Mental Hospital

Sleep. Eat. Work. Home. Repeat. That's my routine day to day. It's a dull life but I'm fine with it. As long as not a single thing transpire again. I don't mind not having anyone. Friends. Boyfriend. It's okay. I'm used to it. I'm used to having no one. I'm used to being alone.

I heard a knock on the door. I rose up and unlocked the door.

"Are you not going to the coffee shop today?" mom asked.

"No ma. My head hurts" i said massaging my temple.

"Is it throbbing so much? Let's go to the hospital" she uttered worriedly.

I chuckled" Don't worry mom, it just hurts a little"

"I slept late yesterday night. I finished some works"

I winced when mom pinched me " You are stubborn as a mule. I told you not to work too much. You have employees. That's why you employ staff's give assistance to you. What's the point of them if you just take all the work?!" Here we go again with mom's nagging.

"I'm enjoying it mom. You know i love working"

"I know but don't overdo it. You might get sick. Why don't you go out once in a while. Have fun. Enjoy"

"You know I can't do that ma" i said bitterly.

She embraced me tightly "Soon, Everything will be alright sweetie. We'll catch the murderer no matter what "

Who says laying in bed all day can make your headache disappear? My head hurts even more. I got up and head to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. Water is the best medicine to all sickness. Say's me.

I decided to go out and walk around the village. I wore earphones and listen to taylor swift song. She's my favorite singer.

This is the my first time strolling around since we moved here. Weird eh? Can't blame me for being paranoid.

I hummed softly along with the song when i felt someone tapping my shoulder. I turned around and saw a man. I took off my earphones.

"Yes?"

"You dropped this" he handed me a handkerchief.

Didn't notice i dropped this. I took it and thank him.

"Do you live here?" he asked.

I raised my eyebrow "Yes, why?"

He chuckled " Nothing. Just want to ask"

"May i know your name?"

"No" i turned around and started to walk. I know where that conversation is headed. He will ask my name. Then my number. Then he will text and call me and then asked to court me. I'm not being full of myself. He's just being obvious that he's interested in me.

I have to cutt him off right there. I don't want the murderer to have someone to kill again.

Just about to get home. My cellphone rang. It says 'Spring grove Hospital Center'

I answered the call. "Hello?"

"Good afternoon miss rebecca, we have something to tell you regarding your grandmother. Are you free this very day?"

"Ahm... I'm not sure. Did you contact my mother? " I've been there frequently. With mom. I can't go there by myself. Mom forbids me to go alone. She said grandma is dangerous.

"Yes but we can't reach her. It's very important miss rebecca. We appreciate it if you can come here now" the nurse said.

What should i do? Mom will surely be mad at me if i go there without her.

What the nurse say made me anxious. She said it's important. What if something happened to grandma?

In the end i decided to go. I'll just explain to mom why I disobey her.

I'm nervous. My chest is thumping loudly. My fear increased more because of the shrieked i heard in every ward.

I gripped the plastic bag tightly. I brought grapes and mangoes because this is her favorite.

The nurse greeted me when i arrived at the nurse station.

"Miss rebecca, good you came" she smiled at me. I smiled back.

" You said you have something to tell me about grandma. Is there a complication with her?" i asked concerned.

We take a seat at the reception area.

"We have something to disclose to you" the nurse said she looked nervous and guilty.

"What is it?" i asked

"The truth is.....uhm your grandmother escaped two months ago. She was gone for about three days"

I was shocked to her it. "Then why didn't you tell us right away? "

"We were going to tell you but the higher ups stopped us. They said they were going to fire us if we did. I'm sorry miss rebecca "

"How did she escaped ?"

"Honestly we don't know either. There is no cctv footage of her going out. It's still a mystery to us about how she escaped. All the keys to their room are at the nurse station . You need a card access to enter the nurse station, which only the nurse have" she explained.

"So that just means someone let grandma escaped" the nurse nodded.

"The director forced us to say nothing about what happened because they don't want to taint the hospital's name"

"Then why are telling me this now? You might get discharged"

"My conscience can't take it anymore. At first I have no intention of revealing this to you. It's just that your grandmother has changed since she came back two months ago"

"She would banged her head on the wall and would choked herself. She screams loudly every day..And what's worst is she's hurting other patients too"

I'm confused. She may be a mental patient but she act normal. She will just listen to the radio all day. If you asked her she will answer. She listens to what the nurse says. If she wasn't here, you'd think she's not sick.

"She refuse to eat anything or even drink water. She might weaken if she continues not to eat"

"Can i see her?" i asked. The nurse nodded and accompanied me to the garden.

I saw grandma sitting at the chair. She look likes she's murmuring something.

"Your grandmother keeps calling your name miss rebecca. That's why i called you "

I walked towards grandma with the fruits i brought. I sat next to her.

I signed okay to the nurses. They are watching me because grandma may hurt me.

I breathed deeply and slowly placed my hands on her. I smiled when she looked at me.

"Hi grandma" i felt relieved when she smiled back.

"Rebecca my dear" she hugged me tightly. I feel her shoulder shaking. I held her face and saw that she was crying.

"Why are you crying?" i wiped her tears gently.

"Why did you visit me just now? I miss you so much dear"

"I'm sorry grandma, I've been busy" she hugged me again.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry dear. It's all my fault. It's because of me. I'm sorry please forgive me" she said hystericaly.

"I don't understand grandma. Why are you sorry?"

"It's all my fault. I.... I'm the one who...."

"...kill..."