Bed 09

There she sat in reception with her mom and dad. They all starred blankly at random things around them. Not saying a word to each other. She was to blame for this tension and overall bad energy. After all, she's the one that tried to top herself. And this wasn't even the first time, being admitted into a psych ward. This marks her third visit in less than two years. Being only 17 years old, this is a lot to handle, not only for Daphne, but also for her parents. After what felt like 5 hours of waiting, the nurse finally showed up. "Thank God." Daphne's father snapped. "Dan." her mother said in an annoyed tone. "What? I just really need to get home. I'm tired." he replied and looked straight at Daphne. Her once blue-green, sparkling eyes, were now lifeless and dull. Where'd their little girl go? She's been lost now for years. "Mr. Clark, please come through." the nurses' voice snapped him out of his trance and he quickly followed behind. They were taken into a room where administration and paperwork would be done, then Daphne were to part with her parents for 21 days. They all said their goodbye's. Daphne's mother showing more emotion than her or her father. Hugging and crying and pleading. After the whole dramatic scene, her parents had left for home, which was nearly 2 hours away. Daphne turned and looked up at the big, white, intimating building. On it was written:"Glencare Psychiatric Hospital." A name she knew too well. She zoned out for a few before the same nurse came and took her inside. It felt as if the building was sucking her in to feast on her. Nothing new. The nurse took her to another room where her blood pressure, height, weight and sugar levels would be taken. After that she was handed a small, plastic cup. "We need some urine from you please, for the drug test." Right, something else she'll be failing. Thanks to all those different kinds of pills she necked the night before. After all this seemingly unnecessary effort, she was finally taken to her ward. The nurse pointed to the bed by the window and said, "That's you, bed number nine. Oh, almost forgot." She pointed to Daphne's bed and said:"That bag contains all your uniforms for the current week, please wear them during the day." Yeah, yeah, Daphne knew this whole story by now. She quickly packed all her stuff (including the hidden earphones) into the closet across from her bed, grabbed a uniform and changed. It was a long-sleeved, plain white shirt with the hospital's name printed in the left corner and baggy sweatpants. God, don't these people know it's summer? Daphne stood in the middle of the ward. Starring out the barred window. When will she get better?

Daphne's blank stare was interrupted by two female voices. She quickly spun around and saw two girls, about her age, smiling at her. "Hey, hey, you must be new girl!" One of them said. They were both built a bit bigger than Daphne, one was a little shorter than her and the other just a few inches taller. "Hey, yes, new girl, that's me." Daphne said awkwardly. "Welcome,"the other girl said,"to the mad house!"

"The looney bin!" The other exclaimed and they both giggled. "Uh, thanks, I guess." Daphney said uncomfortably. "Don't worry by the way, we just got admitted yesterday, so we're also fresh meat." One of them said. "Anyway, my name's Darlene." The shorter one said. 

"And I'm Debbie." Said the tallest one. "Me and Darlene were meant to be best friends, since our names both begin with the letter D, cool right?" 

"Well," Daphney smiled. "Prepare to have your minds blown." The two girls looked confused. "My name's Daphney." 

The two girls eyes lit up and they smiled in amazement. "Holy crap! That's so awesome!" Debbie exclaimed.

"Right? Now we can be 'The Tripple D's'!"

Darlene yelled in excitement. "And the best part is, we share a room!" The two girls came in for an unexpected group hug with Daphne in the middle. Daphne, not being used to this, is uncomfortable at first, but hugs back. And so, the three girls became inseparable. Eating meals together, group therapy together, chatting until late at night, even taking their meds together. It was all so joyful and warm to Daphne. She had a place where she belonged. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. After the first week, another patient was admitted. A boy, named Dylan. Of course the Trip D's freaked out and insisted he hung out with them. He was super cute too! And so, three became four, and friendship waa blooming. That is before that day. Three days after his arrival, Dylan confessed his feelings. He look deep into Daphne's eyes, with his big, brown ones, and said:"I really like you Daph, and I think your very cute, wanna be my girlfriend?" The other two girls gasped in excitement, Daphne just sat, frozen, looking at everyone around her waiting for her answer. "Uhm," she stuttered in shock, her eyes starring still caught in his. But she snapped herself out of it and looked down. "Look, Dyls, you're very sweet and handsome, but frankly I'm not ready for a relationship just yet, especially not one that bloomed in a mental hospital." Dylan looked dissapointed and said:"Nah, it's totally cool, I understand."

"Are you kidding me?" Darlene yelled, making everyone jump,"YOU'RE rejecting a guy like that?" Daphne smiled in embarrassment, thinking it was a joke at first, but then things got serious. "How does someone who looks like YOU, reject a guy like THIS? I mean c'mon, you're a walking stick, at least me and Debbie got curves. Right, Dyls?"

Dylan nodded his head in agreement, "You're right, Darlene, what was I thinking, asking out a stick-figure like that."

"Right?" Debbie chirped in, "and she ain't even that cute though!" The three of them started laughing maniacally. Daphne sat in shock, unsure of what just happened. She decided to rather get up and leave. The three mocked her as she walked away, all the while laughing at her. It was five o'clock, so Daphne decided to take a shower, maybe it could wash away the shock and humiliation. She went into the shower, without locking the door (since it's just girls), turned on the shower and began to get undressed. She heard their voices. They're back in the room. As Daphne got ready to take off her underwear, the door suddenly flung open, and there stood Darlene with her phone in her hand and Debbie alongside her. "Say cheese!" Darlene yelled and started snapping pictures of Daphne, still in her bra and panties. Daphne screamed and tried to run out for help, but Debbie pushed her into the shower, where she hit her head and blacked out.

While she was out, Daphne dreamt about her grandparents farm. She and her parents would visit there every weekend. She was that little, happy, playful, blonde girl again. Standing on the back of the truck during drives through the bushes to get firewood. Feeling free. She started waking up. She saw a big window next to her bed, outside she saw fields and cattle. Her vision was warm and loving. She heard people talking in the distance. It's her family. Her grandma making breakfast while the rest listened to music in the living room. Yes, she was back at the farm, everything was fine again. She heard a knock on the door and spun around excitedly, expecting to see one of the family calling her to come eat. But it was only one of the nurses. Daphne's face dropped, suddenly her vision went cold and dull again when she realised she wasn't at her happy place, she was still in Glencare. Then the dissociation hit and Daphne completely zoned out. "Mrs. Clark!" The nurses voice pierced her mind and snapped her back to reality. "Uh, yeah, sorry, guess I just didn't sleep well." 

"That's strange, because you've been sleeping since last night just after seven, after you injured yourself in the shower."

Daphne looked at the nurse very confused. "Injured myself?" Immediately Daphne pulled up her sleeves, thinking it was the usual, but there was nothing but the old scars. That's when she felt a sharp pain in her head. "No dear," the nurse said. "Apparently, you zoned out while in the shower, tripped and hit your head. Luckily, your two roommates heard it all and came to help you." Daphne glared over to Darlene and Debbie's beds. They weren't there. "So please, Mrs. Clark," the nurse continued, "try to stay in bed for the rest of the afternoon." 

Daphne didn't know what to think. She couldn't even remember what happened. Yeah, she dissociates a lot, but it has never lead to injury. She decided to screw the nurse's orders and got up to go for a smoke. As she left the room, she noticed eyes on her from all around. The other patients glarring at her, some in disgust, some she could see where trying not to laugh. What the hell was going on?

A few days had past after the pictures had been sent to nearly every young patient in the ward. The pictures in question? Half-naked photos of Daphne in the shower. She was devistated. She'd be bullied by nearly everyone by now, except the staff, who were either oblivious or just plain stupid. There was one incident that nearly broke her, even worse than the pictures. She sat outside in the smoking area by herself, when two guys, seemingly in their twenties, approached her. One came and sat left of her and the other right. Then it happened. Daphne came running through the doors, into the room and onto the bed. For a while she stared blankly at the ceiling, then tears started streaming down her cheeks, which then lead to hysterical crying. That's what happened. Daphne had been touched by unfamiliar hands. Without her consent. 

Broken and beaten, feeling like her soul wanted to leave her body behind and just disappear into space, Daphne laid on her side. Crying softly. The bullying never stops. Not at school, not even in a place where you're supposed to be 'helped'. "Mrs. Clark, your parents are here for visiting hours." Daphne quickly jolted up, wiping the tears from her face. She had decided not to tell her mom and dad, as she has caused enough problems as is. So, she did what she always did, put on an act. In the visiting room sat her parents, quietly and peacefully chatting. As she stepped in, it was the usual emotional greeting and hug from mom, and a very less emotional hug from dad. But they were together, and that made them happy. Visiting hours were from five to seven at night, but her parents could usually only stay for an hour at most because of the far drive home. As they were getting ready to leave, Daphne's mom grabbed her by the face softly and said:" Guess where we're going right after your discharge?" 

"The farm! Yippy!" her father yelped, much to her mother's annoyance as she wanted to tell her. Daphne eyes lit up like blue-colored flames. "What? I thought grandpa was very sick and they were going to sell it?"

"Well, grandpa's much better now, and they're keeping the farm just as it is." Her mother said. Daphne broke down crying, but with tears of joy for once. After the good news and goodbye's, it was time for bed. And so, time went by, day after day, night after night and it was hell. Especially the last two days of her stay. They felt extra long and hard. By now, most of the patients had forgotten about the pictures, moved on to something else probably. But of course Darlene and Debbie were still at it, saying things behind her back and spreading more rumours, being the back-stabbers they are.

Then came Daphne's last night. How great. This time tomorrow, she'll be playing cards with the family on the farmhouse's porch. And even better, grandpa's healthy! As Daphne was laying in bed, listening to music through her earphones. They snuck up from behind. Grabbed her. Tied her hands with her earphones and stuffed a pair of her own panties into her mouth to stop her from screaming. The two girls then grabbed Daphne's large suitcase and stuffed her little body in as much as it could go, zipped her up, threw her into the closet and locked it. Then they simply walked away and laughed like maniacs. Daphne's histeria is over now. Now it's just the darkness and claustrophobia setting in. Then once again, dissociation. When Daphne came by again, she was laying on her bed. She looked at her roommate's beds. Empty. The closets. Empty. Then in came nurse Lucrencia, the head nurse of the adolescents ward. "Mrs. Clark, are you alright? How are you feeling?" She asked. "Uhm,"Daphne wasn't sure what was happening around her."I-I honestly don't know nurse Lucy." Just then Dylan walked into the room and stood next to Lucrencia. "Wh-"Daphne's sentence was interrupted by Lucrencia. "This is Dylan Ferns, bed number 11, I believe you know him. He's the one that broke you out of the closet. Darlene and Debbie have been moved to a more controlled ward, due to their actions." 

"I see." Daphne said as she looked down at her hands, which were covered in bruises. 

"Mrs Clark, Mr Ferns here told us everything. We are terribly sorry that we didn't act sooner, but we needed more evidence. Your parents are on their way to pick you up as you are being discharged earlier." Daphne jolted with excitement. "Oh, wow, thank you nurse Lucy. And thanks, Dyls." She said sweetly. Dylan just nodded, before he abruptly left. "Hm, all that guilt he's feeling right now." Lucrencia smirked. "Serves him right. Anyway, pack your things sweety, it's time to go home." Daphne smiled brightly and Immediately jumped out of bed to start packing.

Next morning came and it was the long road-trip to the farm. In the car Daphne and her parents were chatting and singing. The closer they got to the farm, the warmer Daphne's vision became. Everything seemed colorful again. After a long drive, they finally arrived and out came the whole Clarks family to greet them. As Daphne got out of the car, she stepped out into the sunshine. Her warm and colorful vision was back. It was a hot, summer's day. Later that afternoon everyone was drinking, dancing and having a good time. Including Daphne's dad and his brothers, they were the loudest! But Daphne wasn't there. She sat outside enjoying the summer heat and starring at the sunset whilst having a smoke. What happened may have been terrible, but it reminded her that no matter how dark it may seem, you will always find your way to the light and step into the sunshine.

Violet Claas