Chapter 1
Skaia mental institute, Maple Valley, Washington.
Roxy’s POV:
“Are you sure you are ready for this?” Your cousin Rose asks.
“I am sure, Rose. I need help seriously.”
You enter the sliding doors of the ominous building, and even the calming background music doesn’t stop that feeling of dread.
“If you need anything, call me!”
You wave your arm back at Rose and continue with your journey into healing your mind.
At the main hall.
“Good afternoon to everyone.” Says a woman with a white coat. “I am Dr. Tenenbaum, and I am your group therapist. I would like to start this meeting with everyone introducing themselves. You don’t need to say why you are here, just a presentation is enough to start.”
Everyone seems uncomfortable, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone brave enough to say their names either. Fuck it.
“I am Roxy Lalonde,” You stand up and look at everyone around. Then, you continue speaking. “and I am a recovering alcoholic, have relationship problems, and I suffer depression.”
“I am Dirk Strider.” A guy with anime shades that is your best friend speaks up and everyone turns their attention to him. “I have OCD and talk to myself a lot to the point of having a personality disorder.”
The shades guy looks at you and gives you a smile.
“I am Vriska, and I am here because I can’t live with myself anymore.” The girl with braids and glasses is crying. The short haired girl next to her pats her back. “I just feel the need to kill myself!”
“It’s okay, Vriska.” You think her friend isn’t a patient but just someone that is here to support her.
“I am Karkat, and I don’t know why I am here.”
The short haired girl glares at him.
“Ok, I have anger issues… and I kind of kicked the ass of professor. However, he is an asshole, so I was justified.”
After a few presentations, someone enters the room and everyone gets quiet. There is some emotional tension as the stranger approaches, and the angry boy and the short haired girl look with fury in their eyes.
“Oh, you must be the person that registered at last moment.” The therapist is the only person in that room that isn’t afraid or angry at the stranger. “Please take a seat.”
He takes a chair and walks into the center of the group with the intention of getting attention. You aren’t someone that judges by the appearance of a person, but this guy is disgusting. He has messy hair, a dirty chair that has stains, some pants that resemble those of a clown, and his face has three scars that look like something done by Wolverine.
“This is a good ensemble of motherfuckers, doc.”
“Please sit, Mr…”
“Makara, Gamzee Makara.” He sits in the opposite direction of where people usually sit, and gives the doctor a big creepy smile. “I have done some regretful decisions in my life, sister; I am really sorry and I want to be friends with everyone again.”
“You wish.” The angry boy scoffs.
“I know I know. I did wrong. But it is fine. Everyone is just one motherfucking day of becoming insane… but what if everyone is one day away from becoming sane too?”
The group therapy was a bit tense with the presence of the clown, but you tried your best to stay positive and do what was needed.
At the cafeteria.
“It was brave what you did back there.” Dirk says and sits next to you. “I am glad you are making an effort.”
“I am glad you are here too, Dirk. Not about you having issues, but because I need a friend to talk about”
You look at your soup and take a deep breath.
“I want to apologize for what I did. I shouldn’t have kissed you in front of your boyfriend.”
There is an awkward silence, and both of you try to break it, but there is too much tension.
“He isn’t my boyfriend anymore. It wasn’t what you did what made him go away; it was my clinginess and obsession with him. I pushed him away and ruined his life.
“I am sorry.”
“This kind of stuff happens, and this is why I am here to get my shit figured out. I am still working for the MIT through my laptop, but recovery is a priority for myself.”
“I understand. I have to work on some programming homeworks that I requested from my professor in order to don’t get behind.”
It feels good to talk about normal stuff without romance and all the drama that made you feel depressed. Friendship fills you with DETERMINATION.