“Abraham.” a soothing male voice calls out to him. He sounds gruff, like he smokes for a living, but it makes him sound appealing and calm.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkPbTdRUaR
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This soothes the young man’s rapidly beating heart, feeling a familiar hand slide onto his thumping chest, the man is feeling his heartbeat, and clicks his tongue.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXscKJyhbr7
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The schizophrenic cracks open an eye, then the other to make sure who exactly is touching him. This calms his paranoia and heart a little more, just by seeing that gentle face. He’s no taller than him, maybe an inch or two above his height, and has this short, dark sex-hair style; it is messy, like bed hair, but it seems that the women among the facility faint at the sight of him. It is true that his man is attractive beyond anything that Abraham has seen, despite this man’s alcohol problem and smoking habit, causing the fact that he always smells like ash. He always tries to cover it up with Old Spice® deodorant , but the other man can always tell. Also ignoring his lazy-shaven scruff and sunken eyes, the man has a prominent jaw line and heavy, sinewy body. His auburn eyes can be very warm, but they slant downwards from the outside corners, and cause him to look like a sad puppy. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc2KXdRTt6
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“So, kid, can you tell what pack brand and year?” He chuckles heartily, and holds up a cigarette to his lips.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj6s4LQNBU
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Abraham thinks for a moment, “Well, based on the number seventy-eight orange-tan color, and the fact that it’s Thursday, I would say that it’s Marlboro,” He thinks harder, and then answers the year in a sort of uneasy question, “1924…?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AnlrHiOoe
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The older man tilts his head back, laughing deeply into his chest, then turns and looks at him, ruffling the already messy mop that sits on Abraham’s head, “That’s right, kid!”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5tABkUfBV
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Marlboro is his favorite brand, no less, and believes it’s not a brand of cigarette, it’s a lifestyle. Really the best he can get at the local stores or anywhere around himself. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuEDbJQfpb
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Other than his smoking habits and drinking problems, he entertains Abraham and makes sure that he steers away from self harm and watches intently when the other downs each of the 32 different pills that is mandatory he takes.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltc3676eqp
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“N...Norman….you’re my counselor, right?” the young man hugs his knees to his chest on the bed.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9FpnuLYCO
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Norman turns to him again, “Yeah, why?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfXX7aaf7c
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“Why do you break the rules for me then? Like getting candy from outside the facility and bringing it here?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8ridX2TOt
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Norman scratches the back of his head and thinks, tugging on the hairs of his chin, “Well, it’s ‘cause you always look depressed and in the books I’m reading, it says that kids eat candy or play outside to feel happier.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DV6SoYWov
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Abraham makes a funny face, “But, I'm not a child- are you reading parenting books?” he laughs a little.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9wQlmqe0F
Norman doesn't make eye contact with him, but nods. The older man was not one to do that sort of thing, and looked rather embarrassed that he let something like that slip his tongue. He takes the cigarette back up to his mouth, lips curling around it, and sucked on it to get that bitter tang of the intoxication swirling around in his lungs, breathing in something along the lines of death. The cancer stick is held between his lithe, tan fingers; the pointer and middle digits. Norman exhaled, and Abraham watched the smoke leak out from his lips and rise up into the vent at the top corner of the room. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qPB06bBGK
Norman looked at his watch, and turned to Abraham, who was shaking, like a large chihuahua. This was normal for him, he never stops shivering, really. And although this is true, and seemingly normal, the psychiatrist knew it was because of his constant paranoia and the lingering whispers at the back of his head, nagging and insulting. The poor guy is so used to insults, that he’s quite unpredictable when it comes to certain throwbacks. Although, Norman has noticed that he’s highly more likely to become irrationally furious when the other patients scream or comment negatively on his mumbling or murmuring, like he’s talking to himself. When it comes to his appearance or his intelligence level, Abraham quickly brushes it off and throws something back at them. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9gGP0SJgF
It is good that he’s less sensitive, and he’s opened himself to at least the person that’s taking care of him, but…577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfp0FHTeWT
“Norman…”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWriNubcGLo
“Ah, yeah?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdGBAw3wRF
“How…” he begins, but sighs and waves a hand, gesturing that he forget about it.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeundEh7wl1
“No, what is it?” Norman’s eyebrows knit together, “I hate it when you keep things from me.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt1tN22tnI
This pressed a button on the lanky young man. His head flew up and towards him, as a guilty expression painted his pale face, “I… it’s just…”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmzly9iyq8
He’s quiet, and the psychiatrist before him waits patiently for him to answer.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvdXyOWFL5
Abraham sighs, “I...I’ve just forgotten the times when everything could be quiet.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf48v07azo
It’s a stab to the heart when his face drops to sadness. Norman watched the muscles in his face shift from curiosity to pain to misery, and those expression in a row created a heartache in the psychiatrist’s cold heart. It swelled up and got stuck in his throat and made painful desolation, or emptiness, in his chest. He always felt guilty and horrible after watching the boy tense up into stress seizures or bang his head against the walls until he passes out from blood loss. When he was examining him, white streaks laid upon the inside of Abraham’s thighs and the inside of his wrists. His eyes are always sunken and sleep deprived, and his posture is due to staying up all night with his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth. Abraham twitches a lot and sometimes he’ll close his eyes like someone is yelling at him. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM61XTDEGll
Norman hesitates before pressing his palm against Abraham’s back. The young man twitches, but calms some into his hand, Abraham continues, “I used to play my violin or the piano in the library at my parent's house to override what I heard.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmBl0xPzQL
Knowing that this might be too much for the guy to talk about, Norman frowned and sighed, “Hey, you really scared us yesterday night so you have one more day until you're back in the straight jacket.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK3Dgzn4Je
“Please, don't…” he hits his head with his fist, “Shut up! I'm talking!”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33iJYzAxxD
Norman grabs his wrist when he goes to hit his head again, “Hey, stop that. Did you take your medication?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNxDdKiAYC
“No… I… I forgot about it…” Abraham hangs his head, the psychiatrist takes hold of both his wrists, and he’s leaning into his hands against his wrists. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnElYmx0wyq
Norman furrows his brows once more, the crease between them looked permanent, but this time, he wasn’t angry or irritated, but mournful. His hand releases from one of the other’s wrists and slides it over his back. He brings him close, letting Abraham lean into him and cry into his shirt, like he always does. The young lad likes to cry, or at least in front of Norman. It makes him feel safer, to cry out in despair and let all of his worries go. Norman likes that he’s crying, that means he’s getting better. When he first came here, the kid was as emotionless as a rock. Norman appreciated that he was somewhat special, honestly this kid was the only thing that got him up in the morning. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Vd5XsrJL
He wraps his arms around the shaking, sobbing, broken man and pulls him in closer. Norman pats his head, taking note of his matted, wavy hair, unbrushed, but clean. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegGWphCXC6
“Hey…” he whispers.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nuXKvch8I
Abraham is too caught up into his thoughts and hiccupping, that he doesn’t hear him. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JoghWJWrS
“Abraham, hey-”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rVzrL1jIb
The kid suddenly gets up off him, hands pushing his shoulders away, “Ah! I-I’m sorry!”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPiPfJz0MR
“What’re you talking about? You know it’s okay to do that, right? That I don’t care?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS33DIc35gg
“Yeah, but, isn’t it disgusting?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJDpzI0UFw
Norman chuckles until it gradually turns into a hearty laugh, deep down into his gut, “Abraham, I have a neice much younger than you- she’s 3- and it seems like every five minutes she’s spilt something, spit up, thrown up, shit, or pissed. She drools a lot, too, by the way. You’re nothing compared to her, please, continue if you need it.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50dXbLRfaa
Abraham doesn’t know what to think, until he smiles and stifles a little laugh. It’s not long before he spits it out, but it sounds hoarse and dry, like he hasn’t laughed in a long time, “I’m sorry! It just…” he laughs a little more, “I can’t see you taking care of a child!”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NElZPIJl5
Norman laughs a little, taking no offence, but rather agreeing, liking his laugh, “Yeah, but I’m taking care of you, aren’t I?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlEpLLZzao
“I’m not a child, I’m a mentally disturbed young adult.” He laughs again, “Ahh...anyway, I need my meds.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQJVQXjULw
He gets up, hunched over and compressed in, like someone is pressing the sides of his body. His shaky hand grabs the first bottle, the other rubs his eye. The psychiatrist can hear the pills rattle, and it takes the other a little while to only have two pills in his hand. Norman watches him with distaste, like this scene in front of him is making him upset. He stands up and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. He watches him intently, making the other more tense and nervous. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID3YTJRRix
“Stop shaking your hands.” he flatly states.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hHrEQmk3g
“You know that I can’t.” the kid retorts curtly.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1y7aBzMoP
“Stop thinking then. Why’re you so afraid? They’re just voices.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ANGXPiIS0
“Actually, from my point of view, this room is crowded.” It’s silent, “Delusions, remember? Hallucinations?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrBf8IbBbZ
“They’re just standing aren’t they? Why’re you shaking?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlkS8dCn0k
Abraham shakes a little harder, eyes wide and he clamps his teeth shut, “They’re always…” He shuts his eyes, “…staring…”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ivfenM4P2
“That’s why you can’t ever calm down?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFkDfHiUAi
Abraham nods, “B...but the pills make it all go away, for only some hours though.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WAP7qnmdu
“Yeah, I know.” He stands shoulder to shoulder with him. Norman feels a burning sensation at the back of his head, like someone is intensely staring at him.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmv95Zwg5p
“Whenever you’re here they always look at you.” Abraham whispers when Norman scratches the back of his head.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrBhpLi5fh
“Really?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uLDZENJep
The kid nods and swallows his first pills. Norman suddenly grabs all of the pills and sets them on the floor by the bed. He sits the 19 year old in front of the bed and behind the bottles and boxes. The psychiatrist sits on the bed directly behind him, He takes out a glittery pink hand brush in one hand and a chunk of Abraham’s hair in the other. He gently begins to brush against the hair in his hand. The teenager leans back, liking the feeling of his hair being played with. Norman brushes and brushes until Abraham’s hair is completely unmatted and untangled. The raven mop on his head was silky and smooth. His grandparents send him shampoos and conditioners that appeal to him because he doesn’t like the ones in the showers. It’s almost perfect, but the hair the falls over his right eye looks annoying. Abraham had just finish taking all of his pills.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkZfuGDbck
He's like a little kid, the psychiatrist thinks, the way he looks like purring kitten when he messes with his hair. This feels nice, the other thinks. He’s calm, the room is silent, and the people are fading away. One by one, men and women, emotionless, scarring, and faceless. He’s insane, he knows that, but he doesn’t like to admit it all the time. Sometimes he pretends he’s just in an adoption center waiting for his parents, his happiness. He tells himself, it’ll be here soon enough, he just has to be good and wait for it. Although, it’s been several months and he’s starting to realize that he might be here forever. He won’t admit it, he doesn’t want to, so he keeps pretending. 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmreVYTfaK3
“Are they still staring at me?” Norman leans down to Abraham’s ear.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPILU6pQy8p
“Yeah…” he points to the opposite corners of the small room, “there’s only a little left though.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf6gDtl1h0
“That means the medicine is kicking in right?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevJuxZrlwA
Abraham stares down at the antipsychotic and anti-tremor medication in front of him and nods. He thinks for a long time, and he's noticed how Norman never comes along with a girl. It's mostly other patients or staff members. Abraham frowns at that, “Norman,”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qltEXiCkm
“Hm?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTUPPONq7r
“Why don't you have a girlfriend? Are you gay?”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuez9Bi5amG
Its silent, the psychiatrist is thinking on how to reply. It's funny that he asks him that- he's not gay, but rather not interested in dating people.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvaNS09LA2
The man chuckles, “I'm not gay, I'm just not ready for dating people. They're disgusting and are only interested in sex.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AusdLRYOv
The boy turns to him, “I don't believe that. There are plenty of girls here at the facility that are interested in you. They're nice people.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebJczPLeZi
“Nice doesn't necessarily mean that they're not interested in the way you appeal to them sexually.” Norman states, flatly, and coldly.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3r6PzyeE1
“Jesus, I bet I could get a date faster than you.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4UUcpA2Gm
The man laughs, “Says the one wearing a chastity belt.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS94StG8p4
“Shut up! They did that for safety reasons, even though I didn't rape anyone.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBw2Mlohk8
“Actually, they'll be taking it off you in a couple of months.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOfeacK2bV
“Really? Thank god. Even for a metal piece of underwear, it sure somehow manages to give me wedgies.”577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLHBAA0fCR
“Yeah, well, you've got an appointment with your brother and sisters in a couple of minutes, so I gotta get ready for that.” 577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgNTzT48AJ
Abraham sighed regretfully, forgetting about that. His siblings always make something emotional out of nothing. He'll be sitting across the table quietly, and then he'll start trembling or twitch, and his sisters will start crying. It's embarrassing, really.577Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bgtW7Y9Nx
But, they're family, so he'll get over it.
