It’s a lie.
Another thing that’s not real.
I made it up.
I’ve made it all up.
Then the ear-splitting, high-pitched tone blares through the cell, robbing me of working out her lies as I curl in on myself, covering my ears with my hands.
THREE MONTHS LATER
One step.
“It’s not real,” I mumble.
Another step with the heel of my foot pressed directly in front of my toes as I stick to the wall of my cell.
Another mumble. “I made it up.”
I continue walking around the room.
“There is no baby.”
I reach the door.
“Helene isn’t real.”
I avoid touching the walls.
“I’m still in the hospital.”
I stumble to the side as the door slams open.
My psychosis has fully taken over as the phantom Helene enters the cell I’ve also made up. The details are so clear, considering she’s an apparition. I smile with the comfort that this isn’t true as I singsong, “You’re not real.”
“Good girl,” the monster coos. “You are much more entertaining like this.”
I want Kane and the stars.
He always kissed my face in four points when I laid on his bed with my head hanging out of the window. I lift my hand, touching each point his lips would as Helene grabs my arms.
Even though it’s fake, I can feel her fingers digging into my bicep as she drags me through a stone hallway to an old staircase. The sun hits the side of my face through the large window above the kitchen sink, burning my eyes.
“You’re not real,” I say, choking back my laugh as I stretch my hand out to tickle her side.
Her fingers ping against my knuckles as I continue pushing my hand forward, literally playing with my monster.
“I know I made you up,” I whisper. “That means I’m in charge.” Leaning into her, I drop my voice. “You’re not real, I am.” Her boney fingers curl into her palm as she grips my hair, forcing my laugh out. “None of this is real.” I hold my arms out while she drags me up a spiral staircase. “I created it all!”
My laughter turns maniacal as I look over the metal railing for any other characters my mind has formed. The floor below is empty though, and I pout. “Aww, let’s create more people. Have a party!”
Kane will come back if there’s a party, so I chant it like a prayer to see him again. He doesn’t like them, but the parties mean everyone’s distracted so we can be together.
My scalp stings as I’m led to a bedroom with blank stone walls. When the fake hand in my hair pushes me forward, I stumble, catching myself against the wall. I don’t care about the door slamming behind me because there are letters stuck in the stone. I press my fingers into the grooves, attempting to pry the stones out to help them. My skin breaks as I get close to removing them, but they disappear.
“Nooooo, you won’t be able to breathe.”
All the letters are the same long rectangles.
