Chapter 3 – 'Sister'

Mandy got up and grabbed my arm dragging me down the corridor to the front door of the clinic, she hadn't told anyone we were going out.

"Erm Mands maybe we should tell someone we are going out"

"No way are you mad?"

"But you aren't allowed out by yourself"

"Exactly" she said as she started to work on unlocking the door

"Erm need help?"

"This is taking forever come on let's go the quick way" she said pulling me away again and into a room I had never been in before...her room.

"I don't think I should be in here"

"It's fine I gave you permission" she replied I watched her as she stood on her bed and opened the window that was above it.

"Come here" she said

I joined her and looked out the window her room was on the ground floor so not very high up at all she looked at me and smiled.

"Ok ready to jump?"

"Jump! Have you lost it?"

"I did a few years ago you only just realised?"

"No...I mean why do you want us to kill ourselves"

"It's not even high Leo I do this all the time when I want to get out"

I hated heights of any height I looked down it wasn't very high but it still made me nervous.

"Here its easy look I will go first" she said as she climbed out the window then jumped I covered my eyes expecting her to get hurt.

"Are you coming or not?" I looked up she was stood there with her arms folded but otherwise unharmed.

"Alright alright" I said I stood on the window ledge then jumped I thought my body would crash to the floor but I was surprised when I opened my eyes and I wasn't harmed.

"Nice jump for a beginner...come on" she said as put the hood of her jacket up to hide the fact she was a patient in case anyone looked on the cameras. We ran out the gates and carried on running until we were a bit away from the clinic.

"Right we should be safe" she said removing her hood out of breathe

"We need to get the bus come on" I said as we waited for the bus to come and got on she walked straight on without paying.

"Mandy...you have to pay..." I said through gritted teeth everyone was staring at her but she got up and started emptying her pockets.

"Right I have scissors, a piece of string, a hair clip and an odd button" I rolled my eyes at her I don't know why I expected her to have money.

"An adult and an child please" I said shaking my head at her

She smiled at me and sat down I took the tickets and sat down next to her

"You are a nightmare sometimes"

"Thank you very much so are you"

The bus started to move and Mandy looked out the window as she wasn't used to been out so liked to see the sights.

"Come on this is our stop" I said as the bus pulled into the hospital and we both got off walking into the entrance of the hospital, I asked to see Doctor Nina Pickering again as she was the one who gave me my diagnosis and then we sat down in the waiting area.

"So remember you are my sister"

"Eww" she laughed as she leaned her chin on my shoulder "I wouldn't want you as a brother you are geeky"

"Oh please it's me been geeky that you love"

"Ok that is true"

Nina came out a few minutes later and invited me back in we all sat down and I just hoped the plan would work.

"I did as you asked...I brought my sister"

"What's her name?" she asked I started to answer but Mandy interrupted me

"Mandy...R...Mandy Fitzgerald"

"And what is your date of birth?"

"May 4th 1992" she said without hesitation

"Great, I couldn't give them to your brother as he is only fifteen"

"I know he told me everything and I said I would come with him as he doesn't want mum and dad to come with him"

"Right well these anti depressants should only be taken twice a day and two tablets at a time, don't take any more than that or you could overdose on them Leo"

"What if they don't work?"

"Then come back and we can give you a stronger dose"

"I will make sure he only takes them when he is supposed to I always look after my little brother" she said ruffling my hair playing along

"Get off will ya" I said flattening my hair down again

"Right Mandy you need to sign these papers and then I can give them to you"

"Sign? This won't stay on record will it?"

I slapped my forehead gently, most people wouldn't ask that question the doctor looked a bit taken aback as well.

"No it won't"

"Then I will sign"

She signed the paper a bit messy and nearly putting her real last name, Ruskin, but she changed it at the last moment.

"Thank you, here you go" Nina said handing me the pills

"Thank you very much"

"Oh and Leo tell your parents"

"Oh they know...it's kicking in for them though"

"Great I hope they help"

We left the hospital and I hugged Mandy

"Good work but the ruffling of the hair was a bit much"

"And I kept forgetting my last name was Fitzgerald"

"I know I thought you were going to come out with your real name"

"Well luckily I didn't"

"Come on we best get back before anyone notices you are gone"