That I misbehaved. That I was bad. He made me go upstairs. I felt in the dream, his hand on the back of my shoulder. He was pushing me up the steps. And when I reached the upstairs room. He grabbed ahold of my shirt. Yanking the back of my shirt-collar. Practically dragging me into the hallway. We passed Jeffrey's nursing. He was standing up to his crib. Crying. Just sobbing. I remember seeing him in my dream. My mom ran in to silence him, to comfort him. When my dad got me to his and my mama's room, I remember Jeff's crying had stopped. Just silence. Nothing but my dad breathing heavy. He was angry. And I was so scared. I was wondering why he had brought into his and Mama's room for, we normally weren't allowed in there. I was puzzled. And more so by the way he was acting. He had never treated me like that before, ever. I just didn't understand what I did that was so wrong. I knew that I had hurt mama. But I was sorry. And I was saying so."
Matt takes a few breaths, he looks up to the doctor. Who gave him a approving nod.
Matthew continues explaining the dream. " I starting crying, just out of being scared. I knew that I was in trouble."
"And what happens after he brings you into his and your mother's room?."
Matt bites his lip. "..I can't say for sure. I usually wake up. Actually, I usually wake up before they find me. But since I've been here. The dreams, the nightmares. They've been longer. I've seen more then I ever have before of them. Not since I've started having them, have I dreamed of them finding me. I used to never ever get to that point in the dream, but being here, I have. And I think it's because you've made me be more honest with myself. More open with things that I had other-whys denied. And pushed down."
"Okay, are you tired for now/." Doc. Williams asks. He noticed Matthew repeating himself. And he did actually look quite sleepy.
"If so, we can allow you a break. Come back to this later today. If you'd like that. I can see your tired." Doc. Williams replies.
Matthew just nods. Doc. Williams stands up, places a comforting hand to Matt and walks him out to the waiting nurse. "Your really opening up to me Matthew, and I'm very pleased with your progress. You can trust me, I want you to know that. I look forward to more of our talk, later. Once you've rested some." Doc. Williams replies. Matt smiles and then walks out more into the hall with the nurse and one of the male staff-members. Who would escort Matt back to his room.
Mark gets up out of bed. He stretches his arms out. And cracks his back slightly. He walks over to his dresser draw. He could hear the cracking from his lower knee joints. It's never good, getting old. Mark whispers. twenty-nine. I hate getting older. Just hate it. And to think his birthday was just yesterday, it felt like he had celebrated ages ago, with the way his muscles were aching this morning. Far more then usual. But Mark guessed it was because of all the fun he had, the cake-fight with Jeffrey probably did a number on him, he guesses. After-all he didn't do that sort of thing everyday. Mark had to smile thinking of it, he knew that down the road, he would think of it as a fond memory. One that he would hope to never forget.
He catches the clock, it read 8:36 AM. Thursday morning. The day of Jeff's court appearance.
Mark heads downstairs and into the kitchen. He makes himself a pot of coffee.
He goes upstairs, he knocks on Jeffrey's closed door.
Jeff stirs before sitting upright. "I'm getting up." He hollers. He runs to grab his boxers and places them on. He runs to wash his hand off. Before grabbing his jeans. He quickly puts them on. Trying to get to the door, before Mark decides to come in, before Jeff can clean up.
Jeff rushes to the door. His shirt in his hands. He opens the door half-way. He leans on it. Mark stands there.
"What are you doing, you ready?." He asks.
Jeff swallows, shakes his head yes.
"Well, we'll be leaving soon. I just wanna wait for the coffee to get done. I'd like some before I have to drive." Mark explains as Jeff looks down to the floor. "Are you okay?." Mark asks, looking at Jeff quizzically.
"I'm fine, just hot. Tired." Jeff lies.
Mark nods, his eyes showing the weird it out expression. "Alrighttt. Well. I'll be downstairs." He whispers.
Jeff exhales a sign of relief. He walks to the bed. He grabs the blanket throwing it over the bed. Hopefully the spot would dry by the time they got make. He didn't make that much of a mess. At-least he didn't think so. But he did come more then once.
Jeff gets ready to go downstairs, when he had almost forgot to grab the yearbook. The yearbook, that had pictured Mark half-naked and sweating, possibly after a basketball game. During his high-school youth. That particularity picture that had made Jeff cum numerous times over while pleasuring himself, using it as a visual aid. It was the best thing to do, since he couldn't have the real thing at the moment. It did work. Jeff thinks. It worked wonderfully. More so then he thought it would have. Who knew a picture really could be worth jerking off too. Jeff never believed someone could reach a orgasm just by looking at a photo, he always thought envisioning something in your head was the best way to cum. But he had been wrong, looking at a picture was just as good, if not better. But he did have Mark's body to look at. It helped.
Mark grabs cup of freshly brewed coffee, when Jeff comes running down the stairs. All energized. Like it wasn't the early morning hours.
"Well, you must have gotten some good sleep, last night." Mark says.
"Yeah, I guess so. I was pretty beat." Jeff replies. Trying to suppress a smile.
"Well, you ready. I am, if you are."
Jeff nods.
"Jeffery Nero Hardy. Will you please stand." The bailiff asks.
Jeff stands up, in a navy blue suit. One that he had changed into for this appearance. Mark had grabbed it, bringing it with him. But forgetting to tell Jeff, until they had arrived at the court house. Jeff of course couldn't help but nag Mark for forgetting yet another thing. It was all in fun though, Jeff had made sure to apologize afterwards. He just couldn't help having to say it.
The judge had read over the file, he mentioned Matthew's statement corroborating Jeff's allegations of child abuse by the hands of their father Gilbert Hardy. And that if anything that had happened was a full result of defending one's self. The judge took a long stern look at Jeff. And contemplating his decision. Mark stood in the benches behind Jeff. Just hoping that the judge would throw it out.
"Mr. Hardy. I do agree with your brother, that your were abused. And unfortunately it was by the hands of your own father. That I am sorry for. I understand that you were probably afraid, but your brother. He knew about this and still allowed it to go on. That's what's wrong with abuse. No-one is ever willing to stand up, and say that what the abuser is doing is wrong. And no-matter how frightening it is, the victim should always call the police, let the abuser know that he or she is gonna pay for it. Tell someone, anyone who you can trust. Tell them what is going on. So that they make sure that it will stop. Anything that would get the abuser away from the home and from the child. But no-one does anything, they allow their fear to over-ride any sensible action that they should make. And bringing in the abuser is what you should have done. You should have told your teachers, the doctors. You've had many opportunities to do that, but you didn't. And now we're here. And your father is dead. I don't agree on how he treated you, but I don't think his death is justice either. He should have been placed under-arrest. That would have been justified. But his death is not. It only shows us how abuse victims need to stand up for themselves. You won't get anywhere if you don't." The Judge takes a few minutes to catch his breath. All the while he stares at Jeff. Who had his eyes locked to the wall behind the Judge. Not making eye-contact.
"How-ever with that being said, I do believe that what happened was a direct need of defending one-self. I read over what you've described in the transcripts you've sent in today. You went into detail on what had happened. If you had not done this, as late as it was. I probably wouldn't understand rightfully how bad it was, with your father. Or how bad the abuse was. With your statement though, I do. And I'm gonna dismiss this charge and rule it as self-defense. I strongly encourage you though, Jeffrey." The Judge replies, taking his eye-glasses off. He looks directly at Jeff. "to go to the treatment facility that we've provided for you to go to. It's free of charge. I hope you'll consider it. And as for your living arraignments. You have no other family members do you?. Other-then your older brother Matthew?."
"No, sir I don't but I have a loyal friend of the family. He's willing to take me in." Jeff whispers.
"I'm sorry but your have to speak up." The judge replies.
Mark stands up at this point. "Your honor. Jeffrey has been living with me now since his father's death. And I'd be willing to take him into my home permanently, if need be. I knew his father, we were very close friends. I think that since his brother is not around at the moment to care of him. That he would have liked it, if I looked after Jeffrey. Instead of him going to someplace and being taken care of by people that he doesn't know. At-least he would know me, and he feels very comfortable at my house." Mark lies.
The Judge places his glasses back on. "..And Jeffrey, what do you think."
Jeff looks at Mark, and then back to the Judge. This time he looks right into the Judge's eyes. Smiles and says happily. " I would very much be happy living with him. My father, I think would have found that to be a very suitable place for me to stay at. Since my brother is unable to look after me. They were just about best-friends, after-all."
"If you don't find anything wrong with it, then I don't see nothing wrong with it." The Judge smiles. "Your free to go."
Jeff turns to Mark, hugs him. And thanks the Judge.
Mark and Jeff walk out the court-house. Jeff had his arm draped around Mark's waist.
"I'm so glad I don't' have to worry about that any-longer." Jeff excitedly stats.
Mark smiles "I'm glad too."
TBC