Trigger warnings: Mentions of depression, self-harm, abuse, eating disorder/weight, anxiety 

There was something to be said for the way Andy left as soon as Remington expressed his discomfort for his presence in the room. Remington didn't expect him to leave. He was used to being bombarded with Holly's attention whether he wanted it or not, and if he ever were to ask her to leave him alone, she'd only punish him for it. 

He watched the man close the door behind him, noticed the way he caught it with his hand before it slammed, how he shut it so softly it didn't make a sound. That's how their relationship was - gentle, easy, quiet. They didn't fight, they didn't hurt each other emotionally or physically, and if they were ever upset with one another, they sat down over dinner and they talked it out. 

Once, Remington recalled, while he was with his brothers, Andy turned up drunk and sobbing. He had helped the man up the stairs and into the bathroom and made him drink water until he was beginning to sober up. It was the first time he'd seen Andy properly wasted like that, and it was the day he learned about the conflict going on within Black Veil Brides. Their bassist was causing issues left and right, and being his close friend, Andy was struggling to work out how to deal with it. It was only after talking about it with Remington that he came to the decision of parting ways with him. There was no space for trouble in his band, not if he wanted to maintain his kind rock star reputation that he had worked so hard on. 

It was also the first time Remington's brothers had seen Andy drunk like that, and was all Sebastian needed to justify his unjust hatred towards the man. Remington never understood what his problem was, but they ended up breaking up a little over a year later, agreeing that they were going nowhere and they should see what and who else was out there. 

A decision Remington came to regret, and not just because of who else was out there, waiting for him to walk unknowingly into her cage. 

Alone in the hospital room, Remington lay carefully back down and closed his eyes. He imagined where he would be now, if none of this had happened and he was still the same eager, lively singer he wished he could be.

A nurse came in later to see how he was doing with the questionnaire he had been asked to fill in, and he gave it back, said he'd answered everything he could, which was mostly true. The only thing he'd left blank was the question Do you think there is something in your life that has caused these feelings? 

He didn't want to tell anyone. Too many people already knew, and only one was taking him seriously. Not even his own brothers were sympathising with him so what use would someone he'd never met have be? 

At some point, he drifted to sleep, and was woken with a start at the slamming of the door. His eyes flew open and he was met with the unwelcome but expected face of the woman who had put him here. She wasn't smiling but she looked proud of herself for finding him, and he couldn't bear breaking the eye contact because he knew she didn't like that. 

"Well, well," she said in a sing-song voice. "Fancy seeing you here." She pulled the chair right up to the bed and sat down, leaned forwards. 

Remington thought about screaming. 

"It's been a nightmare trying to find you. I went to both your brothers' houses, they didn't have a clue, and I even tried that guy you dated ages ago. You know, the one that broke into my house yesterday. Only, tracking his address down was super difficult because he's famous or something, and everything is kept private, and when I finally found it, he wasn't even there. Only this guy called Callum was, and he was no help. He just stared at me for two minutes."

She touched the bed and he involuntarily pulled both his hands into his chest. 

"So, anyway, I figured you'd be at a hospital, and this is the second I tried. What good luck." She did smile now. It made Remington's insides burn with fear. "Don't look so frightened, I'm not gonna touch you. Please, in a hospital? You know that's not my style. I'll be waiting for you, they said you're being discharged in nine days. If you gain enough weight, that is. Why are you letting them do this to you? You know you're prettier when you're thinner, they're just making you fat and ugly. Do you want to be fat and ugly?" 

Remington shook his head. He was forcing back tears. If she knew he was crying, she'd have laughed, and he couldn't take hearing her laugh. 

"Honestly, you can't do anything for yourself, can you? They don't care about you in here. You're just another nobody who can't look after themselves. Pathetic, truly." She shook her head. "But it's fine. Nothing I can't sort out once you're discharged. It'll give you time to heal a little, give you more room for punishing yourself for this little feat of yours. I hope you're proud of yourself." 

Silently, Remington prayed for there to be a CCTV camera in the room. It was the only chance he had at getting out of this alive. 

She stood up and smiled again. "I'll see you in nine days," she said. "It's been a pleasure." 

Unlike Andy, she did not stop the door from slamming, and even though he knew it was coming, Remington flinched. As soon as he couldn't see her anymore, he covered his face with his hands and tried to calm down. He felt sick and he wished he had never asked Andy to leave. 

It was too late now.