Just like every other day, I had a session with Dr. Caelix. And just like every other day, I’m wrapped up in Cassian’s hoody as he comforts me afterward. It’s been a week since I haven’t seen Nico. Seventh damn day in here and I don’t see any fucking improvement. I didn’t even do that big of a thing, just tried to put a guy’s bed on fire. Apparently, he called Nico weak, but I don’t think that’s good enough a reason for them to keep me trapped in here. When I told Cassian that, he didn’t even believe me for the first few minutes, as if the very thought of putting someone else’s bed on fire is absurd. Honestly, I think the same, but none of us are sane now, are we?

  He’s been a really good friend to me. I don’t know where Cassian gets so many mints from but as long as I have them, I’m content. In fact, I’m chewing one right now. “You know, they should get you out of here. I don’t see a single thing wrong with you and for the record you’ve been the only person nice to me,” I say while munching on the mint. He lets out a dry chuckle, but it lacks any humour. “Well, my IED has been under control lately, but you never know when, what or how it can be triggered.”

  “But you seem almost… normal.”

  “Normal is the last thing I’ll ever be…” I huff out a resigned sigh. Why does this man think like this about himself? He looks ok to me. “Who all are here? I’ve barely seen anyone except you,” I ask curiously. “There are about fifteen people but none of the grumpy asses bother to come out of their room except for sessions.”

  “Grumpy asses? Really?” He laughs in a way I’ve never heard coming from him. It’s bright and loud and genuine unlike the fake ones he does just to cheer me up. Believe it or not I do know the difference between a real and a fake laugh. “Yes, grumpy asses. That’s what they are. The whole lot of them. They all act like gramps when a child playing breaks their window.”

  This time, it’s my turn to laugh. For a person who has been in the special care wing for god knows how long, he’s got quite the sense of humour.

  We settle into a comfortable silence and without even realising it, I start humming a tune which I’ve heard Nico play. His ears seem to perk up at my barely audible voice. “Chase Atlantic?” With a nod I reply “I was never into music, but Nico used to play this on his guitar all the time. He made me listen to this. I think he even has a signed album or something.”

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  He looks at me with wide eyes, as if having a signed album is one of the greatest riches in the world. Maybe I guess it is, for fans of course. For a split second, he looks more like a teen talking about his favourite band than the twisted man he claims to be. “I’ve always wanted to go to one of their concerts”

  “Well, maybe if I beg Dr. Inez hard enough, she might help both of us sneak out of the hospital” His unimpressed gaze lands on me “You’re crazier than I thought.”

  “Seriously, I’m not joking. She helped me and Nico sneak out. She might help us too.” I narrow my eyes playfully.

  “Who exactly is Nico?” He seems to hesitate a bit while asking that question. “You mention him quite a lot” How do I answer this when I myself don’t know what me and Nico are though I know it’s definitely more than friends but not quite a couple. Since this entire story is too complicated to explain I answer with a “just a friend” to which he hm’s in acknowledgement.

  “Wait, for how long have you been in here? In this wing, I mean?”

  Thinking about it for a moment, he replies, “You could say around two years? Yeah, two years sound about right,” catching the bewildered look on my face, he chuckles. “I’ve rarely been to the other wing. Mostly, they keep me trapped here.” I try not to ask him more questions, but curiosity get the better of me. “Why so?” His expression suddenly turns serious, all traces of playfulness gone. “I’m not all sunshine and rainbow sweetheart. I’ll have you know that.” my cheeks heat up slightly at the term of endearment, but I keep my expression neutral. “IED can look like nothing most of the times but when it triggered, I just lose all semblance of common sense, Its as if I’m an entirely different person.” His confession sends chills running down my spine. He may seem to almost normal, but you never know what’s simmering just under the surface. “You never had any common sense to begin with.” I smile, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Touché sweetheart, touché.”