Deception: A Tale About Deceit and Venganza

August 2019

“Here’s your pass.” A correctional center mental institution nurse handed the nervous student her card. “It’s right down the hall, the last door on the left.”

“Thanks.”

The young girl adjusted the straps of her bag on her shoulder, pushed the rim of her glass and started walking away.

“Good luck though, this one doesn’t talk.” The nurse called after her, and she sat down going back to her phone.

Lilly Smith gulped and walked away. She was a 4th year psychology student and this was her first day on her project. They were assigned patients that they had to interview and evaluate.

Lilly stood outside room 4011 contemplating why she even took psychology. If it wasn’t for her dad she would have chosen art instead. She pushed her thick square glasses on the bridge of her nose, letting out a deep breath, she swiped the card unlocking the door.

She went in to see a small dimly lit room. The only source of light was from the small window high above. She saw a figure hunched over, sitting on the bed and scribbling away at something on the paper.

Lilly hesitantly approached her patient yet stood a good distance away. She didn’t want to be attacked, thus she kept her hand ready to press on the emergency button the nurse had given her.

“H-Hello. My name’s Lilly Smith. I’m a student from Columbia University.”

The patient stopped, the pencil movements momentarily ceased.

“Would you like to tell me your name?” Lilly sounded hopeful. She just wanted to get done with her questionnaire and leave.

The patient once again resumed with whatever they were doing.

Lilly sighed. She already knew this is gonna be a long day for her.

Lilly took a seat on the only chair that was there. It was bolted in its place so she didn’t have much of a choice to move it around. She took out her questionnaire that she needed it filled by the end of the week so she can submit it to her professor.

“What are you drawing?” Lilly asked after a while.

Her question remained unanswered.

Lilly just sighed and slumped on her chair. She took out her phone and started searching for ways to deal with difficult psychological patients and how to make someone open up.

It been an hour now and Lilly was ready to go home. The only sound that was consistent since the minute she entered was the scratching sound the pencil made against the paper.

After a while the patient stopped what they were doing. They took the paper in their hand and admired it for a second. Satisfied, the patient stood up. Now Lilly was fully alert.

The off white shirt and pants seemed too big on them. There was a number written on the left side of their shirt. P666. It was a number to identify patients.

P666 slowly handed her the paper she was working on.

Lilly grabbed it and smiled at them. She turned it around and saw a beautiful drawing of a phoenix burning in its flame. Lilly lifted her head to compliment them but they had already walked back to the bed and lied down, their back facing Lilly.

Lilly looked down at the drawing again, “This is really beautiful.”

Nothing was said. “Can I keep it?” Lilly hopefully asked receiving a grunt in reply.

As someone who loves art, Lilly appreciated what she was given. She took a photo of it and posted it on her Instagram page where she posts all her drawings.

It was 6:30 in the evening when Lilly reached home. She shifted to Manhasset for her attachment and attended class online.

“Mom, I’m home.” She called out.

“In here.”

Lilly walked to the kitchen where she saw her mother and father eating lemon pie. She placed her book bag on the counter and she took a seat near her dad, as her mom have her a slice.

“How was your first day?” Eric, her dad, asked taking a sip of his tea.

Lilly spooned the pie in her mouth as she shrugged.

“We didn’t talk. Well I did but never got a response back.”

“It’s gonna be tough now but give it a few days and you’ll be able to get through.” Her dad encouraged her.

He was a well-known psychiatrist and he wanted his daughter to be like him.

“I’ll give you some books to read. You might find something there that could help you.” Eric smiled and ruffled her hair.

Lilly smiled back at him and looked at her mom. Hannah, her mom, gave her an understanding look. She knew how much Lilly despised her major.

At night, Lilly sat at her desk, her laptop open, and books spread out in front of her, she was busy studying. This was her life, just keep her head buried in books and if she found time she would be drawing. She had zero social life. Four years in a top university and she only made one friend.

Lilly zeroed her eyes at the book her father gave her. She tapped her pencil while biting her lip.

“Oh what the hell.” Muttering, she picked up the book and nestled her-self comfortably on her chair and started reading.

The next day, Lilly woke up early. She took a granola bar and left home.

She reached the institution and checked in.

Lilly walked into room 4011 and just like yesterday she saw her patient sitting cross legged on her bed.

“Good morning.” Lilly chirped. Again no reply.

“I bought something for you, I hope you like it.” Lilly took a gift wrapped box out of her back pack.

This made her stop scribbling on her book. She slowly lifted her head and looked at Lilly through her curtain of hair.

Lilly saw the clear beautiful green eyes looking back her. She smiled warmly and approached her. Lilly made sure she doesn’t get too close to her, just in case.

She forwarded her hand encouraging her to take it.

Patient P666 looked at the box in Lilly’s hand. Unsure of what she should do. She looked back up and noticed the encouraging smile on Lilly’s face.

She picked her book from her lap and put it aside. She hesitantly and shakily extended her arm and got hold of the box in Lilly’s hand. Her hand lightly brushed against Lilly’s fingers which caused Lilly to jerk and pull back her hand in surprise.

Patient P666 gave her a startled look before it turned gloomy. She kept her hand extended refusing to accept the gift.

Lilly held her hand and her spilt second fear turned into embarrassment. She saw the gloomy look in her eyes and felt stupid for what she just did.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” Lilly apologized sincerely. “Please accept it, I bought it for you.”

P666 shook her head lightly, refusing to accept it.

Lilly sighed sadly. “How about this, you open the box and if you don’t like what you see, you can return it to me.” Lilly proposed.

The patient blinked at her and slowly retracted her hands. She carefully opened up the wrapping and looked inside to see a ‘Sela Art 54 Piece Pro Pencil set’ and a two new sketch book and some Crayola pencils.

Lilly had made sure to remove any sharp objects that could be potentially risky before wrapping it up.

She knew her new patient seemed to love art, just like her. Maybe she could win her trust by doing something they both loved.

P666 blinked once, twice at the site before her. She took out the new pencil and started drawing in her new sketch book.