With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty

That was a lie. Well, it was a half lie. While Tiffany did regret not visiting her sister more often, the main reason as to why she didn’t visit her anymore wasn’t because she was busy, but because she didn’t want to. It seemed that with every day she went to the sanitarium and saw the too clean walls, she felt like she was losing a part of her mind, bit by bit, until she feared she would lose it all like her sister. With every step she took towards the home, she felt guiltier and guiltier, like she was a fugitive being set free. The truth was that while she had been busy, she could have allotted time to visit her sister. The truth was that she still felt guilty, feeling like it was her fault every time she faced her sister and what her sister became even though she knew it wasn’t her fault. Every time she faced her sister, she was forced to acknowledge the truth that while it wasn’t her fault, there was nothing she had done to save her sister.

It had been too late.

It seemed that every echo of her footsteps when she walked towards the home was a trigger, making her suddenly remember the words of the judge and the defendant even though she tried so desperately to forget it all. In the eyes of the law, justice was served. In the dull eyes of her sister, the crimes were being done on a daily basis in the form of memories her sister couldn’t escape.

In the eyes of Tiffany Willis, justice wasn’t enough.

Tiffany was snapped back to reality when the security guard, Tom, smiled sadly at her. “Miss Eunice is actually nicer, though they have lost hope of ever treating Miss Eunice of the illness.”

Tiffany smiled sadly. “I know. I always knew there was a big chance they wouldn’t be able to bring back my sister, and I guess it’s time I face the truth.”

Tom nodded, understanding. “Some are still asleep, and some are in the dining hall. Just check the dining hall for Miss Eunice, and if she isn’t there, Nurse Pam will be.”

Tiffany smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Tom.”

Right in front of the wooden double doors was a polished wooden staircase located to the left, and a small hallway to the right. Tiffany walked down the short hallway, loving the way the rich brown carpet sunk ever so slightly with every step she took. The robin’s egg blue walls weren’t so terrible to the eyes, and the clean white ceiling looked lovely.

Stepping out into the clearing, there were two directions to which she could go. To her left was the large sitting room with the maroon rugs, the beautiful fireplace, the bookshelves with books and board games, and the comfortable couches by the windows which were covered by thick blood red draperies with gold stitched into the fabric. To her right was the dining hall where there was a long wooden table that could seat at least thirty people. The kitchen was off limits to the patients, and Tiffany had never been there. She just knew that the entrance to the kitchen was somewhere in the dining hall. Located about eight wide steps from the table was a very small room with a counter and glass separating the person inside from the people outside said room. It was not unlike those that could be found in pharmacies, and the room was used for the nurses to give their patients their medications right after they ate. Large white arches were the entrances to both rooms from the small space where she was standing.

Tiffany entered the dining hall and looked at the long, wooden dining table. There were only about five or six people seated, and her sister wasn’t one of them. Seeing Nurse Pam chatting with the nurse behind the counter, Nurse Kate, she quickly approached her and offered her a smile when Nurse Pam’s eyes widened comically, obviously not expecting Tiffany to be there at that time.

“Miss Tiffany!” exclaimed Nurse Pam, beaming at Tiffany before enveloping her in a warm embrace. “How are you?”

Tiffany chuckled, patting Nurse Pam’s back comfortingly. “I’m fine, sort of. I’m happy. How about you?”