Weapons

Chapter 8

Don walks out of the bathroom and to the dining table. “I heard voices in here while I was in the shower,” he comments. “Dr. Morbien came to check on you,” I reply. “I told him to leave you alone,” I continue. “I appreciate it,” he replies as he sits at the table to finish eating breakfast.

I join him at the table. “I still don't feel clean” he says. “What do you mean? You just took a shower,” I respond. “I don't understand it either. I just don't feel clean. It's as if it doesn't matter how many showers I take or how hard I scrub, I can't get clean,” he responds.

“You look clean to me,” I state. “I know, I just don't feel clean” he repeats as he serves himself more eggs and potatoes. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better” I ask? “Just be here with me, talking to me is making me feel better” he replies. “They told me you would rather not see me,” he continues.

“Why would they tell you that? I've been begging to see you ever since you left the M room,” I counter. “I don't know. Dr. Isaac told me you were angry with me and didn't want to see me. He said you wanted me to stay gone. I started to believe him,” he answers. “I missed you so much, I worried about you constantly” I respond as he finishes eating his potatoes.

“I hope you don't think I was angry with you. I love you. You were all I thought about while you were gone,” I continue. “I know. I should've known not to listen to Dr. Isaac,” he replies. I hear a knock and the bedroom door opens. Dr. Lancaster walks in just as Don finishes his breakfast.

“Good morning, children,” she says. Don and I say nothing. “I was hoping to have another session with the both of you sometime today,”. “No,” I reply firmly. “All of this will be easier when you stop fighting the system” she counters.

“We're not fighting the system, we're simply asking questions to better understand what our purpose is for being here and why decisions are being made,” I respond. “I think you both could really benefit if you would cooperate,” she retorts. Don and I look at each other and back at her. “We don't trust you,” he says. “I'm very aware, although trust is a big part of what will make you both successful in our program,” she replies.

I can't stand her. I can't stand the entitlement she has to think she can come to us and have us tell her our entire life story. She continues to pry even after we've told her off. After everything Don has been through the past few days, she should leave. She has to know we want nothing to do with her. Why continue to keep putting yourself in that position?

“I didn't trust you before. I definitely don't trust you now,” Don says to her. “You should settle back in,” Dr. Lancaster says as she exits the room. “I want to go home” I say to Don. “I do too” he responds. I stand from the table and walk over to my bed.

“I'm tired,” Don says as he follows me over to my bed and sits down. “Can I sleep with you” Don asks as I lay down? I motion him to lie down and wrap my arm around him. “It's going to be okay. We just have to stick together,” I say to him. I hear him sniffle; he's crying.

“I'm never going to leave you. I'll never walk away again. I promise,” I say to him with sincerity. “You don't have to tell me what happened right now, you can tell me whenever you're ready,” I whisper as he silently continues to cry. I lay there and hold him tighter as he cries. “I'm right here, I'll always be right here” I mention just before I shut my eyes.