I wake up on a cold, stiff mattress that was flat to a piece of stone. The only source of light was a small barred window sitting in the corner out of my reach that let in a dim light. My hands are tied down along with my body and legs being strapped to the bed. My entire body hurts. The pounding in my head feels like it is going to explode and the aching in my back feels like somebody is standing on it. It is totally silent except from the occasional water drip from something nearby. The only thing I can see is what is in range of my eyes as my head is positioned a certain way and I am unable to move it. A man and a woman came in from the heavy metal door a few minutes after I woke. They carry a tray that rattled with every step. In the doorway is a few other people who look like they are waiting and watching. My mind is too busy to think at the moment. I was also extremely tired and weak feeling. The woman injected a needle into a vein in my arm. When the man spoke, his voice was strange. I just felt like something is off.

“Echo, do you know what you did?” he questions.

“Where am I?”

“Do you know what you did?”

I had no memory, “No. Why am I here?”

“For safety.”

“Who are you?”

“That is not important. Rest now.”

“Take this, it will help you sleep,” the woman said.

I really had no choice to take it or not because I could not move anything. She forced the pill into my mouth and dumped some water that went all over the place. When the water hit my empty stomach, I wanted to curl up into a ball from the awful feeling it caused. They left me to my pain and to the silence. What did I do? A burst a pain hit my head and an image, a scene appeared. I am talking to someone I do not recognize in a place I do not know. I do not recognize anything in this image. Someone was crying in the background. Before I could get anything else, it faded away and I was back in the dim room. What happened? The medication was starting to take over. I felt very sleepy and eventually I dozed off. Instead of being strapped on to the rock hard mattress, I was strapped onto an ice cold table. People were waiting around for me to wake and went to work right away. Needles, sensors, and a lot of other things were placed everywhere on my body. These people had no care for how I felt or the pain they were causing. Literally they put them everywhere and anywhere on my body.

“We are going to ask a series of questions and you will answer them.”

“What if I don’t know the answer or don’t want to answer it?”

“You do have a choice. Madam could you press that button?” she pressed the button and an electric shock went through my entire body, “Choice one is to answer and you do not get shocked. Choice two is not to answer and get shocked.”

He took the controller and pressed each button one by one. Each one sent a shock to a different part of my body. Another person injected adrenaline to keep me awake through the pain. What kind of place is this? At first I thought it was some sort of hospital, but now I have no idea. An image popped in my head. This time is continued the one before. Still a lady crying and a man yelling. It did not last long as I was shocked back to reality. His shocking questionnaire last an agonizing two hour or at least I think so. It was hard to keep track of time on the clock. After everything was ripped out of my body, I was blindfolded and thrown into another room but not the same one from before. I was tied down but this time sitting up. A boy who looked about my age sat in the corner. My entire body was still left shaken. Some part were shock a bit too much and I am unable to move them at the moment. Blood was dripping out of the needle marks and even in some spots blood was flowing a little more because the popped a vein. I sat with my head down and stayed quiet. When he did speak, he spoke softly and gently.

“I’m Charlie. Someone you don’t have to fear. If you don’t want to talk, that is fine. I get it. There are no cameras in here.”

I waited a few minutes until I spoke. I wanted to say the right thing and I had to try to steady my voice which is probably just as shaky as my body. My throat was so dry.

“I . . . I am E . . . echo.”

“Beautiful name. You have been all the talk since you came. They left us alone to focus on you. Everyone was called to deal with you.”

“Where is here?”

“An asylum or prison I think. Overheard some of the nurses talking about – never mind.”

“Why are you here?”

“Parents sent me thinking it would it help. They made brochure look nice so my parents thought it would lovely to get me some help. Been here for nearly a year and two months. You?”

“I . . . I don’t know. I vague images but there is no past memories.”

“None? Not even the slightest from when you were a child or family members.”

“Nothing. I did not even know my name until they spoke it.”

“Strange. You came in with some serious damage.”

I could tell he did fear me a little. Something must have upset him or someone must have said something to him. An image hit my mind again this time stronger. A big man was throwing things in my direction as a small child was huddled in the corner. I could not make out what he saying though. I only get little pieces at a time and have to try to put them together like a puzzle. Just am glad they did not shock my head. It is full enough.

“Never before seen the entire staff so hectic about one person. Looks like they drug you through hell and back.”

“Feel like I am still there.”

“Well, I would like to sleep.”

“I would love to but I am chained to a wall.

“They will get you down some time.”

He went to bed and I just hung here. I hung here all night and all the next day. Nobody ever showed up to move me. They left me like that for a week like it some sort of punishment. I now have not eaten in more than eight days maybe more because I do not know how long I was out before I woke up here. Finally someone came to unlock me from this upright prison. Eating is also a privilege that I have not been given. Charlie is here for most of the day. The same man dressed in white walked in with his group again.

“Take him back. Leave him for a week in isolation.”

“But sir.”

Now,” he spoke more firmly.

Two men pick me up while another blindfolded me. They threw me back into the dim room I was in before. Luckily, they did not tie my wrists down and only my chest and legs. My wrists were purple and swollen and could not pick anything up. Most days for the next few days I tried to sleep or try and remember the past. Nothing is there. It is empty but why? I must have a past. I must have a family or friends. I really do not even know my age but I can guess around sixteen. While on the sixth day alone, I got my strongest image yet. This time I was in the woods and it was snowing. There were three us. A boy a little older looking than me and a boy a little younger than me. Looks like we were crossing a bridge. We were laughing at some joke I think and at bird dropping snow over us. Voices were mumbled so I had no idea what we were saying. Then there were screams, panicked and pain filled screams. My mind blanked as my body began to violently shaking. I used my hands to protect my head from bashing against the stone. No sound came out my mouth and therefore I could not call for help. My body was pushed against the straps. It was not stopping. It continued until dark out when my body fell into a deep sleep.

I felt people moving me but my body was too exhausted to look or even move. They have weakened me beyond anything. I stayed wherever they put me and did not open my eyes until about an hour later. Again I really cannot tell the time, I just take wild guesses. They placed me back in the same room from before and left the restraints off probably because how weak I am. I heard Charlie doodling something in the corner so mustered up some strength to turn and see him. He was looking at me in a way that looked like he was studying me. My mouth had zero moisture and it did not feel good to talk. My lips were cracking and starting to bleed.

“There is a glass of water by the door for you.”

“Okay,” I responded dryly.

“What happened to you?”

“You would never believe me and there is not much to tell”

“You would be surprised. Try me.”

I described exactly what happened and the pieces beforehand. He seemed interested and closely payed attention to what I was saying. After I finished speaking, he got up and picked up the glass of water. I did not tell him to do anything but he helped me sit up and then handed me the glass. One drink of water and my stomach turned to knots. This was the first time I could actually analyze my body. My left hand was severely discolored and twisted, there were various marks and bruises everywhere, my foot was swollen and discolored, and a lot of other things. It made me all more curious as to what happened in my unknown past.

“Interesting. So that is all you know from the past?”

“For now.”

“Can I see your hand? I can fix it.”

“Why do you help me?” I asked with a confused yet curious tone.

“You seem different. And why do you trust me?”

“You are the only one who dared to speak kindly to me.”

“Yes.”

“This may hurt a bit. Try to stay quiet. We do not need guards coming down to investigate. They hate it when two of the inmates interact unsupervised.”

“I do not even have a scream in me. And I love how you called us inmates.”

“Not be mean but you have no voice in you.”

I silently laughed, “That’s true.”

He took my hand to feel around for the broken pieces. After finding one, he would try to move it back in place which needless to say that hurt a lot. He did it with good precision almost like he had done this sort of thing before.

“Try not to use it too much.”

“Thanks.”

“Not a problem. Try not to let this place get to you.”

“It seems like it already has.”

“I meant your spirit.”

“I can try but I also have to find it before I lose it,” I stated.

“You will find it. Maybe not while in here or maybe you will.”

“What are my chances of ever leaving?” I ask in doubt.

“Depends on the person.”

“Great. You seem like a nice person and you have been here for a while.”

“I have my reasons.”

“I have nowhere to go if I leave.”

“You will find it.”

“Hopefully. Did they say anything about me?”

“To be careful but honestly I did not listen and I never do. I like to make my own thoughts on people before listening to others.”

“That is a lovely trait that will get you farther in life.”

“Thanks. Try to stay out of trouble. They will leave you alone more.”

“I literally do nothing wrong and they do this to me.”

“You are something special to them.”

He went back to drawing on his bed. I sat there moving my arms, rolling my shoulders, moving my head, and basically anything because I could finally move. It felt good to move but bad at the same time because every part of me hurt. The weakness taking over my body. I could not remember the last time I had eaten anything. I removed my shirt to wrap around my hand. My chest was many different shades of purple, black, and blue. You could also see my ribs too. Charlie sat there with a shocked expression on his face.

He came back over to where I was and began to gently trace a bruise on my side, “Who has hands that big in your life?”z

“Charlie, I have no idea. How bad is it?”

“They are bigger than my hands.”

“You are so tiny.”

“True. It looks like the hand of a monster.”

“Could it be my father? The man in my images.”

“That is a possibility. When is the last time you have eaten?” he asked tracing my ribs.

“No idea.”

“Maybe to get you to speak.”

“I have nothing to speak about.”

“I know. Strange.”

He talked to me about everything that has gone on here. From what he is saying it seems like no one ever gets to leave. We chatted like old friends as he told me these stories. Who knew I would find a wonderful friendship here. Wherever here is. My mind was now showing me an image of the same man before holding a pale blue boy. He had zero color to him. He was not alive. This man was still screaming and the women still crying. I looked down to see a pool of blood gathering on the wooden floor below me. Looks like I was huddled in the corner. The man was now on the phone. Were they my family? I could barely pull out any features before I got back to reality.

“How often are these flashbacks?”

“They vary. I could go days without one or I could have a day where I have serval. They all last different amount of time and show different things. Different pieces all mixed up that I have to piece together.” “Do you mind telling me what it was about?”

“Every time I tell you one, you have to share something about yourself.”

“Deal.”

He sat against the wall besides me as I began to explain the strange image. He listened well and respectfully. His calming hand was placed on my knee.

“Do you think they are your family?”

“I think so. I almost am positive the man was my father. I wonder if that dead boy was my brother then.”

“From what you say, I think it is.”

“Oh god. I killed my brother,” I say almost in a panic.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. You still don’t have a clear thought to back that up.”

“What if I did? What if I killed my brother?”

“I don’t think you did based off your injuries.”

“This could have happened afterwards. Guess I will just figure it out at some point.”

“My turn to tell you something. What do you want to know?”

“Previous relationships?”

“Oh, this might take a while because it is way more complicated than you think.”

“I will listen.”

“Well I really only had one relationship in my life. About a year and half ago it started. Cannot even remember his name now which is sad really. These people took it out of me. I was ready to tell my parents two months after I met him and they did not take it well. I was kept isolated in my house away from all the bad until they found a nice brochure for this place. It looked like a nice, beautiful place to send your loved one to get better. I found out the hard way it is not. My family thought they could heal me with a little time. They thought I was evil and was going to bring bad luck to the entire family. Like I said they kept me in my room away from everyone. The only interaction I had with people were when my family would bring me food. No electronics or anything. All I had to do was read books and study information.”

“That’s more than awful. Sorry to bring up a sore subject.”

“It’s okay. It’s nice to talk to someone about it. Especially someone who listens.”

“Always have open ears.”

“I was locked up for a month before being taken here.”

“How do I know I can trust you? That you won’t tell everyone,” He moved his head to kiss me, “That works,” I kissed him back.

He laughed, “I would never tell because I am telling you things that I would never want them to know.”

“Are there cameras in here?”

“Cannot see us from here.”

“Your lips are so dry.”

“I know. I think I am going to take a nap while I can.”

He went back on his bed to doodle and I painfully laid myself out. I allowed my body to rest and to sleep. It was not the most pleasant of sleeps but it was okay. Of course I woke up to rattling on the metal door. Charlie payed no attention to it.

“Wake up,” the same man from before opened the door. Behind him were three nurses and two bigger guys, “Walk over here and do not try anything.”

I slide myself out of bed and tried to stand but any pressure on my foot sent excruciating pain throughout my body. I let a sort of muffled scream and fell to the floor.

“I can’t,” I nearly cried out still on the floor.

“Get up.”

I try to stand again but soon fall to the floor. My body was so weak and brittle. Everything was hurting. There was no way to walk on my foot, “I can’t,” I say even weaker than before.

“Get. Up,” he says louder.

I stood up again and took small painful steps towards the door. Each step sent even more pain through my body. At the door way the two big guys grabbed me by my shoulders.

“See not so hard. Never talk back to me,” he slapped me so hard it knocked me back.

I got one glimpse of Charlie before they dragged me away and he looked horrified. They were taking me down hallway after hallway making me walk. I was blindfolded so it was like walking bind. Eventually they took me into a freezing cold room and tied me down. Whoever was tying me down tightened the one around my ankle. My bare back was against a table that felt like ice. The man took off my blindfold as someone was cutting my pants off. Everyone around me were wearing winter coats and protective gear. Once my pants were off, he order them to pour water on me. The thermometer read twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit. It was below freezing. The thought of death is what is on mind currently. I was shaking from the cold.

“Answer my questions and you will get out of here faster. Okay?”

“O . . . okay.”

“What do you know?”

“I . . . I don’t k . . . know much,” I began to stutter my words, “I . . . I woke up here with no mem . . . memories.”

“Don’t believe you. You know something.”

“Woods. I got mind picture of the woods. And a boy.”

“Good. What else?”

“Th . . . there was crying and yelling.”

“Good.”

“I swear that’s all I know.”

“Tell me more.”

“I . . . I don’t know,” I started to fade between conscious.

“Nurse wake him up,” I faintly hear him yell.

She continued waking me up for the rest of the hour I was in here. This man kept questioning me on what I know but there is barely anything in my mind. I faded out again but the nurse was not waking me. I could faintly make out what they were saying.

“Wake him up,” he demanded.

“Sir, you’re going to kill him. His temperature is below normal. It’s at ninety-five degrees. He is going to die if you continue. And we don’t want to have another problem on our hands.”

“His family left him here to fix him make him better. To make him pay for what he has done. They were going to kill him in the first place. But fine. Guards take him back. Follow me. I need to talk to that Charlie boy.”

They untied me and started to drag me back down the set of hallways. My feet and legs are trailing behind me. My vision is blurred. And I still am fading in and out of consciences. I could feel myself shaking and my teeth chattering. It is so cold. The two men literally threw me into my room making me land very hard into the metal post of Charlie’s bed. I laid there in a ball still not exactly conscious and still shaking from the cold.

“Hey Charlie.”

“Yes, sir,” he sat up straighter.

“I need you to do something with this. It cannot die.”

“Can do sir.”

“Here is some safe supplies. You need to find your own way to heat him up.”

“Yes sir.”

They slammed the door shut locking all the locks behind them. I lay here unable to really move. I saw the cuts on my body that kind of froze stopping the blood from flowing. I was fading again when someone place their hand on my arm. I sort of jumped. I began to breathe fast heavy, painful breaths.

“Calm down. It’s Charlie. Not going to harm you,” he spoke softly, “Come on, we need to get you off the floor.”

“I . . . I cannot move.”

“I got you,” he scooped me up and moved me to my bed, “There you go. You’re so cold.”

“They said I was ninety-five.”

“Degrees? You need to get warm now,” he wrapped a blanket around me.

“It is so cold.”

“I’m trying to heat you up but you are so darn cold. If you will allow me, I could use my body heat to try and raise yours.”

“D . . . do anything you want. Just don’t let yourself get too cold.”

“I will be fine.”

He took off his clothes and placed his chest against mine. My shaking was still very bad though. I drifted off into a light sleep. All of a sudden I woke and began to breathe fast heavy, painful breaths. Charlie looked over at me from the edge of my bed and placed a calming hand on my leg.

“You scared the hell out of me. Take slower breaths. Calm down.”

“I’m so s . . . sorry.”

“No, no. It’s okay.”

I tried to sit up but ended up collapsing back down, “Ow.”

“Be patient with yourself. You need time to recover. Let me assist you,” he helped me sit up, “There you go. Oh my god, you are still ice cold. Can you tell me what happen? Speak slowly and take your time. There is no rush.”

“O . . . okay. I’m trying my best.”

“Good thing you don’t stutter every sentence because you would have been so tired and I would have gotten confused.”

“Funny. So you saw what they did in here.”

“Yes. And it was the most awful thing I have witnessed.”

“Then I was forced to walk down a series of hallways.”

“Sorry to interrupt. But I need to see something.”

“Go ahead.”

He moved back my blanket and touched an area above my knee. A feeling like an electric shock went up my body. I jolted back in pain, “Just as I thought. Sorry about that. Just testing to see what they did. They want to weaken you more by not allowing you to walk which you really cannot now.”

“Great. They led me into a freezing cold room where they tied me down, stripped me down, and coated me in water. H . . . he questioned me and questioned me even when I had nothing else to say,” I was starting to get breathless.

“Slow down.”

“The room was twenty-five degrees.”

“A person should not be out in that weather bundled up in heavy clothing.”

“I . . . I know. He kept saying that if I told him he would take less time off. Him and a nur . . . nurse were arguing when he said something,” I stopped again to breathe, “He said that my family left me here to fix me and to make me better. To make m . . . me pay for was I have d . . . done. And th . . . that th . . . they were going to k . . . kill me in the first place,” I could not catch my breath.

“Take a break.”

“I . . . I just have a few things to say.”

“You can say them when you are taking slower breaths.”

I forcefully slowed my breathing, “After that they untied me and dragged me back here. I was fading in and out of conciseness the entire time.”

“Let me get you more clothes.”

“D . . . don’t get in trouble.”

“I know better.”

He tossed back on his clothes and walked over to the door. He called out to get someone’s attention. By the voice I could tell he got the man from before.

“Is he alive?”

“Barely. Can you get him some clothes and maybe a thermometer?”

“Yes. I can get both. Give me a moment,” he rung someone on the phone. Seconds later that someone showed up, “Echo I know you can hear me. Get up and get this.”

“Sir I don’t think he can.”

“Stand down or you will go back.”

“Get up.”

Even the slightest movement caused terrible pain. I placed my trembling hand on the bed and slowly pushed myself up. I was screaming. Screams I had to muffle. The first step had me on the floor. I could not bear the pain. Tears just ran down my face without any control. I continued to get only to fall back down until I got to the door. He handed me the items and I collapsed on the floor as he walked away. Charlie quickly was at my side.

“Please leave me.”

“I love you too much to do that.”

“I beg you to leave me.”

“I cannot do that,” he scooped me off the floor. I grunted in pain and he placed me back down on the ground, “Sorry.”

“D . . . don’t a . . . apologize.”

“You cannot stay on the floor so I am quickly going to move you.”

“Just do it.”

He scooped me up again and move me over to the bed. I screamed when anything small thing would touch my leg. No matter how fast he moved me it still put me into overwhelming pain. I lay here with my eyes closed until he came back over.

“Wish that I had not become your roommate yet?”

“No not really. You need help and no one else in the entire place can do that. Also I feel connected to you. And you are a very interesting person.”

“Thanks. I . . . I wonder what th . . . they wanted from me.”

“I don’t know but this is pure torture. Okay you have to trust me.”

“I do. Why?’

“I need to look at your leg so I can see if I can do something.”

“Hand me a cloth.”

“Why?”

“My mouth.”

“Oh. Here you go,” he helped stuff the cloth into my mouth, “This is something I need to do. I know you told me not to apologize but I am sorry.”

He placed his hand on my ankle and looked up at me. I closed my eyes and nodded my head. He began to feel around for I think broken pieces. I was gripping the bed sheets and screaming. The cloth in my mouth muffled every sound. He stopped before moving on and removed the cloth from my mouth.

“Take a breather for a second. You ankle is most definitely shattered.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“You can sleep soon. Ready?”

“No.”

He placed the cloth back in my mouth and moved on to my calf area. The one area he touch made my entire leg feel like I was being stabbed my a million needles. I my entire body jolted.

“Messed up nerve sorry. There was no way to tell with the naked eye,” he realized that could not speak and removed the cloth, “Forgot about that.”

My hands are gripping the sheets so hard. I talk through my teeth, “There are a million needles in my leg and this half of my body.”

He took my hands after prying them off the bed, “I’m trying my hardest but I am no doctor.”

“I know. I will th . . . thank you better later.”

“Don’t worry about it. Can I continue?”

“Do anything you need.”

The cloth was back in mouth as he continued to feel my leg. Every touch felt like I was being shocked until the needle feeling went away. His hands moved all the way up my leg and up to my side. His touch made me feel something that was unexplainable. I moved my hand up to gently caress his face. He smiled and kissed my forehead. He took the cloth and threw it beside me.

“They would kill me if I were with you. A relationship with another man is forbidden in my family.”

“Tell them I am just a friend.”

“A friend with benefits.”

“Leave that bit out,” I let out a small laugh, “Laughing hurts. Everything hurts.”

“Can I wrap up your leg?”

“Go ahead.”

He pulled the sheets from his bed and sat me up to begin wrapping it tightly around my ankle. I was biting my lip to stop myself from making any noise. He pulled the other sheet off his bed and did my upper half of my leg. He went all the way up wrapping it tightly. My entire leg were wrapped in a tight, bulky cast made out of bed sheets and pieces cloth. The shaking in my body was still the same which proved a little challenge.

“You won’t be needing these,” he held up the pants that the man handed me, “so I am going to wrapped your hand.”

“Who is th . . . that man?”

“He is the warden or the one who controls everything.”

“It is weird to see him a lot. You are a special case.”

He tore the pair of pants into strips and made a make-shift cast for my hand. Afterwards he placed his hands on either of my sides and kissed me.

In between kisses I managed to speak, “For someone fearful of being caught.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Not in anyway. I am the opposite of complaining.”

“Good.”

He began to leave trails of kisses down my neck. I softly laughed and traced the muscles of his stomach. At the worst time, an image popped up in my head. A big man, the one from the other images, was attacking me. I was thrown into a bridge while he was calling me every name. He walked up and stomped on my foot. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest. Snow was falling all around. He picked me up from my buttoned top and threw me back down. I was screaming that it was an accident over and over again. I caught a glimpse of a road sign; H something ville. He was beating the life out of me while everyone was just watching. He had a handful of my hair and was bashing my head off the ground. I closed my eyes and opened them again but back in present day. Charlie was holding me with an expression of worry. The pain of my body came back to me. I just realized that I cannot feel pain or anything when I am trapped in these mind images.

“What did th . . . that happen at the worst time? Sorry, I cannot control them.”

“Are you okay?”

“What did I do?”

“Started yelling. I covered your mouth to silence you. You almost started fighting the air.”

“You probably th . . . think I’m crazy now. Charlie I’m sorry.”

He smiled, “Like you said these images are uncontrollable. It did scare me though. Remember not to apologize for something that is out of your control.”

“Did not mean to scare you. When did it snow last?”

“Like a little over a month ago. A blizzard really. They allowed me into the courtyard. Usually I cannot go out with the others.”

“Where are we?”

“In a mental institution.”

“I know that. I mean what town.”

“Cottonwood.”

“Do you know of a town that begins a H and ends with ville.”

“Yeah Honeyville. It’s like thirty miles from here. Hey you’re stuttering less but still freezing cold.”

“Can I tell you about it?”

“Of course. And afterward I need to get your temperature.”

“Are you my doctor now?”

“I suppose so. The warden told me to keep you alive.”

“Aren’t there rules about dating your doctor?”

“Rules are meant for breaking,” he kissed me, “And certain things stay behind closed door. You are an exception.”

“Oh. I . . . I like that.”

“Do you want to sit up?”

“Please. I feel so incompetent.”

“You are not. They hurt you so bad.”

He sat me up and I relayed the image in my head. He slowed me when I lost my breath or when I began to stutter too much. I could see that he was interested but in a caring, curious way.

“My turn to tell you something but temperature first,” I groaned, “Shush. It’s not bad.”

“I just hate being treated like I am incompetent. I just feel so weak and I just hurt everywhere.”

“Wish I could help with that but all I can do is make you smile or feel more comfortable.”

“That is all I need. Sorry to be a pain,” I took a deep breath, “It is j . . . just weird to not be able to move most of my body or do anything. Are you sure you still want me here?”

“Yeah must be weird not being able to move. And yes I still want you here. Now hold still,” I smiled and let out a light laugh, “Oh. You can’t move and I told you to hold still.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey beforehand I want to test something.”

“Go ahead.”

He hand me his paper and a pencil, “Write your name and put a straight line underneath.”

“I can’t,” I held up my hand that was still trembling.

He took my hands, “Try.”

I put the pencil in my hand and slowly wrote my name. He watched with a smile. Then I tried my hardest to draw a straight line. The pencil kept slipping from my hand but he placed it back in.

“Thanks,” he took the notebook back.

“How did I do?”

“Your line is more crooked than a piece of paper crumbled and re-crumbled a hundred times.”

“Th . . . that’s nice,” my words faded.

“No more loosing conciseness on me. One more kiss for the night.”

He kissed me one last time for today. Keeping his face only an inch from mine, he ran his hand down my face and looked deeply into my eyes.

“Never thought I would feel this way again.”

“Never thought I could be this happy and in this much pain at the same time.”

“Promise it will go away some day,” I moved my hand up to his face and leaned up to kiss him.

“Thought we were done for today.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all. Now let’s get your temperature taken so we can get on to my story telling. I’m eager to tell more. No more stalling.”

He shoved a thermometer in my mouth and moved to the edge of my bed to wait for it to ding. I was making weird faces every time he would over which made him laugh and smile. A bang at the door made us both jump. He got up to answer it. The warden walked in.

“How’s your patient?”

“Weak and in pain.”

“I just need him alive.”

“Sir why do you come so late?”

“I deliver good news. There is a short visiting day tomorrow just a few hours. So the waking time is going to be earlier. Friends and family will be visiting in you rooms so they will need to be cleaned. And all patients need to be clean. I came to personally say to make sure he looks alright.”

“Can do,” the thermometer started beeping.

“I have something to cover him up. No bruises or marks can be showing.”

“I can do that.”

“I will be checking in before they arrive.”

“Mind if I use my body heat to raise his temperature.”

“Will this affect your treatment?”

“No. I learned better. You taught me well.”

“Glad to hear. Go ahead use whatever you need.”

“I just did not want you to see me laying here and suspect something.”

“Thank you for asking. That was the right thing to do.”

He left and I heard the several locks relocking. Charlie walked back to where I was seated and removed the thermometer from my mouth.

“We are going to have to redo it. The temperature is gone.”

“Great.”

“I technically just got permission from the warden to sleep with you.”

“That was an interesting wording for that sentence.”

“I know.”

He put the thermometer back in my mouth and waited until it beeped. I could tell he was not happy when he read the temperature.

“What?”

“Still too low. Little below ninety-seven.”

“It will raise soon.”

“Hopefully. Time for me to tell you something. What do you want to know?”

“How you got into the medical field at such a young age?”

“I wish there was a better story than they were the books on my shelf and I got bored.”

“That was a bad story.”

“I think we need to go to sleep. Mind if I use my body heat again.”

“Not at all.”

He knocked on the bars for a nurse to shut off the lights and then took off his clothing before laying closer to me. Soon enough he matched his body up with mine. I felt his warmth as I drifted off to sleep. I woke up and just look at him thinking that I was lucky to have a good friend in this hard time. Minutes later there was a rattling on our door and someone had dropped off a bucket of soapy water, two sponges, and one plate of food. Charlie got dressed and grabbed the items from the door. He handed me the plate after helping me up but I could not bring myself to eat it.

“Echo you have to eat. This is your first meal in forever.”

“You eat it. I will be sick if I do.”

“Please.”

“I will eat this bread.”

“That’s a start.”

We moved the bread off the tray and handed him the rest. As soon as the bread hit my empty stomach, I wanted to be sick. We both ate our food with no talking he was continuing to sketch something in his book. The nurse came back for the food tray just ten minutes later. He got on the ground and began to scrub the lower walls.

“Let me help you.”

“I’m okay.”

He turned back to his work but I could not let him do this alone. I painfully pushed myself to the edge of the bed and up onto one leg. He turned around and was beside me in seconds.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

“Like you are hurting yourself,” he sat me back down.

“This does hurt me but I feel bad.”

“Don’t worry. I have done it before by myself so it’s fine.”

“Okay. I just didn’t want you to think I am lazy.”

“I know. Now stay here. Don’t cause any more pain for yourself.”

“Just call over if you need anything.”

He went back to wiping off one of the walls. I watched him quickly finish the entire room. He works extremely fast when focused. The same nurse came around an hour later to take that bucket of water. The warden came in holding another bucket of cleaner water and some soap.

“Thought I would bring this to you personally. How is he?”

“Temperature back up to normal, still extremely weak, and a tad bit shaky.”

“Good. Here is the cream to cover up everything. I will checking that nothing is showing. Everything everywhere has to be covered. We cannot have anyone seeing him like this,” he motion towards me.

“Can do sir. You won’t see anything.”

“I better not. You get yours an extra hour early so I expect the most.”

“You will get the most.”

“People will being checking everywhere on him no matter if it is covered or not. Get every last crevice of his body.”

“Everywhere?”

“I know it sounds strange but yes. I can get a nurse if you want.”

“No its fine sir.”

He left the room after handing Charlie a few bottles of something. Charlie sat down on the edge of his bed and began to wipe off his legs and arms with the soap and water.

“The warden seems to like you the best.”

“My parents have money so therefore he gets money.”

“Then my family must be really, really poor.”

He laughed, “Perhaps.”

“Can you pass me a cloth?” I moved to the edge of my bed.

“Yeah.”

He handed me a cloth and I dragged myself over to the sink. I leaned my entire body on the wall and hunched over the small sink. Once I found my balance I placed my cloth under the dripping water and wiped the dried blood off my chest. In the corner of my eye I could see him watching me.

“What?” I ask facing him.

“Nothing. There is a bucket of water right here.”

“I know,” a headache just hit my mind and I slid myself down into the corner, “but I’m cover in blood.”

“You alright?”

“Just a headache.”

“Drink some water.”

“I hate to ask but can you help me up?”

“Of course. Then sit over here.”

He came over to help me off the floor and then moved me back to my bed. He pushed over the bucket and I continued to do what I was doing. I thought I finished minutes later.

“You missed a spot.”

“Thanks. I am sure I missed a lot of spots.”

“I mean the blood on your face.”

“I cannot even see it.”

“Allow me.”

He came over to wipe off the blood. It stung a bit because I assumed the cut on my head is actually a big gash. He had his hand on the back of my head and had the strangest look.

“Can you turn around?”

“Yeah.”

I grunted in pain as I spun around. He was dabbing the back of my head with the wet rag which ever so often caused some pain. I was watching as the water was slowly growing a dark pink. I worrying that he was not speaking.

“The back of your head is split open. Might be the reason for the memory loss.”

“Agree with that.”

“Time to cover everything up now.”

“Ugh.”

“Don’t ugh me. I have to do this.”

“I know.”

“We are going to do your back first.”

He laid me down and rolled me over. I placed my head on my pillow.

“You don’t have much on your back so this should be quick.”

“Okay. Do what you need.”

“This is what I am putting on you,” he showed me a bottle of skin-colored cream.

“Okay.”

It felt weird for him to be rubbing this onto various marks on back but I do appreciate him doing it. He ran his finger down the center of my back sending chills in my body. At some point he found something on my calf. He rolled me back over and laid next to me.

“Partially done.”

“I am going to be in pain now.”

“Yeah. There are chemicals in here and warnings not to put it in open cuts.”

“Great.”

“Want to start low and work our way up?”

“Sure. This feels so weird.”

“Tell me if you need a break and I will stop.”

I slightly moved my head to kiss him before he started on the bruise on the lower half of my unwrapped leg. He moved my waistband of my undergarments and rubbed the cream on a bruise. My chest is literally one bruise. There is barely an area where there is not a bruise or a cut. He began on my lower stomach and waist area. He was taking his time doing little areas at a time. He took a break and started to trace circles on my side. I smiled at him as my mind was fading again.

“Hey, hey. No fading out on me.”

“I’m good.”

“Stay awake.”

“I’ll try.”

“Also I am about to test if your ribs are broken so hold on.”

He applied a little pressure in different spots. I gripped my sheets and shut my eyes trying not to scream in pain. He noticed the amount of pain I was in but continued to feel around. I released sheet when he stopped and opened my eyes. I blinked a couple times because my eyes were sore.

“Something is most definitely broken or severely bruised.”

“You think.”

“Don’t get sassy with me,” he jokingly said.

“I’ll get sassy with you whenever I want.”

“Oh really.”

“Yep.”

“I have my ways to deal with that,” he kissed me.

I kissed him back, “Can I have that break now?”

“Yes,” he continued kissing me.

I stopped him for a moment, “We should continue this later. He could walk in at any time.”

“You’re right. I will take a raincheck for tonight.”

“Shall we continue?”

“Thought you wanted a break.”

“Just want it over with.”

“Alright.”

He squeezed more out and continued covering the lower half. As soon as any cream touched my open wounds, I jumped. It burned. He stopped and looked up at me.

“Please continue.”

He continued despite being a bit hesitant to cause me pain. My entire chest when now looking somewhat patchy but normalish. He whispered sorry into my ear before moving on to my head. Carefully with one finger he dotted some cream on to the gash on my head.

“I no longer have a head ache.”

“That’s good.”

“I have a migraine so bad my head is pulsating.”

“That’s not good. Put this on your head the cold water shoulder help and close your eyes. It needs to go away in ten minutes or before the warden comes.”

I did what he said, “It’s not that bad so it should not take that long.”

“Just say quiet. Silence helps the mind.”

I closed my eyes and thought calmly. His hand moved up my leg to my stomach and then my chest. His touch sent a different kind of chill throughout my body. A good kind of chill. I felt a light kiss on my cheek.

“You know this does not help calm me. It makes my heart race.”

“Don’t know if that is sweet or not but I think it is,” I removed the cloth off my face but he placed it back on, “As much as I like you blue-gray eyes, this need to stay on you head.”

“Fine.”

I laid here with my eyes closed slowly erasing the pounding in my head. He had his legs laying across mine as he was sketching in his notebook. I could hear the soft sound of pencil on paper. It was quite calming actually until our door creaked open. I left the cloth on my head as Charlie got up to meet the warden. He subtly moved blanket to cover my body.