Patient with Depression

The sun was much, much brighter than her memories, searing its relentless signature upon everyone's weakened eyes. Cam froze on the steps, unsure of whether the eagerness to step out towards the courtyard would surpass the first few waves of pain. She wasn't alone, as all the patients in the group instinctively covered their eyes with trembling hands- yet, the sun seemed to shine only for her, the trees remained that verdant hue for her pleasure, the sky continued to be as blue as her heart desired. Only the rustle of the summer breeze brushing against her papery hospital scrubs brought her back to Willowbrook, and for the first time she noticed the courtyard. A rugged circle of broken pavement surrounded a basketball and tennis court enclosed in an intimidating black chain linked fence, a far cry from the manicured picture in the brochures. With a surreptitious glance she carefully observed the others in her group: a few overweight men in stained shirts muttering about, a once beautiful woman marred with the sure signs of meth abuse playing with the bottom of her tight shirt to the amusement of a man with many face tattoos, Mary in her long robe clutching her tattered bible, and a young boy with smug blue eyes and gray hair staring right back at her. She wasn't the only one observing her surroundings. She noticed his eyes taking in the patients slowly adjusting to the change in environment and gaining momentum as teams were called for a round of basketball and the subsequent group of loners banded together to sit on the grass a modest distance from one another.

"Walk by yourself in complete silence! Today's lesson is mindfulness. Be alive in one instant of a moment, hear the birds chirping, feel the sun on your face!"

A 4'10 pixie with spiky black hair and a degree in Buddhist meditations was in charge of the depression group for the day. Cam tried to stifle a laughter as the pixie turned red when no one followed her orders.

"Are you gonna walk with me, or are you actually into all that mindfulness shit?"

Even though he was behind her she could hear the smirk playing along his lips. Maybe this place isn't so bad after all.