All Chapters of Don’t Lock Me In Again: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

"What are you talking about?" Dad asked, his face tightened.I turned the name "William" over in my head, again and again.Nothing.They never called me that in here.The instructor, Vincent Rhodes, stepped up behind me. His hand settled on my shoulder, firm but placed where no one else would notice.He leaned in, his voice low against my ear. "Watch your mouth when you get out. You know what happens if you don't."When he straightened, the smile was already back on his face."Mr. Easton, no need to worry. The kids are managed by ID numbers inside. It takes a little time to readjust. William's made real progress over the past three years. We're honestly going to miss him."Dad's expression eased. "Alright. Let's get him home."He looked at me."You hear that? Your name's William. I'm taking you home."I nodded.Mom stepped forward and reached for my hand. I jerked back, hitting the doorframe, my body locking up."I'm sorry!"My knees started to give on instinct, the r

Saturday evening.Relatives and a few of Dad's business partners started arriving one after another. The living room was filled with noise.I stood at the turn of the stairs, too afraid to go down.More than five people together meant being surrounded and talked down to."William, come down here."Dad's eyes hardened. For a second, all I saw was Vincent's face.I walked over slowly and stopped in the middle of the room. Dad put a hand on my shoulder, smiling like he was showing something off."Come on, everyone. Take a look at William. It's been three years. Doesn't he look completely different?"Uncle Ronan gave me a once-over and smiled. "Well, look at that. He's put on some weight. And he's gotten quiet, too. Not the same kid at all.""Exactly." Dad patted my shoulder."You all remember what Judy was like. I sent William to that place, and she straightened out overnight. Now, look at her. She got into a top college."He pointed at the banner and the framed copy of the l

When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was a white ceiling and the sharp sting of disinfectant in the air.An IV was taped to my left hand, a bag dripping slowly above me. Thick bandages wrapped around my neck. My throat felt like it was filled with broken glass."He's awake."Mom leaned in close, her eyes swollen and red.Judy stood at the foot of the bed. Both her hands were wrapped in bandages. There was a deep cut between her index and middle fingers on her right hand, where the copper wire had sliced her when she tore it loose."William." Mom's fingers rested lightly on my hand. "Why would you do something like that?"I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.Right then, the door opened. A doctor walked in, her face set as she addressed the three of them. "I need to speak with you outside."Mom wiped her eyes and followed her out.I stared at the ceiling. The fluorescent light above me pulled me back to that room. There, the lights never turned off. Even when your eye

"Ms. Easton, are you sure you want to go through these?"The attorney slid a stack of documents across the table in front of Judy. Several folders were clipped together, each from a different family.It had taken her a week to track down three of them.The first was a boy who went in at 14 and came out at 16. He was 21 now, living in a psychiatric facility. His mother said he hadn't spoken a word since he got out.The second was another boy. He died by suicide a year and a half after being sent in. His parents still believed it was depression and had nothing to do with the center.The third was also a boy. He cut off all contact with his family after he got out. When Judy finally reached him, he only said one thing."William's still alive. He got lucky."Judy spread the documents across the dining table.Dad barely finished the first page before pushing it away."What's the point of this? William's home. We should just focus on getting him better.""Better from what?" Judy ke

"Judy, it's me, Mom. I'm here to see you."The windows in the psychiatric ward were sealed. Through the frosted glass, all you could see was a blur of daylight.Judy sat on the edge of the bed. Her finger traced the armrest over and over in slow, deliberate strokes, as if she were writing, though there was no pen or ink.She was writing the same sentence.[Judy is my sister. She'll come get me.]It was the only thing still running in her mind.I stayed on a different floor in the same hospital. Every Wednesday afternoon, Mom brought me to see her.Sometimes, Judy would look up. One glance at Mom, one at me."Did he eat?""He did.""How much?""Most of a bowl."She nodded and went back to tracing the words.Dad didn't come often. After the whole thing, he seemed to shrink in on himself. His hair had turned completely white.One time, he came to see me with a bag of oranges. He sat by the bed, peeling one carefully, his hands shaking."William, is it sweet?"I took a bite