Rose had been watching him for a couple of days, saying a short hi every morning and a short goodbye when she left. Trying to figure out how to best approach this and to let him get used to her being there. See her as a part of his day.
Tom spend most of his time sitting by the window, looking out, but not really seeming to see anything. He looked almost catatonic as he sat there, locked up in his own world of pain and despair. She was sure he wouldn't be easy to unbreak.
"Morning Tom, how are you this beautiful morning". She asked him, walking over to sit down next to his feet. It was a warm spring morning, and to her the world really was beautiful, with flowers blooming and birds singing everywhere.
He slowly lifted his head, like someone not really in contact with there body, someone doped up not to feel. "Morning Rose, same as always I guess".
"What do you think about a stroll in the garden Tom. Getting some fresh air, hearing the little happy birds singing". She asked him, trying to convince him with her own enthusiasm.
He sighs, why is she always so happy and bubbly ? He used to kind of be like that.. until he wasn't and now he was just empty and hollow. "I rather just sit here Rose".
"Come on Tom, it would make me so happy. And some fresh air would be good for you, you look so pale". She grabbed his hand, pulling at him, till he finally got up. Towering over her with his impressiv hight.
She kept a hold of his much larger hand, pulling him along with her towards the doors to the garden. And he just lumbered along a step behind her. His voice tired. "You just don't know when to give up, do you ?"
"No, giving up easily is not really my strong side". She told him with a soft smile over her shoulder. Hoping that she could rub of on him just a bit. Getting him to smile one of those bright and beautiful smiles.
It was a pleasant garden, layd out to feel calming on the patients when they venture out in it, with a lot of small private areas. She walked down one of the pathways. "Look Tom, all the flowers are blooming now, new life and hope unfolding everywhere".
"Only to wither and die to soon, to fragile to withstand the summer heat". He said with a sigh, plucking a flower and looking at it, before slowly crumbling between his long fingers, watching it fall to the ground.
She walked on, trying not to feel deflated by his bleak outlook on things. Stopping by a small pond, smiling happily. "Look Tom, ducklings ain't they just cute, the way they follow their mother in a line, just knowing were they belong".
"No, they are stupid". He sounded almost angry and his right eye kind of twitched. "Following her this blindly, they don't know if she is going to lead them into danger or turn around and drown them".
"Tom ! She is their mother. Of course she won't harm them. Mothers care for their babies. Why would you say that ?" It just came out without her thinking about it first. He had truly shocked her.
His face looks totally vacant, but his voice is lightly shaking, like something is trying to fight its way out. "And that is the biggest lie ever told. No not all mothers care for their babies".
And then he turned, stalking of back towards the house. Rose standing there feeling utterly confused. She had taken him outside hoping to get some reaction, some kind of emotional response, this was not at all what she expected.
"Tom ! Tom wait up". She ran after him, trying to catch up with his long legs. But he didn't react. "What happened Tom, it mig help if you tell me what is wrong".
He still ignored her, until she caught up and grabbed his arm, making him turn around like she had burned him, pulling his arm away so hard she almost stumbled. "Stop trying to fix me. I don't want your help, I just want to be left alone. Is it so hard to understand ?"
Rose just stood there shocked as he turned again, and quickly walked inside, not going to his usual place by the window, but heading to his room. He neaded to be alone, the darkness pulling at him more than usual.
Rain had watched from the window, she had never seen Tom react angry towards someone. Well she hadn't seen him react much at all. Had this been a big mistake ?
"What happened Rose ? What did you do ?" She had hurried out to her niece, wondering what could have happened.
Rose looked at her, slowly shaking her head, her eyes so very sad. "I don't know honestly. I thought some fresh air and the spring might brigthen him up. But then we saw the ducklings and he totally flipped".
Rain looked confused, saying the words slowly, like she tasted them. "The ducklings made him freak out ?"