CHAPTER FIFTEEN | BE MY FRIEND

Lonely, Painful, Scared, Afraid
Those days are gone

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THREE YEARS FROM THE COUNSELING
2015

Today was it. The day Dallia knew she'll be finally free from all the white sickening walls, the nurses nonstop watching over her, and the repeating words from her counselor – Son Hyemin.

An abstruse smirk spreading widely across her lips as she faced herself in front of the mirror. The thought of being able to manipulate her doctor into thinking she was okay was delirious.

She always wondered why she was stuck in the hospital anyways. Following strict rules twenty-four-seven made her feel sick. All she ever wanted was a friend – yet after she saw the true intentions of Hyemin, it angered her.

People...they can't be trusted.

Dallia knew no one could be trusted, so she had to break out. Forcing herself to act differently in front of them and had to follow the rules despite the constant pain it gave her. And so, that lead her to today, her release date.

Walking out of the doors made her heart jump in joy. The nurses and doctors she associated with congratulated her, happy that they have helped her escape that dark reality she was trapped in, but no – what they didn't know was it was all an act, an act to escape.

Despite her environment at home was much more odious compared to being stuck at the mental hospital. She couldn't recognize her parents anymore – they weren't like this before. They were a happy family.

She felt lost while looking at the framed pictures that adorned their supposed to be 'lively' living room, it felt dead with a strong stench of alcohol reeking here and there.

"I can't believe I wasted thousands of money to cure you– I don't even think they cured you." Her mother spat, lighting up a cigarette.

Dallia stayed silent, eyes still fixed on the picture frame. "Where's Duri?" She asks faintly, remembering her little brother that was always with her back then.

Her father scoffed in disbelief, "Are you seriously asking us that? You fucking killed him- that's where he went."

Dallia bit her bottom lip, balled fists clenched as she furrowed her brows. "I did not..."

"You fucking did- you psychotic bitch." Her father exclaimed before slamming their door close. "Once she turns nineteen, she better be out of this house."

Dallia gazed down, suppressing the tears that was on the brink of falling. Taking the silence as the cue to leave, she quickly walked up the stairs and went to her room.

Her mother glanced up at the stairs, chuckling bitterly. Blowing out a grey haze from the cigarette, she shook her head, "You upset the poor kid." She said in a mocking tone.

"Like I care. She ruined the family- she ruined our lives! Now we have a debt to pay thanks to her."

Up in her room, the girl hugged her knees closer, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She shot her head towards her desk, seeing her spare box settled under it.

Picking herself up from the floor, she trudged towards her desk, flinching when she saw a quick glimpse of her reflection through the mirror.

Allowing herself to look into the mirror, she saw the same exact thing she saw back at her first counseling. The body ragged figure, blood was splattered and smeared everywhere.

Shaking her head solely, she sat back down on her desk and reached for her sewing kit. Taking the loose thread and a clean needle, she began stitching herself up, muttering the words, "I can't believe the doctors never bothered to stitch up my wounds."

But to them, there were no wounds.

Humming softly, she finished up her stitches with a smile plastered on her face. By then, she had forgotten about the little feud that happened awhile ago.

Hearing a soft meow coming from her window, she instantly shot her head up, seeing a cat that had jumped from the nearest tree branch and onto her window ledge.

Tilting her head slight to the side, she softly said, "Will you be my friend?"

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mhm it's starting to get confusing ain't it?