Suffering Alone In Silence

I arrived at the hospital over an hour ago, Frank's parents have been notified about my position and the doctors have complete confidence in me. I really hope I can help him. We've been talking for over an hour and he seems to have gotten worse since I spoke to him at school. He asked about Mikey, who was fine other than the crying his eyes out part. Baby brother was upset about the hospitalization thing and about his girlfriend.

“What year is it Frank?” I asked.

“It is 2009. May 1st,” he replied correctly, “And it is two o' four pm.”

“Okay Frank, where were you born?”

“I was born in the Albany hospital.”

I checked his records, which were in the file in front of me, he was right. But I'd expect so. I didn't ask any more questions, because he obviously knew exactly where he was, and why.

“Gerard? When will they let me out?” Frank asked in a small voice, peeping up through his fringe. His eyes burned into mine.

“I don't know, Frank. Work with me and it'll be sooner. I promise,” I said quietly, still staring into his eyes.

He looked down, breaking the contact. His cheeks glowed a rosy pink and he whispered, “Frankie.”

“Sorry, what?”

He looked up again and smiled, “Call me Frankie. Please.”

“Okay, Frankie, will you help me help you? Or am I going to help you by myself?” I asked in my 'psychiatrist-better-than-you' voice.

He looked at me again, grinning. “I'll help.”

“That's good. Are your parents going to come and see you?” Surely they can't be that heartless, they sent their child to an institution and won't even come to say goodbye.

“I hope not,” He said, still staring at me through his thick hair.

We talked for another hour or so until Dr Masters said that Frank had to go back to his room because he had a visitor. Hearing about Frank's life, I don't think it's his parents. It's probably Mikey. We led him back to where Mikey was waiting in the corridor.

“Frankie!” Mikey squealed, jumping on Frank, pulling him to the ground in a bear hug.

“He-y Mikey,” He stuttered whilst being suffocated in Mikey's enormous hug.

“I'll leave you guys alone,” The doc stated, and ushered me away too. They have cameras in the rooms, they don't need supervision.

“Dr Way, I'd like it if you could write anything you learn about Frank and his past in this,” he passed me a small notebook, “And I have notified your college and Belleville High, they both know you'll be helping with Frank. You can still work at the school, but he is the priority.”

“Thanks Doc. Can I go now?” I asked.

“Sure.”

I walked to the bus station and got on the next one that came. I looked around, for Maude, in case she was there. She wasn't, so I sat in an empty seat at the back. For the trip, I wrote about Frank in the little notebook. I wrote about him and his relationship with his parents, and about Mikey and about the school.