Broken

t w o

Chris tried talking to Melissa but was unable to get her to speak.

“How old are you?” He already knew the answer to that. He was told everything about her before he came to pick her up since he was assigned to her and was her patient.

“We’re almost there,” he tells her.

She just looked out of the car window, not bothering to acknowledge his statements and questions.

~*~

He opened his door and walked over to the door closest to Melissa. He opened it gently before unbuckling her belt. He offered his hand to her, but she rejected it, getting out herself.

He closed the door and lead Melissa into a building, through glass doors.

She walked a few steps behind Chris.

“This, way, I will introduce you to my mother. She is also the owner of the facility. After I will take you on a tour and show you where you’ll be staying.”

She nodded.

He smiled and gestured for her to follow him. He knocked on a door after a few minutes walk down different hallways.

“Come in.” The voice said. The same voice that talked to Melissa’s aunt on the phone earlier.

Chris opened the door, leaving enough room for himself and Melissa to enter.

“Mum, this is Melissa.”

Julie smiles great-fully and offered Melissa her hand. Instead of shaking, Melissa took a step back, shaking her head no.

Julie didn’t stop smiling, she just let her hand drop to her side and introduced herself.

“I’m Julie. I’m the owner of this rehab facility. I talked to your aunt on the phone earlier today. She told me all about you, dear. I hope we will be able to make you smile and help you in every way possible. Chris is my son and he will be taking care of you the entire time you are here. So if you ever need anything, please ask him or you can come to me if you prefer.”

She nodded her head.

“Great, now since that’s done, Chris, why don’t you show her around and to her room?”

“Alright, mum, see you later.”

Chris guided Melissa back into the hallway.

“I’ll explain the rules to you first. The most important rule in this facility is to not do anything that can cause you or anyone around you any harm. We want to keep this place a safe environment for everyone.”

“I’ll show you around first, then I’ll take you to your room.”

Chris started walking. Melissa followed.

“This is the dining area,” Chris gestured to the large open space with a few dozen tables. “The kitchen is off limits, you have to tell me what you want to eat, I will bring it to you.”

He kept walking. They crossed two lounging areas with much open space as well as a small library.

“Everyday, between seven and eight at night I will come to your room to discuss any issues you may be having. It is the only time during the day where you and I will talk in private about anything. I have two other patients, but otherwise, I will be with you full time, at least for the first few weeks since you are new here.”

Melissa nodded along to everything Chris said but never spoke once.

“I know you aren’t very talkative, but hopefully, after a few sessions, that will change.” He wears a hopeful smile.

“I’ll take you to your room now, okay?”

She nodded her head and followed him down a hallway.

There were windows everywhere. There wasn’t one place in this whole facility where there wasn’t any daylight.

He stopped in front of door 42.001. “This is going to be your room.”

He opened the door to reveal a decent living space. Melissa entered the room and looked around. A sofa was against one wall while the other had a TV on the wall with a small table underneath, holding some movies as well as books. The wall beside the sofa and TV was a window. Enough daylight, so the lights wouldn’t be needed until dawn. A glass door separated the living room from the bedroom.

A queen bed with a nightstand on each side and another wall with a large window.

A closet was on the wall opposite to the bed, it already had a few pieces of clothing hanging inside.

“Don’t worry, It’s all new and washed,” Chris said from behind her.

But that wasn’t all, another door in the bedroom lead into the bathroom. A bathtub in one corner with a vanity on the wall opposite the door and a toilet on the right. A shower cubical was also in front of the toilet.

All the rooms were done up very nicely.

Melissa walked back into the living room with Chris following behind.

“I have to go but I’ll come in and check on you in a bit. We won’t start our sessions until tomorrow. I’ll see you soon. Will you be okay on your own?”

She nodded her head. He smiled at her one last time before he left.