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I got out my phone and tried ringing Isabella and Rebecca I needed to speak with them. It was an emergency. They didn’t answer-they must still be in school. I needed to speak with them. I rang the school and asked if I could speak with them. Mrs Smith answered luckily she was nice and said she would go and fetch them from lessons. He put me on hold and it was a few minutes before Isabel and Rebecca were there.

 “Izzy, Becca I need you!”

 “what’s up Anna?”

“I woke up this morning in the psych unit. They think I have Border Line Personality disorder as well as my anxiety and I tried leaving about two hours ago and they sedated. I need you guys. I feel so upset and frustrated I don’t know what to do. “

“Aww Anna. You need us we are on our way we can skip school, we will just explain to our tutor that it’s an emergency and you need us and then we are coming right there. We are coming just hold on we will be there as fast as we can!”

“Aww you guys are the best!”

They hung up. I am really glad they are willing to skip school and risk getting into trouble just for me.

While I waited for them I decided I am going to be stuck here for a while I should probably walk around and discover where to go for food and where the bathrooms are and maybe meet a few other people here. I walked around, and it insistently felt like a horror story. 

I walked around and found where the canteen and where the school room was and where we needed to go for medication and the therapy room. I already didn’t like this place.

I headed back to my room or the room where my things were held. I got my laptop out and decided to watch some YouTube to distract me and to pass the time.

Before I knew it, I hear Isabella and Rebecca, asking the receptionist for a visitors pass and asking what room I was in. I run out my room and race up to them hugging them, instantly crying into their arms. They suggest we go into my room where it’s more private as we were stood in the middle of the common room/living room with all the other patients and nurses.

We are back in my room now, or at least the room where I am forced to stay for a while, we are sat on the bed. I feel so uncomfortable and scared and anxious in this place, I am glad they are here, they make me feel better, wish they could stay or I wish even more I could leave with them. I start crying again, as I explain about what happened and everything I remember from last night just after they left to right now.

“Izzy, Becca, I frightened I don’t know what to do, I don’t think I can handle being stuck in this place. What do I do?” I keep crying and trying to wipe my tears, but more tears keep coming.

Rebecca speaks first “Anna, don’t worry I think I may have a way of braking you out of here.”

“wait really? Like I can get out of this place?, but how I tried earlier and they sedated me.”

“don’t worry about that I have a plan.”

Isabella “Where have I heard that before?” we both laugh and roll eyes at her. We all know Rebecca’s plans normally get us into trouble.

“ohh ssshhh now here is the plan. You pack your things. We will all get changed into our PE kits to just look like school girls, I still have yours from when you stayed at mine last week and forgot your kit and I was going to drop it in your gym locker today at school but forgot. Then I just need to find a perfect distraction and then run and head to mine.”

“Are you sure this is going to work? I can’t get sedated again I am still feeling really queasy from last time.”

“yes it will work now lets get changed.”

A few minutes later we were all changed and we giggled at how bad we looked in our school PE kits but then I said “this might actually work you know.”

“Told you my brilliant plan will work they always do, now you two pack and be ready to leave, I will go cause a distraction. “

We did what she said and packed up my things, making sure I grabbed my laptop from the desk and my phone.

Within minutes she was back, and the fire alarm was being set off, “is this your distraction?

“Yes, great isn’t it, you ready to go we need to leave now, this is our chance.”

“Yes come on lets go to yours.”

We quickly walked out and ran towards Rebecca’s house, which was about a 10 minute walk from the hospital but since we ran it took us no time.

Rebecca’s house was the perfect place for hiding out. None would ever find me here. Her dad works full 24- hour shifts a lot of the time and lives in London as he is a fire fighter and that’s where he is based so he only comes home one weekend every month. Rebecca’s mum past away a few months ago. Meaning her parents won’t be here. She only has one sister, Mandy who is four years old and is still at school. Their house is enormous, and they have a butler/Nanny called Jamie who only works from after school time to help Rebecca look after the house and Mandy. It meant this was the perfect place to hide, Jamie and Mandy won’t say anything. It was the best place to hide we could think of, as I certainly can’t hid at mine as I am hiding from my parents and Isabella’s house is big but she shares a room with one of her five sisters.

I checked my phone and my parents found out I wasn’t in hospital anymore. They wouldn’t stop ringing my phone, I had 15 missed calls already. I thought I should let them know I am okay.  I sent them a text which read “Mum, Dad, I am okay, I am fine but I don’t want to be in hospital, I am fine, please don’t come looking for me I am fine and don’t want to see you. I don’t trust either one of you very much right now, please don’t try and find me, I do love you but I just can’t be in that place. Give Alice and Aaron hugs from me, I hope they are okay, tell them I love them and not to worry. Please don’t search for me, I just need some time away from you right now, I need space please respect that.”

I thought that said everything I wanted to say in the best way without hurting their feelings. I then turned my phone off as I didn’t want to see or hear a response from them right now.

After dealing with that, we then got changed out of our stupid looking school PE kits. I got changed into my jeans and harry potter t-shirt. Rebecca was wearing one of her favourite floral dresses when she eventually found it from her over flowing wardrobe. Isabella wore her favourite ripped jeans and her band t-shirt from mayday parade.  I asked Rebecca to help me get the needle from the IV drip out my arm. She torn of the sticky plaster around it and slide the needle out, trying to be careful I could tell she didn’t want to hurt me. I did hurt a little bit but I am glad she go that out my arm, then she got a plaster and put that over it in case of bleeding. She apologises as she took the needle out but I didn’t mind, I just wanted the needle out my arm. She then placed the needle in Mandy’s sharps bin as Mandy had type one diabetes so she was used to dealing with needles.

We decided to take our minds off everything that was happening, we headed into the game room where Rebecca had a massive cinema screen and comfy chairs. We played some Nintendo for a few hours and watched a movie. We were hungry so we headed into Rebecca’s massive kitchen to bake, she had all the best equipment like powerful mixers. We got out our recipe book made, a scrapbook of all our favourite recipes. We choose to make our own pizzas and to make some Nutella brownies and strawberry lemonade. We set out making the lemonade first so we could chill it whilst we make the brownies and pizzas.

We started making the pizzas and brownies and then Jamie and Mandy came through the door, she must just off finished school for the day. Alice and Aaron would be finishing school about now as well, I miss them. We told them that none else can know that I am here right now, and that I will be staying for a few days but don’t tell anyone especially my parents. Jamie agreed. Mandy easily agreed as long as we let her and Jamie help make pizza and brownies. We thought that was an easy compromise. We made the pizza and brownies. Then we all snuggled up in the private home cinema they had upstairs. Before we ate Rebecca took a prick of Mandy’s blood to test her blood sugar level, it was 102 which is perfectly normal. We ate our pizzas and brownies and lemonade, this was turning out to be a lovely evening, if it was for me worrying at any point we could be caught and I could be sent back to the psych unit.  As we finished up eating, Rebecca took Mandy off to give her the Insulin she needed. She then went and put Mandy to bed.  Me and Isabella helped Jamie clean up the kitchen.

We heard a knock at the door, it was my parents, I asked them not to try and find me, they must off known I would be at Isabella or Rebecca’s house.

“PLEASE, NO, don’t let them know I am here I can’t go back, please make them go away.” I whispered to Isabella and Jamie. I was desperate I could not go back I started crying as I spoke.

“No don’t worry Anna we will protect you won’t we Jamie?” she looked at Jamie and she nodded “don’t worry, now go hide upstairs lock yourself upstairs we will make them go away.”

I ran upstairs still crying. I bumped into Rebecca on the way I quickly said “my parents found me, please don’t let me take me back, please I can’t go back to the unit.” I kept crying.

Rebecca hugged me “don’t worry Anna we will make them go away, quick go hide in my room and lock the door. This is my house and they will not come in.”

I hugged her back and did as she said and ran into her room locking the door firmly behind me. I locked the windows pushed Rebecca’s bed against the door just in case. I sat and listened downstairs anxiously. I wiped my tears so I could focus on the conversation better.

“Where is she? Where is Anna? Girls don’t hide her from me! She is ill! She needs help.”

Isabella spoke “ she isn’t here Mrs Wilson, honest, I am just helping put Mandy to bed, she hasn’t been sleeping very well since her mum’s car accident a few months ago.”

Rebecca “Yeah Anna isn’t here Mrs Wilson, honest and Izzy is right she was helping me put Mandy to sleep she hasn’t slept well since my mum’s accident, she keeps crying and can’t sleep. Now please we only just got her to sleep and I don’t want you to wake her. Please Anna is not here, She did ring us and tell us she is okay and that she just needs space. She said she didn’t want to see you two right now. Please she isn’t here.”

“Okay, if you insist I will leave but if she is here and you girls are lying I am not pleased, this is really serious girls she needs to be in hospital. If you see her tell her to come home.”

They left.  I was too anxious to leave. I heard Isabella and Rebecca come upstairs and I moved the bed back and unlocked the door for them. They ran up to me hugging me and trying to comfort me.

“You two are the best you know that, you skipped school risking getting court and getting detention just because I needed you, helping me brake me out of the hospital risking everything and letting me stay here and hideout risking everything and getting into so much trouble for me, you shouldn’t have to…” They stop me there.

“Anna, we are your best friends and we would risk anything and everything to help you, now let’s try and not think about it and get ready for bed I am so tired. Why don’t we get ready and then watch some harry potter too cheer you up.”

“brilliant idea.”  After Isabella rang home to let her parents know she will be staying the night and going to school with Rebecca tomorrow and she will home tomorrow night. They know and understand about Rebecca’s mum and things are hard and they told her that was being a really good friend and not to worry. We all got a shower and got changed into some Pjs we kept at hers. We always keep spare PJs and toothbrushes at each other’s houses just in case a sleepover is going to happen. We then all snuggled up in front of her massive 42 inch TV in her room.  As we got the movie loaded, she heard her little sister wake up in the night and she wondered into our room all sleepy eyed in disney Pjs and clinging onto her favourite teddy.

Rebecca got up and said “what’s up my little sleepy angel?”

“Beckie, I dreamt of mummy and I couldn’t stop imagining the crash. And I just kept thinking of mummy and think I wet the bed.”

Mandy was in the car when it crashed. She was in her car seat in the back and only ended up with a broken arm which is all healed. However she has flashbacks and has wet the bed with nightmares every night since.

“oh come her little chicken, we can sort you out.” Rebecca walks off into her room and helps Mandy out. She swaps the sheets and bedding over into some spare bedding, She helps Mandy get changed into some clean PJs and then shouts Jamie up

“Jamie come here please!” Jamie rushes up the stairs “Jamie would mind putting this bedding in the wash please, Mandy wet the bed,” She hands the bedding to Jamie, Jamie responds with “No problem I will have this washed and dried and ready to be reused very soon.” She wonders back down stairs.

I could hear Rebecca trying to put Mandy to sleep but she struggled. I decided to try and help.

I walked  into Mandy’s room to try and help get her to sleep. Isabel followed me in. They had a little lamp on next to them and some fairy lights but other then that the room was dark, I tried not to fall over or bump into anything. As we entered I could see Rebecca was snuggled under Mandy bed with Mandy read her a story to try and make her sleep, it wasn’t working. Rebecca nudged us and gave us a signal to come in and help.

Me and Isabella came in and sat either side of Mandy’s bed. I spoke first:

“Hey Mandy, you not feeling very sleepy?”

“No me and Mr bear can’t stop thinking of mummy and then I think of the accident. ”

“Well I know whenever my brother and sister Aaron and Alice are having trouble sleeping I tell them one of my bedtime stories would you like to hear one? Maybe your sister and Isabel can help me out with the voices?”

She nods her head and shuffles to get in an even comfier position. I tell her a story about a fairy land and a fairy called Mandy who has magical powers.  She soon drifts off into a dream filled sleep. 

Me and Isabella get up to leave and Rebecca whispers to us “Izzy, Anna  think I should stay here she really needs me, I am sorry harry potter will have to wait, see you guys in the morning though okay?”

I whisper back “Don’t worry we get it, you’re a brilliant sister, she needs you stay with her, we will be in your room and see you in the morning.”

As we head out the door we turn off the fairy lights but leave her night light on, we gently crept out the room closing the door halfway behind us and we headed into Rebecca’s room and got comfy in her bed. We were so tired, I felt like such a long day, it seemed like it was a different day since I woke up in the psych unit. It wasn’t even that late but we felt so tired. I quickly go out my phone and sent a good night text to Alice’s ipad through imessage. It read “hey Alice, hope your okay, don’t worry about me, sorry about everything. Don’t tell mum and dad about this message. I do love you. I will be home as soon as I can.  Give Aaron a hug and kiss from me, tell him I love him. I love you, I am sorry, goodnight, love you little munchkin! Missing you! Sending love and hugs xxxxxxxx” I miss them a lot. I feel so bad for putting them through this they are caught in the middle of me and my parents. Nothing will ever be the way it was a week ago ever again.

Before my tiredness takes over, I ask Isabella “Izzy.. What do you thinks going to happen? Surely, I can’t hide out in Becca’s house forever someone will find me. Izzy? “

I noticed she wasn’t going to reply as she just fallen asleep. I decided to join her, it had been a long emotional day. I tried to put the question to the back of my mind and worry about what would happen, save the worry for tomorrow. I was so tired I instantly fell asleep.

As I woke up, I noticed Isabel wasn’t in bed any more. I looked at my phone and I have a text from Rebecca which read ” Good morning! Sorry, we didn’t want to wake you, you looked like you needed a lie in! We had to get to school and we will be back as soon as we can! Jamie is in the house, help yourself to any food or anything you need, Jamie can help you with anything you might need, have a nice day! See you after school!!! Xx” aww they are so sweet. I notice I have more missed calls of my parents as well. I then see a reply from Alice, it reads “Hey Anna, You don’t have to apologize to me for anything! I miss you so much! Please come home, I am sure mum and dad are just trying to do what’s best. At least tell me where you are so can see you? I need to see you I promise I will keep it a secret from mum and dad! I misss you love you xxx” I decided I should respond I said ” I need to see you as well but I can’t say, I just can’t risk it, I can’t go back, I can’t go home mum and dad will be tooo angry at me. I do love you sis, I am sorry for everything! Xx ” I decide to take my mind off everything and go get some breakfast down stairs. Looks like it’s going to be a long lonely day its not like I can go out and do anything in case my parents find me. I decide to make the most of it and have the laziest day. I jump out of bed, not even looking in a mirror chances are my hair is frizzy and my skin just always has a break out. I don’t even consider getting changed as I want to be lazy. I head down stairs where I see Jamie in the kitchen. She asks what I would like for breakfast I just ask for some eggs and toast. I make myself a cup of tea to help wake me up and sit at the kitchen counter. As I drink my tea, Jamie starts asking about what happened, I decided I should explain.

Jamie is just sorting my eggs out, and she asks ” So if you don’t mind me asking, how come you’re here and how come your parents were looking for you and why you not at school? You can tell me I am the best at keeping secrets!”

I decided I should probably tell Jamie. “Well okay, but you don’t tell a soul. I was in the hospital. See on Tuesday night my parents told me and my siblings that they are getting a divorce. Well after my brother and sister went to bed, Isabella and Rebecca came over, I needed them. Then it all built up an I had something called a panic attack. I collapsed and ended up in A+E. Then, Wednesday night they doctor gives me a sedative which knocks me out. Little did I know this was so they could admit me to the psych ward. I woke up and my parents had signed me to be admitted as they think I have anxiety and a mild form of Border Line personality disorder. I freaked out tried to leave they sedated me again. Isabella and Rebecca came and helped me escape that horrid place and well you know the rest…” I trailed off and stared eating my eggs and toast. “.. and now you know.. But you can’t tell anyone!”

“Oh Anna, I am sorry, and don’t worry I won’t, and you can stay here as long as you need.”

“Thanks I really appreciate that.”

“No problem, I am just about to head out and run errands, do you want to come run errands with me?”

“I would but I don’t think that’s wise, what if my parents find me?  can’t go back to that place! Thanks for the offer, I better just lie low here for the day. Thanks for the offer.”

“Yeah I didn’t think, you want anything bringing back?”

“No I should be okay thanks. What time you back later?”

“I think about 3:30 after I pick Mandy and Rebecca from school. You going to be okay till then?”

“Okay and yeah suppose, well at least Rebecca’s house is massive, I probably won’t be too bored!” She giggles and walks out the door. I hear her drive off. As I finish my breakfast, I tidy up and head upstairs. I decided to grab my laptop and head to Rebecca’s book room, it was the perfect place to be able to read, write and think, plus she had this super comfy reading chair in the middle which hung from the ceiling and was cover in pillows. I sat down for a while and decided to write a blog post to update my blog readers about what happened. It took me about an hour to write I uploaded it straight away. I checked the time and it was only 11:30 am, I had four hours to kill until Jamie, Mandy and Rebecca got back. I decided to catch up on some YouTube videos. I grabbed a blanket from a cupboard as I was very cold all of a sudden. I snuggled up and started watching some youtube videos. Before I know it, it was 2 pm so luckily it wasn’t too long before they got back. I put my laptop down and got a book out to read. Not harry potter this time, I went for How hard can love be?-by Holly Bourne, I love a good romance! I was so tired still, even though I sleep for at least 14 hours. I found myself fall off into a light sleep.

Before I knew it the time was 3 o clock, Rebecca, Mandy and Jamie won’t be back for a another thirty minutes yet. I heard a terribly loud knock at the door, followed by what sounded like the door being forced open. It was the police they must be here because of my parents. They are here to take me back to the psych unit. I had to hide. I quickly ran and pulled on of the books to go to our secret den room, I locked the door firmly behind me.

I quickly got out my phone and sent an SOS text to Rebecca which read, “Quick help, parents and police discovered my hiding spot and are searching the house help!!! I am stuck in the den and so scared they might find me and send me back! Help Becca please!”  I hope she sees my text. I hear them searching downstairs, and I start to panic. I can’t let them find or they could take me back to the psych unit. I heard them come up stairs and search everywhere. I knew they wold have known I was here, I didn’t have time to hide all my stuff scatted about Rebecca’s house. They would see my bag of things in Rebecca’s room and my clothes and realise I am here. I was contemplating giving myself up, they would find me and drag me back to the unit sooner or later. It was only a matter of time. I heard Rebecca down stairs and decided to stay where I am for a few minutes., see if they would go away. I listened closely to the conversation.

Rebecca’s voice was clear as she was shouting at them “What are you doing? Get out, you have right to do this, this is my house. Please leave.”

One policeman spoke “I am the chief inspector, We have are carrying out a investigation into Anna Wilson, Her parents confirmed she was missing and that she needs to be in psychiatric unit for treatment. Who might you be?”

My mum spoke “This is Rebecca Benson, one of my daughter’s best friends.”

“Yes and this is also my house and I want you all to leave immediately!”

The chief spoke firmly “Where are your parents?

“if you should know, my dad is a fireman and he is at work, doing a 24- hour shift and is based in London. The Nanny and my little sister will be back any minute now, please just leave, Anna is not here.”

“We need to speak with your parents, is your mother not available for us to speak with?”

“No, she isn’t… my mum isn’t here she passed away a few months ago in car accident,” I hear her go quieter as she speaks.

“Oh I am very sorry Miss Benson..”

“Thank you but I am fed up of people saying they are sorry, I just want you to leave, my sister will freak out if she sees police here, she is upset enough still, honestly she isn’t here, so please..” She got interrupted by a police officer who said “Sir, we found what we think is some of Anna’s belonging upstairs.”

“Please, they are hers but I got them for her school locker yesterday and was going to bring them to her. Please you have done your search and she isn’t here please go, I need to clean up your mess before my sister gets back from school.” She directs my mum now “Mrs Wilson I told you, she isn’t here, if I hear anything I will let you know, but I would just like you to go,.”

“Okay Rebecca,we will go, but promise me if you hear anything, tell me.”

“I will, I promise!”

“Okay well officer, she isn’t here maybe we should call of the search?”

“Okay.. Guys come on, search over.”

I hear them all leave. I hear Rebecca coming to find me to tell me now that the coast is clear. I walk out of my hiding spot. I run up and I hug her.

“Becca, I am so sorry, you shouldn’t have had to do that for me. I am sorry.”

“Hey stop crying, it’s not your fault, you know I would anything to help you.”

“I know but it’s obviously serious if they got he police involved, maybe I should hand myself in, I can’t fight it anymore, they will find me sooner or later.”

“Anna..”

“No, stop, I can’t, as much I hate to think about going back to the unit, I mean if I go there, do my time, deal with therapy, maybe I can be out and back to a normal life in just a few weeks. Thanks for letting me stay and risking everything but I should go.”

“Are you sure?”

“I think so I mean I can’t hide from this forever. I will help you tidy the house and then I will pack and leave.”

I did as I said. I helped her quickly tidy the house before Mandy and Jamie gets back so they suspect anything. I pack my things up and say goodbye.

Jamie offered to give me a lift but it’s a short walk and I needed the fresh air. I walk home and I notice none is home yet. I wrote a note on Alice’s bed and tell her and Aaron to see me in the attic. I thought I could at least see them before I talk to my parents. I hide the note under Alice’s pillow where I know she will find it. It read “Alice, Don’t tell mum and dad, I am in the attic, I want to see you and Aaron before I talk to mum and dad, get Aaron and come to the attic as soon as you read this, I need to see you. Love you Anna xx “I head to the attic.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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