We Can Do It with A Broken Soul

(Cedars-Sinai Psychiatric Wing, First Week.)

In the exclusive ward reserved just for them, the Alistair siblings spent their days following a strict schedule—individual therapy, group therapy, sessions with psychiatrists, and medication for their respective mental and physical conditions.

The ward was spacious and comfortable, with private rooms for each of them. But at the end of the common room, there was a round wooden table with six chairs—one for each Alistair.

And every mealtime, they always gathered there.

DAY 3

At their dining table, Victoria played with her spoon while staring at her food. "I hate hospital food."

"At least it's healthy," Sadie said, carefully cutting her salmon. "And we all need the nutrition."

Madison sighed, stirring her oatmeal. "But honestly, it's boring."

Davis raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we should smuggle something in."

Rebecca glared. "We're under 24/7 surveillance, Davis."

Corina smirked. "But if anyone can smuggle in good food, it's me."

They all chuckled lightly, easing the tension a little.

DAY 7

Today felt heavier. The medications they were taking had started showing side effects.

Victoria often felt drowsy due to her mood stabilizers. Rebecca's muscle pain had worsened. Madison was constantly nauseous because of her stomach issues. Davis was experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Sadie still felt frequent dizziness. Corina had more asthma attacks due to the emotional toll of therapy.

They all sat in silence at the table, not talking much.

Until Davis finally exhaled sharply and muttered, "Damn. This feels like prison."

"At least in prison, you can get visitors," Madison mumbled. "Here? Nothing."

Victoria leaned back in her chair. "But I think that's better. I don't want anyone seeing us like this."

Rebecca crossed her arms. "Too late. Our fans already know we're here."

Sadie weakly nodded. "I heard some nurses talking about it… It seems the news leaked."

Corina clicked her tongue. "Of course it did. We're the Alistair siblings. Even if we tried escaping to Mars, they'd still find out."

They all fell silent for a moment before Davis let out a small laugh. "Jesus… We can't even be depressed in private."

Though the statement should've been tragic, they all burst into laughter. Because it was true.

DAY 10

Today, something even more unsettling happened.

As they were having lunch, a commotion erupted outside the ward.

"WE LOVE YOU, VICTORIA!"

"REBECCA, STAY STRONG!"

"DAVIS, WE'RE WAITING FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM!"

They all exchanged glances.

Madison snickered. "Are they serious?"

Davis rubbed his temples. "Do they think this is a concert venue?"

Sadie looked uneasy. "Why are they like this? We're in a psychiatric ward…"

Corina sighed. "They're just happy knowing we're still alive. That's all."

Rebecca tapped her fingers on the table. "They have no idea how bad we actually are."

Victoria, who had been silent until now, finally spoke softly. "Maybe they do. They just don't want to believe it."

Silence filled the room.

Then, from outside, someone shouted:

"ALISTAIR DYNASTY FOREVER!"

They looked at each other.

And then, without knowing who started it, they all laughed. Not out of joy, but exhaustion—pure, ironic exhaustion.

Because even though they felt broken… the world still saw them as legends.

(Cedars-Sinai Psychiatric Wing, Second Week.)

That morning, the Alistair siblings had just finished their group therapy session when a nurse walked in with a tired expression.

"I don't know how they got in, but… it seems you have visitors."

Before they could ask, a few people appeared behind the nurse.

Fans.

A group of young men and women, looking overly excited, holding books, posters, and even flowers. Several other nurses tried to stop them, but they had already slipped inside.

"Victoria, I've admired you since I was a kid! Can you sign my diary?" a blonde girl pushed forward, holding out a small pink notebook with trembling hands.

Victoria, still groggy from her medication, blinked and tried to process what was happening. "Uh… are you serious?"

"Of course!" The girl was nearly in tears.

Meanwhile, another woman rushed toward Davis, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Davis! I love your music! Can I kiss you on the cheek?"

Davis almost choked. "Excuse me, what?"

"Oh, come on, it's just the cheek!" The woman pleaded as her friends cheered.

Madison giggled at her brother's expression. "Come on, Davis. It's just a cheek kiss. You're acting like a saint."

Davis glared at her. "Shut up, Mad."

But before he could step back, the woman planted a kiss on his cheek and screamed with joy. "OH MY GOD! DAVIS ALISTAIR HAS SOFT SKIN!"

Davis froze in place while Victoria and Rebecca nearly choked on their laughter.

On the other side of the room, the male fans were just as enthusiastic.

"Rebecca, you're the smartest woman I've ever known! I want to propose to you, but I know I'm not Ethan Zhao!" shouted a tall man in a leather jacket.

Rebecca let out a long sigh. "You're right. You're not Ethan Zhao."

Meanwhile, another man had already dropped to one knee in front of Madison. "Madison, you're a goddess! I'd even leave my girlfriend for you!"

Madison smirked, tilting her chin up. "Too bad. I prefer women."

The man looked heartbroken. "Oh… but if I were a woman, would I have a chance?"

Madison patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Maybe. But still no."

Sadie and Corina, who had been trying to avoid the chaos, were also caught up in it.

"Sadie! Please, I need a free consultation! I get anxious at night—do I have an anxiety disorder?" a bespectacled man asked frantically.

Sadie massaged her temples. "I'm a patient, not on duty…"

Corina, on the other hand, had just sat down when a woman eagerly shoved a blank canvas at her.

"Corina! Please, draw something on this! I want something made by you!"

Corina stared at the canvas, exhausted. "Oh my God… Can I rest for a second?"

Finally, one of the psychiatrists stormed in, looking tense. "Okay, okay! Enough! They're here for treatment, not a fan meeting!"

The fans were slowly escorted out by hospital staff, though they continued shouting praises and declarations of love at the Alistair siblings.

Once the room was quiet again, the six of them exchanged looks.

Rebecca dropped her head onto the table. "I want to die."

Davis wiped his cheek with his sleeve. "I was just assaulted, wasn't I?"

Madison laughed hysterically. "You liked it, didn't you?"

"NO!"

Victoria shook her head while Sadie covered her face with her hands. Corina, still looking shocked, finally muttered, "I swear, once we get out of here… we need to move somewhere without people."

They all nodded in agreement.

(Cedars-Sinai, Discharge Day.)

After two weeks of therapy, medication, and fan encounters, the Alistair siblings were finally allowed to leave. They were back in their regular clothes—no more boring hospital pajamas—and waited in the lobby for their ride.

"Finally… fresh air," Victoria sighed, stretching her arms.

Davis scoffed. "Yeah, if you ignore the fact that there are probably hundreds of paparazzi outside."

Rebecca sipped her coffee. "I bet tomorrow's headline will be 'Alistair Siblings Officially Discharged from the Psych Ward' with zombie-like photos of us."

Madison laughed. "Oh, come on, Becca. At least we had two weeks without social media. It's kind of a vacation."

Sadie sighed. "I just wish we could leave quietly. I don't want to deal with the press right now."

Corina glanced at the lobby window, where several cameras were already lurking outside. "Too late. The world is waiting for us."

As they stepped out of the hospital, camera flashes immediately went off from every direction. Reporters and fans who had been waiting since morning started screaming hysterically.

"VICTORIA! ARE YOU COMING BACK TO ACTING?"

"REBECCA, IS IT TRUE YOU'RE RESIGNING AS CEO?"

"MADISON! ARE YOU STILL MODELING?"

"DAVIS, IS YOUR ALBUM DELAYED?"

"SADIE, ARE YOU STILL PRACTICING AS A DOCTOR?"

"CORINA, ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PSYCH WARD?"

Davis immediately growled. "FUCK OFF! GIVE US SOME DAMN SPACE!"

Madison just smiled and waved, while Rebecca and Victoria put on their sunglasses, trying to avoid direct eye contact with the cameras. Sadie and Corina walked faster, eager to get into the car.

Not long after, Twitter and Instagram exploded with posts:

@GossipHollywood: "The Alistair siblings are finally out of Cedars-Sinai! Are they ready to return to the entertainment world?"

@AlistairNation: "OMG THEY'RE OUT! We need to make sure they're okay! #StayStrongAlistairs"

@MusicInsider: "Davis Alistair looks frustrated with the media. Is he going on hiatus from music?"

@FashionDaily: "Madison Alistair still looks stunning even after leaving the psych ward. Queen behavior!"

Victoria scrolled through a few tweets on her phone and scoffed. "Look at this. They care more about whether I'm coming back to acting than my mental health."

Rebecca shrugged. "That's showbiz for you."

Sadie leaned back in her seat. "I just want to sleep all day when we get home."

Corina glanced out the window, watching how the outside world remained as chaotic as ever. "So… what's our plan now?"

Silence filled the car for a moment.

Then Davis finally answered, "We take it one day at a time."

And for the first time in a long while, they all agreed.