Danni

A teenage girl is suffering through depression and is sent to Chester Springs Hospital, where she tries to fit in.

Belonging somewhere is hard in this world. Being accepted is even harder. Everyone judges you by your looks and the way you dress. If you’re not at the top than you’re not good enough to talk to, or you’re not social enough. I for one am one of these people. I don’t have the clothes that everyone has, with normal brown curly hair, which sticks out in all directions. I don’t socialize with many people, but my best friend Jake and my classmates that try to talk to me. I’m the girl everyone doesn’t want to be around, due to me aggressive mood swings and low tolerance. I have an attitude problem and my sarcasm always gets me into trouble. 

I won’t be seeing Jake for a while, nor my family and school. I’m walking through the doors of Chest Springs Hospital with my stepmom, sister and father. I’m looking around the place, while waiting for them to call me. Chest Springs is a little hospital, about a half hour away from my home. It’s not exactly located in the middle of nowhere, but mountains surround the land and a few farms. There is a little pond in the back, with different types of fish and a tree behind it. Under the tree is a bench, where you can enjoy the beautiful day. The staffs walk around with what looks like a fake smile, attending to the patients, wearing blue, green, yellow, or pink nurses outfits. The people here don’t look happy, and some even scare the hell out of me.

“Ms. Danielle Brown?” I hear my name finally being called, but I’m too scared to get up or say anything. So I just sit there in silence.

“Mrs. Brown?” I hear again and this time a lady about the height of my sister is staring at me. She looks pissed.

“Oh, that’s me. Sorry…zoned.” I answer as she starts to walk towards a door. My stepmom is looking at me, wondering what that was about. As we walk through the doors, my heart starts to race. I’m sure if you listened hard enough, you could hear it.

 Everyone is staring at me as I’m being led down a long narrow hall. The walls are plastered with red, green and blue splatters everywhere and a few pictures in each hall way. There are about ten rooms per hall, not including the cafeteria. The room I’m led into is small, has a table in the middle and a little folding thing off in a corner. On the table, is a set of light blue clothes and a pair of white Velcro sneakers?

 “Shoe laces please.” A short lady with big green eyes and long black hair says to me. I roll my eyes, as if I’m gonna’ use them to strangle or hang myself with. I had better idea’s to get myself out of this hell hole they call life. Unfortunately that’s what landed me in the loony bin. My stepmother found my suicide book after finding me trying to stab myself through the heart with a carving knife. The look on her face was priceless, but I had a feeling of disappointment. I wasn’t disappointed from guilt, but because I wouldn’t be here today, if she would have given me a few more minutes.  

As I take off my shoe laces, the lady picks up the set of clothes and tells me to change into these, while pointing to the corner with the folding thing.  I do as I’m told and I’m led to another room where my “family” awaits me. Silence over whelms the room and the only thing you can hear is the clicking of my sisters phone. She is probably telling her little preppy friends about how pathetic I am and how this place looks. My sister is two years younger than me, and all the seniors know who she is and want to be around her. She’s the one with chestnut color hair, brown/green eyes and the clothes. Because she is a cheerleader for the school, she is very fit and tries to maintain weight. She doesn’t eat much, which scares the family. Personally I think she belongs in here for anorexia, but I guess it’s nothing bad. Her skin is an olive color, but with her hair color, it fits perfectly.  

The five minutes felt like an hour, but I couldn’t feel more relieved when another lady, this time with brown eyes and really short brown hair, comes in and tells them it’s time to leave. My stepmom tries to pull off a pathetic tear as she hugs me good bye. I know she is just trying to put on a show for the nurses and inside she is happy to finally get rid of the “problem” child” for a while. My father and sister just stand there and stare at me, looking anxious to leave this place.

“This is your room.” A short man with a kind of a long moustache says to me. The room is occupied with two twin beds covered in light blue and white sheets, a night stand that has a lamp on it and a little window that you can barely see the sky out of. I have a roommate somewhere, but for now I have this time to myself.

“My name is Charlie. If you need any help, medications or get lost, just ask for me.” He says. His warm smile is the first I’ve seen here and it makes me feel welcomed. As he walks out the door, I go to lay on a bed.  I guess I fell asleep, because when I woke up it was dark and a girl was standing over me. She has long orange looking hair and was covered in tattoos.

“I’m guessing you’re the roommate.” I reply.

“Yeah and you’re on my bed.” she looks at me and the bed with a concerned look.

“Oh, sorry.” I start to get up, but she is still standing there.

“My name is Danielle, but I like to be called Danni.” I introduce myself, but she is still staring at me, this time with a look I can’t seem to understand.

“Sierra.” Is all she says and moves. I can tell she already doesn’t like me and it’s going to be hell. A nurse comes in, breaks the long awkward silence announcing dinner time. The cafeteria is crowded. I didn’t know there were this many people here, looking to be about 150 at max. I sit at an empty table, next to a window in a corner. I see Sierra, but she totally ignores me, and a girl who looks like she doesn’t belong here sits next to me.

“Hi!” she practically squeals as I roll my eyes.

“Hi.” I reply, looking shy. That was last words we said to each other the rest of the dinner being silent. I couldn’t help but look at her. She is striking, with fire red hair, green eyes you can get lost in and pale skin. She looks like she can be a model.

I look at my tray that looks like it has meat loaf, mash potatoes and peas on it. I thought I was in a mental hospital, not a damn nursing home. I guess I should eat since I haven’t eaten anything for a couple days.