Eye of the Storm

Chapter 25

We spend a couple hours in the comfort of each other’s company before deciding to clean ourselves up and go visit Lorenzo. They’ve moved him out of intensive care and into the mental health ward. It’s strange how much trauma can change a person. Lorenzo was the shit. Everyone wanted to be like him, even myself. He’s one of those people who can light up a room without even trying. Well, he used to be. The fact that all of that has been taken away makes me angrier than words can express, but there’s no point in getting upset about it since there’s nothing that I can do.
“Hey Enzo,” I greet, walking into his room. He sits calmly on his bed. “How are you?” Leo and I walk into his room, placing down a pile of clothes that we brought alone for him. I swear every time I see Enzo his hair is longer and longer.
“Hey,” he says, a small smile appearing on his lips. I sit down next to my cousin on the bed, giving him a gentle squeeze. The room he’s in is nice, nothing special. The walls wear a bright green colour, almost too bright. Posters with motivation quotes cover it up, though. There’s a bed, a couch and a desk. All very simple. Back through a hall there’s a communal area with a bathroom and kitchen. Lorenzo looks behind me. “Leo!” he calls. Leo smiles at him, plonking himself onto the couch.

We spend the next while talking about meaningless crap, something that proves almost therapeutic.
“How was group therapy this morning?” Enzo asks. Leo and I both groan, not even wanting to remember.
“I’d rather kill myself than go back there,” I say, with a look of disgust. Thankfully, this gets a laugh out of the two men in the room with me.
“I think that’s why you’re there in the first place, Ezzie,” for once I don’t mind the grotesque nickname. In fact, it almost brings me joy to know that Lorenzo is slowly becoming himself again. Eventually, though, the conversation shifts to subjects of more importance. My family issues. For once, Lorenzo is just as confused as me. Something I find rather relieving, knowing that I wasn’t the only one oblivious to what was going on in the world. Before we can dig too deep into our feelings and all that good stuff, a knock comes from the door.
“Hey, may I interrupt?” I turn to see a familiar face.
“Of course!” Lorenzo gasps, standing up and walking towards Alexia, embracing her tightly. Seeing her makes me realise I haven’t really caught up with my ‘friends’ in so long. I don’t even know where half of them are! Although I’m pretty sure at least two more of them are here in the mental health ward. Lorenzo plants a kiss on Alexia’s cheek. I’m guessing I’ve missed something here but now doesn’t seem like the right time to ask.

“Hey Esme, how’s things?” Alexia asks, walking up to me.
“Same old,” I reply, smiling a little. She’s always been like an older sister to me, being Lorenzo’s age. I guess you could say they had the relationship Ethan and I had, until now. Seems like they went very different ways. Alexia turns to Leo.
“Leonardo, right?” he nods in response. It’s strange. With me, the word shy wouldn’t even cross my mind but when I see him with people he doesn’t know too well he seems to shut down. I can’t really say anything though because I can’t say I’m any different. “Anyway, Esme, can we have a chat?”