Five Stories Before Death

Chapter OneAfter I drove my mom bonkers, my dad checked me into a mental institution.Then, like it was nothing, they adopted a daughter who actually listened.They treated her like she was America’s sweetheart.Whenever someone asked why they spoiled her rotten, they'd say, "Because she's well-behaved, unlike someone we know."A year later, they brought their precious little angel to the loony bin."Has she learned her lesson this past year?" they asked.The doctor nodded."She's been a model patient, couldn't ask for better."My parents smirked."Just needed some discipline, huh? Alright, bring her out; we're ready to forgive and forget.""Okay, everything she left behind before she died is right here."The doctor held up a vlog.It was a record of every single day I spent in this hellhole, leading up to my suicide.1"Before she what?"Mom frowned, "What are you talking about?"Dr. Lewis didn't say a word.He pressed a button on the remote, and the screen flickered to life, showing me.I was sitting on a stark white hospital bed in a standard-issue gown, my hair covering half my face, and I gave the camera a weak smile."Hey everyone, I'm an artist with a screw loose, apparently.""I’m gonna tell you four stories, and then I'm heading off to the afterlife to find some peace.""Hope you guys remember me."The screen went black, and I heard Dr. Lewis sigh behind me."Do we have to do this?""Why? You promised! Out of all the doctors here, I trust you the most. I only want you to film my suicide vlog.""But the afterlife might not be all it's cracked up to be.""What if it is?"I giggled softly."It can't be worse than this."Dr. Lewis hesitated.I tugged at his sleeve, "Please? Maybe if I film it, I won't go through with it."After a long pause, a shaky sigh escaped him.He picked up the camera again, and I forced a gentle smile onto my pale face.I grabbed some crumpled, yellowed pieces of paper.They were covered in messy, scribbled drawings."I drew these when I was ten.""I'm not good at talking, so I'm gonna draw you my stories. Sorry if they suck."2[Story One: Ten-Year-Old Doodles - She Said Raising Me Was Hard, So I Couldn’t Be a Bum]"What is this? I'm asking you, what is this?!"Mom's yelling made my ears ring.She shoved my little drawing in my face, grabbing the back of my head to make me look at it."I work twelve hours a day so you can go to school and have a good future!""Instead of doing your homework, you draw this useless crap. What are you trying to do? Do you even care about your father and me?!"She crumpled the drawing into a ball and threw it on the floor."You want to study? Fine! You don't want to? Just say so. We'll pretend we never had you!"I cried, grabbing her sleeve, "Mom, I'm sorry! I won't draw anymore! I'll do my homework, I'll study hard! Please don't abandon me!""Study? You don't know the first thing about studying!"Mom ripped up my homework."You love to draw, huh? Go ahead and draw! I'm done with you!"The bedroom door slammed in my face with a "bang!" ...