Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 17

TW ⚠️ Mentions of suicide and death. 
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Mildred's POV:

The ice cold December air blew violently around me. I shivered as goosebumps formed on my skin. I hadn't bothered to throw on a coat, I didn't have time. But right now, my trembling body was the least of my worries. What was I thinking, leaving a suicidal patient unattended? So stupid.

I'd never been up to the roof before, terrified of heights. But when the alarm had gone off, notifying everyone of the 'suicidal maniac' that had escaped, I fled to the roof because I knew that's where he would have gone.

I immediately spotted him; his silhouette at least, hidden beneath the darkness. With trembling legs I made my way across the vast expanse of the roof. It was colder up here, windier. He stood on the edge, poised like a statue, his robe billowing out around him like a cape.

"Alexander.." my voice was quiet, the last thing I wanted to do was scare him but he still look startled nonetheless. "It's just me.." I reassured him, barely moving now as I stood only a few feet from him.

"Can you please come down from there?" I asked, hesitantly glancing over the side of the building, my stomach churning as I imagined toppling over the edge and I immediately drew my gaze away, eyes fluttering closed as I took slow, deep breaths.

"Leave me alone." He muttered, staring down at the ground. Through the darkness I noticed the tears that silently glided down his cheeks. The anguish that was written all over his face as he squeezed his eyes shut. I understood what he was feeling, and I felt guilty because he was locked up for his 'sickness' and I was not. Alexander was a gay man, forced into the hospital by his parents after being deemed incapacitated by a psychiatrist because as well as being gay he was also severely depressed. What a combination.

"You know I can't do that Alexander, please just come down from there and we can talk." I tried to hold my voice steady but with the fear that accumulated me for what he may do, and the temperature that must have been below zero, it was quite a challenge.

"Talk? Look where that's gotten me!" He yelled.

I took a shaky step forward, unintentionally glancing down which instantly made me recoil. "I just want to help you, that's all I've ever wanted to do."

"It's too late for that, you're just like the rest of them." His gaze flicked towards me for the briefest of moments and then everything seemed to play out in slow motion. One minute he was there and the next..

"No!" I yelled but my voice was carried away by the wind. The thud of his body as it hit the concrete below pierced the silence followed closely by screams that were almost inhumane.

"No.." Mildred's eyes fluttered open, releasing more tears that glided effortlessly down her face, soaking the pillow beneath her head. A hand flew to her chest as she abruptly sat up, her heart raced beneath her fingertips. It was just a dream.. a nightmare.. a memory.

She scanned the room, gradually taking in the unfamiliar surroundings still a little shaken up from the nightmare she just had. When she realised she wasn't in her room but somebody else's, the memories from the previous night came flooding back drawing a content sigh from her lips and a gentle blush to her cheeks as she glanced down at the sleeping form of Lana who lay peacefully beside her.

Mildred took a quick peek at the clock; it was only 5:00am, they still had a couple more hours before they had to be up so she lay back down, snuggling a little closer to Lana who stirred slightly at the movement. The brunette mumbled something incoherent and Mildred brushed her lips over Lana's forehead lightly before whispering; "Shh, go back to sleep."

Mildred couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this comfortable with someone. It made her nightmares feel a lot less terrifying, having someone sleeping next to her. She just hoped she didn't do anything to ruin what they had, because Mildred was pretty good at that.

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Sorry this chapter is super short but when I first started writing this I came up with a bit of back story for Mildred, a tragic event that happened which ties in with the rest of the story. I don't want to say too much but it will start to unfold soon, I just needed a good starting point and this chapter seemed like a good idea. Anyway hope you all enjoyed!
~T ♡~