Chapter 5 The Visit.

'REJUVENATE REHAB CENTER' the bold letters on the front of the white building she was now accustomed to stood out.She's been here for one year now,she also seemed to adjust quite well too.The doctors said that she's now stable and they'll release her soon.Just a few more months and she'll start breathing the air outside that campus and taste the freedom of not having a bunch of people in white planning her day and giving her shots throughout the day.She knew SHE hated this place but it was the only way to help her get back to her old self.

Alina went straight to the reception after getting inside the building and soon the nurse in charge of HER was called to show her HER whereabouts.

"Good afternoon Alina"the nurse greeted with a wide smile.

"Good afternoon nurse Jane how have you been?

"Very fine thank you"she paused for a moment then went on "i suppose you're here to see her?"

"Yes i am,how is she?"Alina asked.

"Well she's very fine her progress is just what we were looking for,soon you'll be able to take her home.Though if i may ask,will you not come here on Thursday?i mean today isn't your usual day.

With a sigh Alina explained"unfortunately something came up and i may not be able to visit her for a while till i set some things straight"she voiced out sadly then went on to say "please help me look after her i've paid for every fees needed by the hospital,i'll still send someone to give her the supply she will need until she gets out of here."

"You don't have to worry about anything but are you going to take that long?and the day she gets out,where will she head?we don't know any of her family members except for you,who will pick her up?she's still a minor you know plus she may not show it to you but she's really fond of you,she'll be really devastated"the nurse said anxiously.

"It won't be that long,but if that will be the case then i have someone ready to take care of her and that's why i came i'll talk to her and make her understand me."

By the time they were done talking,they had reached where SHE was,Clara McAndrew the girl she always felt like she was her responsibility since the day she set her eyes on her.She was young,still is.The world had no rights to unveil it's evils and cruelty on her.It might be her mistake but the punishment she received was worse and no one should receive it,Alina had also done the same mistake but luckily she was saved and never punished.She became determined to save her too and prove to her that the world isn't all bad and some good still exist so she decided to make her her responsibility and fend for her until she's old enough to do it herself.

"She's such a lucky girl to have you you know?don't ever lose that precious heart of yours"the nurse said and Alina just smiled nodding her head. "There she is"she pointed at Clara who was in the garden busy with her paint brush.Alina went to her and as she approached the girl whose back faced her,she saw that she was working on the scenery before her.She truly was blessed because her work was magnificent.

"Clara,"she called her name in a gentle voice.Clara who was busy painting paused and looked back at her then gave her a tight smile.The nurses had told her that Clara liked painting in her free time and so she decided to find her the highest quality painting tools.She also had a private teacher who gave her lessons so she may not be left behind.

Alina knew that Clara never really talked to her and never was affectionate so Alina always initiated the talking and hugging.She went to her and gave her a hug while Clara just sat there not responding.This has never really bothered her because the doctor explained it to her.She didn't want to talk because she is afraid that anything she'll say might offend her and she may end up leaving her like how her family did.At least that's what she thought.Her only way of responding was through gestures.She withdraw from the hug and took a seat next to her.

"Nurse Jane told me your progressing well and they are going to release you very soon."Alina told her.She had stopped with her painting and had her full attention on her now.At her words,she gave a tight smile and her eyes lit up.She seemed happy with the news that's for sure.

"Am glad that your happy,we are going to have so much fun once you're out.You'll finish up high school and start college,everything will be back to normal."Hearing that 'everything will go back to normal' made her eyes tear up.Not everything will go back to normal.Her parents won't be in the picture,they abandoned her.She won't be able to see them anymore.With this thought she didn't know if she should feel sorry and blame herself or be angry at her parents for not being with her.

Alina noticed the change in mood and knew exactly what was going on in her head.She hugged her real tight and whispered to her "everything will be okay,we'll look for your parents,am sure they will be happy to see you."but did she want to see her parents?she didn't know,she's still angry with them for leaving her like that.She does want to make sure that they are alright other than that she is not ready to see them.They pulled back and Alina went nervous,she knew it was time to tell her but didn't know how,she fiddled with her fingers and was biting her lip a behavior she adopted whenever she was anxious.Clara saw this and she knew that she was afraid of something so she held her hand and squeezed it as if to encourage her to say whatever it is troubling her.

"Clara I-I,something went down at the office so i-um"they were both looking at each other and Clara gave her a look which urged her to continue with what she was saying."Clara i'll have to stop coming here for a while.Its just something happened at the office and i........" 'I'll have to stop coming here' the moment she uttered those words is when she stopped listening to whatever she was still saying and blocked out everything.Alina was still in her speech of why she couldn't come here for a while when her voice broke out

"You're never coming back for me?"She was stunned because Clara had never talked to her.It was as if she was seeing a different side of her.it was like she was in a different world now,she looked hypnotized when speaking and confused.She completely looked deranged!"no no Clara that's not what i meant,what i meant was--"she didn't finish explaining herself as Clara started having an episode,she took her canvas and throw it away together with all the other painting materials."You're abandoning me just like they did,you said you were never going to leave me,who will want me now? why did you take me if you were going to get tired of me."At that time Alina didn't know what to do,she only tried her best to hold her down and talk some sense into her.When Jane and the other nurses rushed towards them so they could tame her,Clara began chanting NOs and hugging Ali tightly telling her not to let them give her a shot.To regain her trust Ali did ask them not to but only if she promised to listen to what she had to say.She calmed down so the nurses went away but not very far so that they may be able to stop her if she gets another episode.

"You need to believe in me Clara,i would never leave you,i just need to clear up a few things so that i can finally be able to have you with me."she went on persuading her until she compromised.She was relieved and promised her to make up for the lost visits when she's finally out.

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She was now in Clara's room and Clara was fast asleep while she stared at her.

"She loves you so much you know?she even made some paintings of you."that was nurse Jane speaking behind her

Hearing this,her heart swelled with happiness"i don't want to ever fail her,if something ever happens to me i have prepared someone already to take care of her until she's able to live on her own."They talked for a while about Clara and the new activities that interest her and finally she decided to head home.

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Taking her phone out from the handbag she was carrying she found missed calls from Alex,her Father and sister.Her father calling was what surprised her,it was not normal unless it was something important.Not that he never cared about how she was doing,he did,he made sure to see her everyday at work and ask how she was.They also met as a family every after two weeks.That was similar to all her siblings.She was tired and didn't want to talk to anyone so she decided that she'll see her father tomorrow and text the rest goodnight.