Day 2.

A nurse came to wake me up at seven in the morning. I would have preferred a few more hours of sleep, given the restless night I had spent. Images of the girl kept coming back to my mind: the fear in her eyes, her hand clinging to me like a lifeline, her cries... Why does she mark me so much?

All these questions disturbed me for several hours. And now I have to face this second day of immersion.

Breakfast starts at eight o'clock. After getting ready, I go down and head to the refectory. I run into a few people, some of whom are accompanied by orderlies. Instinctively, I look at the girl's room. I would so like to know her name. The door is closed.

At the bottom, I immediately spot Freddie. Freddie sees me and makes big signs while smiling. Once my breakfast is on the set, I sit next to him, at the same table as the day before.

"Brody!" he greets me, tapping me on the shoulder.

He seems to have slept better than me.

"How are you, Freddie?" I asked him.

I look at his tray. He had a bowl of cereal with blueberries. Only the fruit floats on the surface of the milk. He must really have a problem with fruit. His glass of orange juice is empty a pancake is half eaten on his plate.

"Well," he said, "I slept like a baby. I'm happy. And today I have a walk in the forest with my group."

"Your group?" I ask, confused.

"Yes, my therapy group," he explains. "According to Dr Gallagher, being in harmony with nature can only be beneficial for our mental health. We usually sit in a circle in a room and we talk, each in turn. But once a week, we get the ride. It's my favorite day, besides... Besides, I saw that your name was on the list!"

I raise my eyebrows, surprised by his revelation. Then I remember that Dr. Gallagher had to tell me my schedule. I didn't know there were outdoor activities for patients.

"I'm glad you're coming with us," he announces, eating the last part of his pancake with enthusiasm.

I was less enthusiastic about it than he was. While I should be motivated to pursue my research, and this trip to the woods is the perfect opportunity to meet up with Freddie and ask him the questions that are essential to my character's development, I can't get my eyes off the empty space by the window. But where is she?

After breakfast, Freddie's group -- and mine too -- meets at the entrance to the institute. Three nurses are looking after us. I recognize one of the three. He was in the girl's room. He looks at me quickly when he makes the call. We have to go in pairs. Freddie comes up next to me with one hand over my shoulders. He seems really happy that I'm here, and I'm also glad that he's okay. Our first meeting having gone moderately well -- partly because of me -- I am relieved to find him in this jovial state of mind.

"You'll see, it's great... You can even pick flowers... And in the afternoon, we go to the workshop to make a herbarium. I love herbaria! And they also organize contests to reward the most beautiful creation... I've never won, but every time I win, I intend to win!"

I admire his determination. At least he has a goal that allows him to focus on something other than his addictions and his dark thoughts.

As we set out, the nurse of the previous day stops me by placing a hand on my shoulder. His eyes are evil. Freddie looks at us, doesn't understand what's going on.

"You are not leaving," he says to me with a dry voice.

If Freddie wasn't next to me and I wasn't in this place, I would have pulled a straight line through that asshole's jaw.

"But he's on the list," my friend says.

Another coach beckons him to come forward. Little reassured, I nod my head to my companion to assure him that everything is going well. I don't want to ruin his one day of walking.

"Come with me," the ohter says, bringing me back to the centre.

Quickly, I recognize the path he is taking me. We are on our way to Dr. Gallagher's office. Why does he want to see me? Maybe this will also be an opportunity for me to ask him about Freddie. The nurse knocks on the door, to warn of our presence. It opens and the director welcomes me in his office, thanking the nurse by the name of Ben.

The doctor closes the door and invites me to take a seat in front of his office. He sits in front of me.

"How's your immersion going, Hero?" he asks.

"I'm taking my cues slowly. I'm a little confused, to tell you the truth, but I'm fine. My experience has just begun, but I am sure it will bear fruit."

"I'm glad to hear you say that."

I do not know why, but I have the feeling that he did not call me only to ask about me.

"I saw that you had interacted with another resident yesterday over dinner," he says in a dreamy tone. "Freddie Stone."

"Yes. We were sitting at the same table and we sympathized", I reply.

"Freddie is a very nice and sensitive young man. I don't know what you told him, but it's important that you stick to the story you served him. He's easily disruptive, and I don't think you'd want to hurt him."

"No, of course not."

"Very good."

A silence settles in the room and the atmosphere changes, becoming heavy.

"I am sorry to have deprived you of your exit, if I may say so, and even though you have only been here since yesterday, I had to speak to you."

"I am listening."

"I got wind of an incident last night involving part of the medical team and a patient," he tells me.

I bow my head. Even though I am not proud of the way things have turned out, I have no regrets whatsoever about intervening.

"I too have a few comments to make on this subject," I reply, with furious eyebrows.

"We are in a psychiatric hospital, although I don't like to use that word," he reminds me in a calm tone. There are things going on in that institution. They're not necessarily pleasant things. What you witnessed yesterday is just a small part of what our teams have to overcome every day.

It is a time-out. I am reconsidering what he said and I hope I did not hear it right.

"I'm sorry, but... I don't think we've seen the same scene, you and I, Doc", I say, stiffening in the chair. "They were three to one on her to make her swallow some pills! Do you think that's normal? His people pay fortunes to get the best care possible and you, you..."

I get very excited. I get up from the chair, as if to support my words with gestures.

" ... you condone this kind of behaviour?" I go on, furious.

"Our teams were selected by me and are specialized in each of the pathologies that these people present, he says, always calmly. They know what they're doing. As for Miss Atkins..."

I no longer listen to his words. He had just given me his last name. I have an element of his identity. I want to know her first name.

"... and I would ask you, in the future, not to interfere in the work of my doctors", he concludes. "If not, I would have to end our collaboration. Can I count on you?"

His last words bring me back to reality.

"Yes, I am" resigning myself to answering.

He seems satisfied with my answer. He gives me a short smile before he gets up and opens the door. He holds out his hand, which I force myself to squeeze.

******