Broken

o n e

Her aunt stood in front of her door again.

“Melissa, dinner is ready.” No response. “Melissa, you have to eat.” Still, she didn’t receive an answer. “Please sweetie, you know this isn’t healthy, you’ve got to eat.” Her aunt gave up after trying. She left a plate outside of Melissa’s room and left.

Melissa didn’t open the door, she was afraid her aunt would still be outside, so she just sat in her closet and waited.

~*~

“Okay, Melissa, I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry but I think I’m going to have to get you some help.” Her aunt loved Melissa, there was no doubt, but she couldn’t handle watching her own niece suffer. She took a long breath before starting again. “I found a nice rehab facility for you, they will help you, take care of you and hopefully bring back the Melissa I know and love.”

Melissa still didn’t say anything. Her aunt sighed and walked away.

~*~

“Hello, I called this afternoon regarding my niece, Melissa Brooks” Her aunt was talking to the owner of the rehab facility.

From the other line, a soft, kind voice spoke, “Yes, thank you for getting back to me. Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes, actually.”

The phone call lasted for about thirty minutes. Julie Holland was on the other line. Owner of the rehab facility and in charge of new patients. Basic information was exchanged. Melissa’s state, her age, why she needed to be accommodated in their facility and how serious her issue from suffering would be.

Julie was more than happy to accept Melissa into her facility. She wanted to help Melissa become her true self, perky and full of life and enthusiasm.

Her aunt, once again, knocked on the door. “Melissa, I called the facility, they said they will pick you up in three hours. Please be ready by then, darling.” She didn’t wait for her to respond, she just walked back downstairs. 

~*~

The car was waiting outside of the house.

“Melissa, they’re here,” her aunt yelled from downstairs. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting sir, I’ll go get her.”

“It’s no problem, Ms. Brooks, take your time.” The voice belonged to a young gentleman. He possessed dirty brown hair which was quite short and piercing blue eyes. He wore dress pants and a full sleeve shirt tucked into his pants.

Quite charming, one would say.

“My name is Christopher, but I prefer Chris. I have been assigned to attend to and take care of Melissa.”

He offers her his hand. They shook for about three seconds before he dropped his hand to his side.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Chris. I will just be back with her.”

He nodded.

She walked upstairs, a key in her hand.

She only used this key six times before, only because Melissa wasn’t eating. She unlocked the door and opened it slightly. “Are you ready, sweetie? Your ride is here.”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she walked towards her aunt, wearing a dark red cotton tank top and black lounging pants. Her hair was let loose over her shoulders, stopping several inches below her shoulders. It was a dirty blond with slight curls. She wore no makeup.

She didn’t have anything with her.

She walked past her aunt and started going down the stairs at a slow pace. Her aunt followed behind with caution.

Once Melissa was standing with her aunt at the entrance of the house, she introduced Chris to Melissa.

“Melissa, this is Chris, he will be taking care of you, okay?”

Melissa didn’t say anything, just looked down at her hands.

Chris smiled ever so slightly before bidding Melissa’s aunt goodbye and leading Melissa into the car.

He opened the back door, allowing Melissa to sit down.

He leaned over her to fasten her belt and closed the door carefully. “It will take about thirty to forty minutes before we get to the facility, okay?”

Melissa didn’t say anything.

He looked at his watch; 4:39. He started the engine of the car and made his way to the rehab facility which was bordering the city of Oxford.