In the asylum.

The continuous tapping of pen on table echoed through the almost empty room as Rosalia scanned the big glass table in front of her looking for what next to play with.

All she was thinking about was her great runaway plan. She had to leave here.

“How do you feel today Lia?” The slightly bald man seated behind the table with glasses that almost hid the flesh pooled under his eyes asked her. She hummed, not sparing him a glance. He sighed in frustration. He was always not able to hold her attention for more than the five seconds she would look at him and decide he wasn’t shiny enough to keep her eyes trained on.

“I’m okay I guess,” She finally answered when the pen she was tapping on the table grew two horns and demanded that she answer her therapist. She wanted to leave this boring place.

The big room to her was ugly, void of emotions and toys. The only thing that decorated the walls were an old clock that she suspected would fall soon and a shelf that had been built into the wall. It contained mostly files from all her sessions with the man. Unsuccessful sessions.

“Any story you want to share with me today?” he asked. Rosalia tapped her index finger on her jaw as she stood up slowly and walked towards the shelf.

“I think I’m all out of stories…” Her eyes scanned his table for his nameplate “Leo” She said sweetly when she saw it. “Maybe we should just play, I got new toys from Father yesterday. Trust me you’ll love it.”

Mr. Leo looked at the twenty-one-year-old in despair and curiosity. He has been her therapist since she was a kid but up till this moment, her mind was something he could never understand. It was like she hadn’t grown. If anything, her childlike curiosity and excitement had doubled over the years. He watched her slowly pick up the little toy car she had left there the previous time. Dropping to her knees to roll its cute little tires on the floor.

“Lia, I’ve warned you about playing on the floor,” He started rubbing his temple, “You’ll soil your clothes and that’s no way for an adult to act.” He finished just as she turned back to look at him when his voice raised slightly at the end. He watched the tears cloud her eyes as she stood up from the floor and dusted her clothes in an attempt to get rid of the dirt.

“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.” She said as she solemnly walked back to her seat. She folded her fingers on her lap and looked down at her feet.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you.” Leo told her. She didn’t hum in response this time. He looked at her wearily, her moods especially were one he struggled to handle. Even therapists had their limits. “I’m just trying to help Lia and you’re making it very difficult for me.”

Her head turned swiftly to him. Eyes narrowed and lips in a sneer. “I’m making it difficult for you?” She asked in disbelief “Do you think I like being here? Having to keep up with seeing your fat face and bald hair. If anything, I’m the one that has to deal with you!” She yelled, tears running down her lean cheeks.

“Lia…” Mr. Leo walked over to where she sat and put a hand on her shoulder. He knew she didn’t mean anything she just said, it was just one of her moments. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you” He said as he stroked her long dark hair.

“Maybe this would cheer you up?” He brought out the chocolate he had put away for her. This was their routine.

“Thank you!” She hugged him like her life depended on it and held the chocolate up in the air. “This is a different one.” She bit into the chocolate, moaning slightly as the hard substance melted into a warm liquid and slid down her throat. “Okay, this is my favorite now.” She said and wiped the lingering tears on her cheeks.

Mr. Leo chuckled, “I wasn’t so sure you’d like it.” He stood up and walked back to his seat. He watched Rosalia devour the chocolate in less than ten seconds, hands already outstretched for another. “You’re not supposed to have more than one chocolate in a day,” he told her.

“Mother won’t know. I won’t tell,” She said wiggling her brows at Leo. He huffed and gave her another one, “I’m not giving you another, so you better eat it slowly this time,” He said. It was too late; the entire bar was gone by the time he was done talking. “That was fast” He muttered to himself.

“Thank you, mister Leo. I’m sorry for being mean earlier, I didn’t mean any of that” She looked unable to meet his eyes.

“It’s alright, Lia.” The timer on his table beeped, “Before you go, did you think about what we discussed the last time?” She looked at him in confusion unable to remember what he was talking about.

“It’s fine, you can go now,” he closed the file on his desk as she bolted up from her seat and left immediately. He loosened the tie around his neck and stopped the recorder on his phone. He couldn’t decide if it was a good thing that she didn’t recall their plan to get her away from the house she was currently trapped in.

Rosalia skipped down the remaining steps as she spotted her sister standing outside her car. She ran towards her and engulfed her in a hug before the older sister could protest.

“We’re going to be late for dinner if we don’t hurry along” Melissa said, not returning the hug. Rosalia removed her hands that were wrapped around her sister’s neck and got into the car. She hated that her own sister didn’t even talk to her. She watched the houses dance past her and the buildings hid as she breezed by. It was like she was seeing everywhere for the first time as she stretched her neck to see a man dressed in a black well-tailored suit. Even Melissa would agree that he was really good looking.

Rosalia sped off to her room once they got home, skipping the stairs too at a time. “Be down on time for dinner!” Melissa screamed making Rosalia laugh. If only her family knew she would never make it to dinner. She hurriedly locked her door once she was inside her room. She looked around as if to commit her room to memory before pulling out the little bag that was hidden under her bed.

Making sure everything she considered essential was in the bag, she dragged it to the window. Very soon it would be completely dark. She was just a couple hours away from freedom. She bounced on her toes before sitting down on her dresser. The only life she has even known was the one within the walls of her home and her therapist’s office.

It had taken her many years to plan her escape. All she yearned was for a place outside these walls, away from her overbearing parents, her sister included. She didn’t hesitate to remind Rosalia of all her flaws every chance she got. She had spent all her eyes in pain but now, she was going to be finally happy. She was going to finally live a normal life where nobody treated her like she was fragile and different.

Braiding her long curly hair was a lot of work for without the help of her nanny. She managed anyway. She zipped up her black leather jacket which was a nice finish for her spy-like ensemble. It was dark enough now for her to slip out of the house.

After a dangerous minute of hiding away from servants and her sister that was already sitting at the table, she jumped off the balcony landing with a thud and a possibly broken ankle. She dragged herself across the yard before climbing onto her bike and zooming off. It was a good thing there was something like google map, she wouldn’t have known her way to the train station otherwise. She didn’t have a particular destination. All she knew was she had to be very far away from her family and the train was her only ticket out.