A Happy Pill

Felicity clicked the button for the mechanical pencil repeatedly waiting to see when the lead would finally drop to the blank note sheet of homework that she desperately needed to work on and turn in before midnight per usual.

She pushed back from her desk, the spinning white cushioned chair pivoting to the right when she made the move, and she wheeled herself over to the bed for flopping down.

She buried her head in her pillows, the soft cushions resting peacefully on her cheeks while she shook her head repeatedly into the fabric, squeezing the pillows tightly.

It had been a couple of months since she had returned from the testing period and back into the boring routine of daily life. Clenching her fists, Felicity blew out a tight breath that seized in her lungs whenever she thought back to it.

Felicity remembered waking up in the hospital room that was desolate and with a fresh mind. It was as if someone had wiped her mind clean, but she could still remember everything. Dr. Peter's words were still fresh in her memories as was the raw pain she experienced when she thought about Leo's condition.

She wondered what they gave her to placate her mood like this. She wasn't exactly loopy but felt like she was floating and without a care in the world. A happy pill maybe.

Felicity had grabbed onto the ledge of the window at the time and stared out the high-storied hospital building, watching all the people below enter the hospital doors yet none had left in the long time that she had idly stood by.

There was a knock on the door, and Felicity turned back around, tucking the hospital gown tighter on her waist when she wrapped her hands around herself. She couldn't recognize the doctor's face, and her gaze returned to the solemn window in her room, listening to the doctor's repeated information as if he had done it hundreds of times before.

The information was quite basic, notifying her to take it easy and such. The only thing that caught her attention was when the doctor passed her a piece of paper and a pen to sign.

She looked up at him quizzically to which he responded that it was a silence clause to not speak about the tests to others. She didn't understand why they would need to take such a precaution when all the damage had already been done.

The memories that swam back in her mind were going to resurface, but she guessed that she would tell her parents about it. Not the nitty-gritty details, but enough so that they don't feel so pressed as to why she was riddled with bruises and scars that were too deep to speak about. Felicity picked up the pen, her fingers shaking as she scribbled down her signature.

The doctor left without another word, and Felicity was soon discharged. She was transported to another hospital via an interconnection railway system that was a huge circle judging by the signs on the train.

The hospital was gorgeous, but it stuck out like a sore thumb with the pure white architecture and neon white lights that shined like spires into the night.

Her parents picked up her from there, and they were frantic when they first got Felicity into their arms. Her mother hugged her tightly, muttering her worries into Felicity's shoulder while her father rubbed her head, asking if she was okay. Felicity was still in another dimension, her mind floating away, but still managed to nod.

When she returned to school, it was the same as normal. She didn't understand why everything was getting pushed under the rug. The teachers and other adults gave more information as to what was happening, but Felicity also knew that there was no other information that was out since the government had been tight-lipped. There were still reporters digging for more, but they disappeared without a trace.

No one could question the authorities, as they were the ones searching for solutions. But it made Felicity wonder what sort of solution was the government planning. She wanted to speak about the matters with her friends, but they tended to shy away from the topic. Felicity rolled onto her back on the bed and lifted a hand to her forehead, stretching her toes.

She had just gotten back from school and was waiting for dinner that her mother was cooking. Felicity had been dodging her assignments, but she wasn't one to be docile and do absolutely nothing and lounge around like Aston. She yawned and sat back up, scratching her head. The delicious aroma had made its way up the stairs and into her room making her salivate.

Her mother had to be done by now, right? Felicity hopped from her bed onto her rugs and made her way down the stairs, rounding the bend in the middle and down the rest of the steps.

Her father was sitting at the island peeling an orange, and he tossed a small slice to her. Felicity caught the small orange piece and placed it into her mouth, welcoming the sweetly tart flavor.

"Are you done with your homework?" her mother asked while stirring the veggie soup she was making.

Felicity shrugged. "More or less. It's basically done."

"Basically done and done aren't the same," her father chided.

Aston popped up his head from the sofa in the living room. "I agree with Dad's statement."

"Hm, that's nice to know, you hypocrite," Felicity muttered.

"Go take a seat, honey," her mother said to placate her daughter's irritation. "I'll be done in ten minutes."

Her father got up to start setting the table, grabbing plates and whatnot to place down on the dining table. Her parents were one to be hard on chores and other mannerisms like setting the table, but they also understood when their children had a large workload which Felicity greatly appreciated. She wasn't one to take her parent's kindness for granted since she learned her lesson when she was younger and extremely childish.

She moved to sit next to her brother on the sofa who was gaming on whatever was the hottest game and kicked Aston's foot to which he whined while turning back his attention to his device not sparing any attention.

Aston was the least reactive to her arrival back at home, but she could tell he was worried when he ended up sleeping in her room that night on the floor as if he would protect her. He was such a kid sometimes.

Felicity rolled her eyes since she didn't get the reaction she wanted and strove over to the bay window that had a seat. She sat down and crossed her legs before her while leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

"Felicity?" her mother called.

"Yes?"

"Can you and Aston go to the market down the street and buy some napkins? We're all out."

Felicity ran a hand through her hair. "Do we need them right now?"

Her mother leveled at her, the authoritative glance was enough for Felicity to lift her hands in surrender. "I got it."

It wasn't that hard of a task anyways. Felicity yanked Aston's shirt, and he batted his hands away. "I'm busy. Give me a minute."

"Yeah right," Felicity sighed. "Let's go before Mom gets mad."

Aston groaned when Felicity yanked his phone out of his hands. "You're lucky that I just finished."

"Yeah, yeah."