Rainstorms and Artforms

Days dragged on like years, and I’ve been here for a lot of years, or so I think. Belleview was a revolving door of suicide attempts and released suspects, once you’re in you’re out within a week. Its 1/5 ratio of who gets stuck in the door. I am that 20%. My head was a confusing puzzle, once I go into deep thought I don’t get out, the whole no monster thing was one of the things that always distracted me from the real world.
I peaked my head out of my room to see a girl being dragged in on a gurney, strapped down; I watched her fight against the restraints. “Can I help you?” a nurse asked, when she saw me looking out to see what was going on. I closed the door, and ran over to my bed and covered my eyes. I hated being questioned for my curiosity. I pulled out my sketch book and tried to sketch the girl, after the commotion outside died down. I couldn’t make out much of her face, but I assumed she is a girl. I sketched long braids.
The morning hour rolled along, and everyone began to flood the main room for breakfast. I kept my eyes on gurney girl; I wanted to talk to her. I don’t know why I was so interested in this new character I never really cared about the people in the revolving door, but she looked like one of the 1/5th. Her constant twitching gave it away. I heard a nurse refer to her as Gabby. “Gurney Girl Gabby” I mumbled to myself, clearly too loud. Gurney Girl Gabby stared at me.
I got my food and sat alone, I didn’t eat much. I just sipped my coffee in peace until Gabby and Frank filled in my table. I didn’t want to be rude to them but I was not in the mood to face pure embarrassment.
“Gerard?” Frank asked. I stared him and continued to sip my coffee. “Have you met Gabby?” He asked. I shook my hand softly, gesturing ‘Sort of’ He nodded that time.
“Ger-ard” Gabby repeated Frank, looking in my direction. “I am Gabby.” She said, formally introducing herself. “Gurney girl” She said giggling. I spit out my coffee. She heard me. She looked so innocent and happy. Then again, so did Frank. Smiles are meaningless in Belleview. Smiles are liars, I know from experience.
“Gerard, are you okay?” a nurse asked seeing a puddle of coffee in front of me. She raced over away from the front desk, with a handful of paper towels.
“Just thoughts miss” I said as she cleaned up my mess. I didn’t like people paying attention to me. I was what was phrased as ‘introvert’ or ‘vampire’ either way I didn’t like sunlight or people, and I did in fact bite if I was pissed off.
“I got it.” I said grabbing for the paper towels, and wiping away my shocked spit tank. I gestured to the nurse to shoo her away. “Sorry about that” I said to Frank and to Gabby who was silently laughing.
“Why are you here, Gabs?” Frank asked, already giving her a nickname. New patients come and go, but everyone always wondered why someone is here when they come here. I was the longest patient in Belleview history. I’ve seen nurses, and doctors come and go out the revolving door, always conveniently getting relocated after a week of knowing me.
“I don’t know, why.” Gabby said, I swallowed hard, trying to avoid developing a habit of spitting when I am shocked. “I was strapped on to a gurney and sent here.” She looked innocent, but had to be guilty of something, but only God knows what. “I was always called weird, if that means anything.”
“I understand” Frank said looking straight into her eyes, I stepped away, spitting is a disgusting habit and I watched a revolving door patient pick their nose, and insist his mucus was demonic acid inside of him so he could be traced my Satan. Some patients should have been on the 1/5th list but aren’t. Frank must have this amazing power of understanding everything. He knew loud and clear, why he was here. Unless he’s psychic, he had no idea where nose is was this time.
“I see things.” Gabby spoke up. I sat back down. I had an odd obsession with the supernatural. I think Gabby and I were going to be close.
“Like what?” I said sitting closer to her, with bug eyes, being absorbed into her story.
“Whatever you don’t see, people think I am crazy.” Gabby said, pointing to the blank wall behind me. “There’s a man sitting over there, he has choppy blonde hair and glasses.”
“Mikey.” I mumbled. Gabby pushed her glasses up on her knows.
“You know someone like that?” Gabby asked she must have had supersonic hearing, something delusional, too many comics.
“My brother looked like that, but I haven’t seen him in 8 years.” I looked deep into her brown eyes. Could she actually see my brother, was she some psychic?
“I know he’s not actually there, I see things though.” Gabby said and I calmed down.
“Psychosis?” Frank asked, Gabby.
“Yes, something like that.” She replied, I began to tune out their conversation. I thought that Gabby and Frank’s similarities could do with their sanity, because Frank is an accused murder, and Gabby is ‘Madame I-See-Dead-People’
“Gerard?” Frank said, hitting my arm gently, making me realize that my thoughts drifted off and that it’s group therapy. I hate group therapy.
“What?” I muttered. Even though, I knew exactly what was going on. I pulled my chair away from the table, and joined in group.
“It’s good to see you back to earth.” The nurse patrician said to me as I came to participate.
“Always an alien, miss” I said trying to crack a joke, but everyone’s eyes were focused on me.

Notes

I am so sorry that this took so long!
I am about to go on an update spree so stay tuned!

xo.ash.