Chapter Text
The warmth from his bear had disappeared a long time ago.
It was nearly the same time that the light in his mother's eyes snuffed.
Max knew why.
Maybe, that was why he did what he did. His mother's wails still reverberated through his head. When he woke up under thin covers, she held him. She cried at him, and he felt guilty.
They escorted her out when she began to shriek.
Max unintentionally brought his hand to his neck. He felt the bandages. They were uncomfortably tight. The man sitting with Max, James, watched as he did so.
They were in a cramped ambulance. It was chilly. Max nearly asked for more heat.
He didn't.
James seemed to have questions. Max glanced at him. People often said Max's eyes held his internal feelings. James spoke softly as not to alert the driver.
"Why'd you do it? You are ten years old. A child."
"Why'd you become a paramedic?" James sent Max a puzzled stare. He replied tenderly, "It made me happy."
"It made me happy."
James stopped talking. Max didn't mind the change.
The rest of the drive had no more troublesome questions. Max concluded that'd have to wait until therapy.
The ambulance stopped somewhere. Max didn't care. James muttered to the driver. Max put his bear into his bag. All he had were some clothes and a toothbrush.
The driver got out of the vehicle and opened the doors. James climbed out and extended his hand to Max.
Max overlooked his hand.
Once Max was out, James walked him to the doors. James buzzed himself inside. The lobby was barren. There was a receptionist's desk. An irritated man sat behind it. James pointed to some chairs, "How about you go sit down?" Max obeyed.
As he waited, Max thought about nothing in particular. His neck began to itch. He scowled because he couldn't scratch it.
James abruptly appeared in front of Max. He looked up curiously. James pointed to Max's shoes, "They need your shoes." Max couldn't help the grin that appeared.
"Why?"
James stared at Max's smirk, and then he furrowed his brows, "I think you know why." Max laughed humorlessly and kicked off his shoes. James took them to the front desk. He returned with slippers. Max put them on.
A door clicked. Max looked up at the source.
It was a man, shining with delight. He wore scrubs and an identification badge. His sunken cheeks had freckles. His eyes didn't shine like his smile. He had red hair, standing at awkward angles.
Max felt nauseous looking at him.
"Max! Welcome to Campbell Psychiatric Institution! We're so happy to have you!"