“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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz2VpFBAFG
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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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP3cUmLOzF
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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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZoSXDfiTz
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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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoib51i6EVA
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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…?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCibNk9qpst
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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!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCWVLR549P
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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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADr6qokc9I
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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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cMXwgBzzu
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“N...Norman….you’re my counselor, right?” the young man hugs his knees to his chest on the bed.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kYK4txPFX
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Norman turns to him again, “Yeah, why?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetFeIsRbOS
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“Why do you break the rules for me then? Like getting candy from outside the facility and bringing it here?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVoCLHbHr8
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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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIaIZQl3j4
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Abraham makes a funny face, “But, I'm not a child- are you reading parenting books?” he laughs a little.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cW350sSDw
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ335NcgPOfg
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHyGavnegl
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…542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSXn5qvQjm
“Norman…”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasYzty17a6
“Ah, yeah?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovBZixYin4
“How…” he begins, but sighs and waves a hand, gesturing that he forget about it.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi9Ljlp7y3
“No, what is it?” Norman’s eyebrows knit together, “I hate it when you keep things from me.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95qKSTyqcr
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…”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz4ilgZWug
He’s quiet, and the psychiatrist before him waits patiently for him to answer.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwgN7m7RSj
Abraham sighs, “I...I’ve just forgotten the times when everything could be quiet.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT2xU0CH5z
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8MzD0oLAa
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJb1CR8ESa
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7shi3GsETZ
“Please, don't…” he hits his head with his fist, “Shut up! I'm talking!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbm0gZoeDr
Norman grabs his wrist when he goes to hit his head again, “Hey, stop that. Did you take your medication?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxeZdxgu5H
“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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71my0mVfL5
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw93wSb13gf
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc7f6vTlmv
“Hey…” he whispers.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaTJWDRPLA
Abraham is too caught up into his thoughts and hiccupping, that he doesn’t hear him. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PIseM7fLB
“Abraham, hey-”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64304AHnRi
The kid suddenly gets up off him, hands pushing his shoulders away, “Ah! I-I’m sorry!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQF8HYz4nE
“What’re you talking about? You know it’s okay to do that, right? That I don’t care?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlXVCP1oz0
“Yeah, but, isn’t it disgusting?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVP02VN1nC
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaCtNDZg9s
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!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMayXslrLOC
Norman laughs a little, taking no offence, but rather agreeing, liking his laugh, “Yeah, but I’m taking care of you, aren’t I?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ftuWxpg5m
“I’m not a child, I’m a mentally disturbed young adult.” He laughs again, “Ahh...anyway, I need my meds.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOERebaXtq
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBCo4mKkKI
“Stop shaking your hands.” he flatly states.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0pAiyuaLh
“You know that I can’t.” the kid retorts curtly.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZB2xmgHeS
“Stop thinking then. Why’re you so afraid? They’re just voices.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERverALIvG
“Actually, from my point of view, this room is crowded.” It’s silent, “Delusions, remember? Hallucinations?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EEB0Gsg9k
“They’re just standing aren’t they? Why’re you shaking?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw4n3JWag8
Abraham shakes a little harder, eyes wide and he clamps his teeth shut, “They’re always…” He shuts his eyes, “…staring…”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhqk38VxjZ
“That’s why you can’t ever calm down?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcOYGhFJ9y
Abraham nods, “B...but the pills make it all go away, for only some hours though.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5c4FqLRhD
“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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklOTGcMTST
“Whenever you’re here they always look at you.” Abraham whispers when Norman scratches the back of his head.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcda6FVcqE
“Really?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc8ADvdrMg
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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZEtpt40bu
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVzLzmmli8
“Are they still staring at me?” Norman leans down to Abraham’s ear.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWH1qniEJq
“Yeah…” he points to the opposite corners of the small room, “there’s only a little left though.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5QagpZRB7
“That means the medicine is kicking in right?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI5GwA2ccE
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,”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwBbkLlz8q
“Hm?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPqKSUFsLV
“Why don't you have a girlfriend? Are you gay?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rg7UW5P47
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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNomjIWyTb
The man chuckles, “I'm not gay, I'm just not ready for dating people. They're disgusting and are only interested in sex.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH7XXIC7Uw
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafaRxnVMyP
“Nice doesn't necessarily mean that they're not interested in the way you appeal to them sexually.” Norman states, flatly, and coldly.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSw11jkt3m
“Jesus, I bet I could get a date faster than you.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxhPK5z8vn
The man laughs, “Says the one wearing a chastity belt.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYsI6YpFC1
“Shut up! They did that for safety reasons, even though I didn't rape anyone.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaGsdc4oyj
“Actually, they'll be taking it off you in a couple of months.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nOCGza7rD
“Really? Thank god. Even for a metal piece of underwear, it sure somehow manages to give me wedgies.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrmfDmxIWp
“Yeah, well, you've got an appointment with your brother and sisters in a couple of minutes, so I gotta get ready for that.” 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I1YqGvSrD
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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAwjvVOTAr
But, they're family, so he'll get over it.
