Setting

Ryan woke up in his new surroundings, still not used to his new room. He was beginning to drift into depression once again. Though it seemed like it would be hard not to in a place like this. He had only been admitted into the asylum two days ago and he wasn’t sure this place would do him any good. He got dressed and pulled out a small audio recorder from his night stand. He pushed the record button and began to speak.
“Hello, My name is Ryan. If I’m playing this message for you it’s because I have selective Mutism and am unable to speak right at the moment. Please understand that I desperately wish I were able to speak right now but I’m either nervous or anxious, which makes me unable to speak. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.” He put the recorder into his pocket. It was almost eight thirty so he left his room and headed down the hall to the cafeteria. He got there before the doors were opened for the patients but the smell coming out were not too bad, it smelled like pancakes and bacon. He stood there waiting for the doors to open hoping to meet some one to talk to that wouldn’t make him nervous.

Tennessee Harper awoke to the sound of her alarm blaring "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin at 8:00 sharp. The single barred window in her room filtered in the brisk morning light as she rose and stretched, casually taking in the light and the sound. Ten enjoyed mornings, in part because so many others hated them, but also because it was the time of day when her energy was highest. She felt invincible in the mornings, a feeling she understandably enjoyed. She stood from her bed and began dancing to the music, mouthing along to the lyrics, rocking out and enjoying herself as she moved to the small built in bathroom. She made a motion of singing into her toothbrush as if it were a microphone and then proceeded to brush her teeth. As the song came to it's conclusion, she undressed and stepped into the shower, humming the tune to herself as she did. When she was finished, she sauntered over to the small dresser across from her bed and dressed herself in her usual fashion: low cut shirt, slim fitting jeans, and black flats. She did her makeup quickly, exited her room, and made way towards the cafeteria.
Typically, Ten was the first patient to arrive at the cafeteria for breakfast. She valued promptness and was always at least 10 minutes early. Today, however, she was the second to arrive. Standing in front of the doors to the cafeteria was a boy about her age with black hair longer than hers. He wore dark clothes and seemed to be waiting for breakfast to be served. She didn't recognize him, and so figured he must be one of the newer patients.
"Hey!" Ten called out to the boy from a bit down the hall and half-jogged to close the distance, a warm smile adorning her face as she approached. She held her hand out when she was within shaking distance. "I haven't seen you around before, so I take it you're new here? My name's Tennessee, friends call me Ten. What's yours?"

“My name’s Ryan.” He said as he reached out his hand and shook hers. “Yeah I was just admitted a couple days ago, I’ve been in my room most of that time. I figured I should come out and meet some other people if I want to get any better.” He turned when he heard the doors to the cafeteria unlock and the cook opened them. He got into the line and scooped up a few pancakes and a lot of bacon. He went to the beverage station and got a cup of coffee. He looked at the utensil basket, no knives, no forks, not even a spoon, just plastic sporks. He took one and went to go sit down. He sipped his plain black coffee and looked at the spongy pancakes, he took the syrup at the table and covered the stack in the sticky sweet stuff. He did his best to carve off a piece from the stack and stabbed the piece with the spork. He popped it in his mouth, it wasn’t too bad. He washed it down with a sip of his coffee. “Well the food is edible, not the best tasting, but edible. That’s a plus. ” He tried the bacon and that was pretty good. He sat quietly and ate his meal watching the others start to file into the cafeteria.
Sky woke up sitting up in bed her stomach rumbled, she has been here a few days and has refused to leave her room or eat anything. She got out of bed into the chilly air, walking into the bathroom she turned on the shower looking at herself in the mirror, well the plastic mirror like the kind they give you in school when learning about reflection. Undressing she got into the shower the hot water warming her body making it feel like it was burning but she liked the feeling, it gave her something to focus on. She herd a banging at her door and she sighed getting and drying herself before pulling on some blue jeans, a blue and white checkered shirt as well as a cream coloured woolen cardigan. All her brand scars were hidden other than the one on the side of her neck, she moved her still damp hair round to cover it, putting on her favorite purple lace slouchy beanie style hat. Walking back into the main room she looked at the empty space on her bed.
"Celia it's time to get up lazy" She joked laughing a little. Celia, the girl she see's most of the time because of her schizophrenia and traumatic childhood got up and walked over to her smiling.
Her bedroom door opened, a nurse and two helpers at her door.
"Skylar, you need to start leaving your room, we've been lenient so far but if this continues we'll have to make you leave, also we advise you start eating, not doing so won't get you anywhere other than revoked and on a drip. So are you going to leave your room today?" The doctor said in a rather annoyed tone.
Sky shock her had the idea of meeting the other people setting her anxiety off. The two helpers took Sky by her arms practically dragging her out of her room before locking her door after her.
"It will be fine, I'm sure you'll get on with the other patients..." One of the helpers said.
Sky looked at the empty space beside her and whispered to Celia. "I'm sure they're not allowed to do this..."
"We have permission from your foster parents... the cafeteria is down that corridor and you don't have outside access untill you start taking your medication..." She said before leaving, the helpers following her.
Sky walked into the cafeteria, keeping her eyes to the floor, when she's anxious she can't look at people, she sits down at a table closest to the door unable to stop her feet tapping on the floor.
"It's on Sky, no ones looking at you I promise, and I'll get 'em if they do anyway..." Celia said to Sky, no one else able to see or hear her. "But please don't let them take me away by taking the medication..."
Sky smiled a little looking at the empty space beside her. "Of course I won't besides your the only reason I'm only slightly sane..." She joked. "If only they could see that your real..."
To anyone listening or looking over it would seem she was talking to herself.

Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This guy was certainly a nice piece of eye candy. However he had to remember this was an asylum. “Umm… hey, my name’s Ryan. I just got here a couple days ago, so that’s why we haven’t met.” Ryan managed to force the words out. He wasn’t very anxious, but he did think this boy was cute which was cause for slight nervousness, the fact that he could even speak was an accomplishment at that point. Well he was already this far in, might as well push the envelope. “So, not to sound cliché, but what are you in for?” He asked before taking a sip of his own coffee and munching a crispy piece of bacon.

With that display of narcissism Ryan was suddenly not nearly as attracted to the guy as he was jus seconds ago. And with that he no longer felt any kind of anxiety so his words now flowed freely. “Ah, well I’m here for trying to kill myself. I have major depressive disorder, or mono-polar depression as it’s more commonly known.” He said as he flashed his own sly grin. “Sorry, I don’t know where to get any smokes, but if I see anyone with some I’ll point them your way.” He leaned back in his chair and started chewing on the handle of his spork, his oral fixation kicking in, tapping it against his teeth and running his tongue along the handle.
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