My Hockey Alpha

Nina

“I’m ready to cooperate with my treatment.”

A smile spread across Edward’s face at my words. “I’m so glad, Nina,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze. “Shall we begin?”

I nodded.

“Repeat after me…”

…

Over the course of the next several treatment sessions, Edward’s treatment began to work. Slowly but surely, my ‘memories’ of the university, of Lori and Jessica, Tiffany and James, Enzo and everyone else who I had created in my mind, started to become foggy.

I slowly began to learn that I had been having these hallucinations and delusions for a long time, which was why my loving mother sent me to Mountainview Psychiatric Facility. I had been there for four years, but was stuck inside of a fantasy in my head that Edward couldn’t get me out of. My electroshock therapy must have freed my mind from this fantasy just enough for his treatment to work, he said. I was so grateful for Edward; soon, I would be home with my family. I would be fixed. Just like Justin.

Eventually, he took the restraints off of my wrists and ankles and allowed me to walk around my room. He told me that, in time, he would let me meet the other patients and doctors — but for now, I had to stay in my room in case I had another delusion. He said that the last time he let me roam with the other patients, I had a delusion and hurt someone really badly. I didn’t want to hurt anyone again.

Our sessions increased in frequency and intensity. Sometimes it became too intense and the delusions would start to come back; I would start to think that Edward was holding me hostage somewhere and that my friends were looking for me, but over time, I started to get better at controlling the delusions by repeating the mantra that Edward taught me.

“My name is Nina Harper. I am a patient at Mountainview Psychiatric Facility. I am sick, but Edward will fix me and make me better. When I’m better, I can go home to my family.”

Sometimes, my mantra still didn’t work. Once, Evil Nina, as I had come to call her, gained too much control and made me bite Edward. He hit me really hard in the face and left me in my room for hours, but once I calmed down, he came back and told me how he only hit me to bring me back to my senses. He gave me some medicine, and then I felt completely better. Evil Nina didn’t come out as strongly after that, although Edward kept giving me the medicine from that point forward. I felt immense peace, thanks to Edward and the medicine he gave me.

held a drawing I had been working on for him behind my back before running up to him with a childlike

“I’m ready,” I said.

my shoulder to see what I was holding

the drawing out for him

this for you,” I

turning into a deep and twisted scowl. Without a word,

well up with tears. “What did I

to go sit

from me. I held my tears in, just like how he taught me to, and prepared myself for our session. I must have drawn something he didn’t like, but it was okay;

the chair up to me. “Let’s

began to speak, but abruptly stopped as there was a knock on the door. I felt my heart leap into my throat. Since I had been here, I had only seen Edward. Why would one of the other doctors be coming into my room? Was my drawing so bad that Edward didn’t want to be my doctor

He grabbed me by the wrist and dragged

“Ow!” I exclaimed.

me up once when Evil Nina came out and threw me in there. “Stay

the door. Being in the darkness

a female

brought someone for

“Oh? Who?”

Rivers himself. In the