The sound of the ticking clock grew deafening as she sat there motionless and emotionless.
"Maria are you listening? Maria!"
The girl snapped back into reality as a look of confusion became apparent on her pale face.
"Maria, did you hear what I said?"
"What?"
"Do you take any drugs? Pot? LSD? Acid?"
"No."
The man scribbled in his large book and sighed as he lifted his glasses from his large nose.
"What are you feeling, Maria?"
"I don't know... I don't know what I'm feeling." she said slowly.
"I think you need rest and I mean genuine rest."
"I'll take a nap then."
"I've got something better, Maria. Your parents think it's best I take you somewhere where you can be safe."
"You mean where other's can be safe."
"Maria, you tried to kill yourself."
"I had a headache." a subtle hint of anger in her voice.
"Yellow Fields is a beautiful place. I assure you you'll get all the rest you need."
"I'm not going."
"You're hurting your parents, Maria. You're hurting everyone around you. Is that really what you want?"
Wreaths of smoke curled up in fanciful whirls from her cigarette.
She gave him him a look and he knew exactly what she meant.
"I'll call a cab," he said as he walked to the telephone at the dark oak desk.
"Hi yes,I need a cab for 1214 Devereaux Avenue to Yellow Woods institute please. Right, thanks then. Goodbye."
"But my Dad is home."
"He can't take you. He feels it's best if he doesn't."
Maria walked outside with her suitcase, still seemingly confused. The yellow cab pulled up and the Therapist opened the door for her.
"Take her straight there. No stops along the way."
He commanded to the driver.
"Yes sir."
"So what's wrong with you?"
"What?" Maria snapped out of her thoughts once again.
"What's wrong with you? What did you do?"
"I'm sad." she said, taking a drag from her cigarette.
"Aren't we all?" questioned the cab driver.
"I see things,"
"You mean like trippin'?"
"Guess you could say that."
"Well then they should put John Lennon away then huh?"
"I'm not Lennon." The cab driver seemed to find amusement in her reply.
The cab pulled up at what looked to be like a mansion but less fancy.
"Well here we are. Don't get too comfortable." he smiled.
There was a lady waiting at the gate.
"Maria, I'm nurse Min. So glad to see you. Let me take your suitcase," She smiled benevolently
"So it's in my best interest to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of during your stay. I'll be in charge of caring for you so if you need anything and I mean anything just ask for nurse Min. First things first, let's get you signed in and acquainted with the place. Just sign these forms to give your consent for you being here,"
she handed the forms and a pen to Maria and waited patiently as she flipped through the pages to sign where necessary.
Maria stopped. The words: "Attempted suicide" caught her eye.
"I didn't try to kill myself."
"Yes you did, Maria."
"I had a headache."
"Chasing a bottle of painkillers with a bottle of whiskey is usually considered an attempt of suicide,Maria."
She ignored Nurse Min's comment and continued to sign the papers.
"Aren't I supposed to have my parents here to si-"
"You're 18, Maria. You don't need your parents consent to be here." said nurse Min.
"Now to show you around. This is the women's side of the institute here so don't be thinking you'll meet any boys around here. This is the art room and down the hallway is the cafeteria," Maria struggled to keep up with Nurse Min. For a short little lady she sure could walk fast.
"And this is the TV area now let's show you to your room." They walked but a few steps and stopped in front of a blue door. Nurse Min knocked and slowly entered.
"Sarah, you have a visitor. This is Maria, she'll be your new roommate. Maria dear I'm sure you'll love Sarah. She's a beautiful soul."
"Hi I'm Sarah nice to meet you, Maria." the girl smiled and extended her arm for a handshake.
A loud scream was heard from another room and nurse Min sighed in frustration.
"She's at it again," she rolled her eyes and began to walk out.
"I'll be right with you, Maria."
It was almost as if death walked in the room. Sarah's eyes grew wide in fear as she backed up on to her bed, knees to chest and hands covering her ears.
The so-called Death rushed to Maria and grabbed her by her wrists.
"Where is she?"
"Wh-who? Where's who?"
"Tell me where she is!"
"I'm sorry I don't know who you're talking about." Tears began to well up in Maria's eyes. She was always petrified of confrontation.
"Step away from her, Janey!" yelled nurse Min
Two well-built security guards grabbed Janey from either side and tried to pin her down. She was much smaller than both of them but not even two grown men could hold her down. Her passion for fending herself breathed fire like an angry dragon within.
"Give it to her." said nurse Min
"No please! Min, no! Don't do this." Screamed Janey.
Another nurse hurried in with a large needle and with force, pinched Janey's skin.
In a matter of seconds, she was sleeping peacefully as though nothing had ever happened.
"Well no need for an introduction for that one." stated Nurse Min.
Maria stared at two girls watching TV as she held her cigarette in between her fingers. She always loved to observe people. To figure out what they were feeling or what was going on in their minds. She was interrupted when Janey set a chair in front of her and rested her chin on her crossed arms.
"Can I bum one of those?"
"Go ahead."
"So why are you here? You try to kill your parents or something?"
"No."
"Pity. So you've met the rapist yet?"
Maria stared in confusion
"The rapist?"
"Yeah you know, like therapist but this one's the rapist."
"Why would you say that?"
Janey elevated her left brow as she took a drag from her cigarette and puffed her smoke in Maria's face.
"They dissect your brain. Piece. By. Piece. I hear sometimes literally. They rape your pride and steal your thoughts. Welcome to the-rape-me. "