Bittersweet

"Ms. Sweet, you got a visitor."
>she turns to see you then looks back at her hand of meds
"Oh, hello Anon.."
>you walk to her bed and sit next to her
>you want to hug her but you don't know how she will react
>you don't know if she will push you, scream, cry or all three
>you try and do the best gesture of comfort to her
>you hold on to her hand that's holding the glass of water
"C'mon Sour, you need to take your medication."
"I hate taking these things. I feel so unhappy when I do.."
>she looks at you and then takes the medication and drinks the water
>she leans on your shoulder and nuzzles her head on it
>best you hug her
>and you do
"I hate this. I wanna home already.."
"Soon, Sour. Soon."
>it's only been a week since Sour was diagnosed
>other than her family, you were the only one from school you came to visit
>her classmates don't even visit her anymore
>though it's mostly for their safety
"I didn't do anything wrong." said Sour, "I was just mad. That's all.."
"I know, I know. But this is for your own safety."
>you pat her head
"Your family is just looking out for you."
"I just don't get it. I've been acting like this ever since I was born. Why is it /now/ I get sent to a madhouse?"
"Mental Insitution, Sour."
"Same thing. You know, you've been really helpful for me these last few days. Where were you when I lost it?"
"When you went crazy? I was there but I couldn't get near you. You were swinging around a lot. I've never seen you so mad."
"It was stressful day. I just wanted to calm down but this is what I get. I don't deserve this.."
"No, you don't."
>Sour is really upset
>though not enough to go crazy
>either it's the meds or she's really regretting it
>you decide to change the subject
"Hey, Sunny got you a gift."
>you hand her a gift box
"What is it?"
"Open it."
>she opens and it's a framed photo of her, Sunny, Indigo, Sugar and Lemon
>she looks at it for quite sometime
>you see a tear fall from her face
>you hug her and once again her head leans on your shoulder
"You really miss them, don't you?"
"...I do."
>she weeps softly
>you hear a knock
>a man with a stethoscope comes in
>you assume it's the doctor
"Alright Ms. Sweet, come with me. We will do a few more tests."
"But she just took her medicine."
"The medicine should kick in within half an hour. While that is starting, we will begin a few more tests."
"Oh, alright."
>can't really question a doctor
>you let go of Sour and she gets out of the bed
>she walks out of the room
"Be safe Sour."
>she turns her head to you
"I will."
>she leaves the room
>you wait for her return
>an hour later, Sour comes back
>she has a soft smile
>the doctor comes in
"Alright, I've already informed the parents."
"About what?"
"If everything goes well, she can go home by the end of the week."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
>you turn to her
"That's great Sour! You can go home soon!"
"However.."
>uh oh
"She must take her medicine at specific times."
"What if she doesn't?"
"I cannot really say. Bipolar disorders are tricky sometimes you don't know. I only hope you'll find someone to monitor her so she will take her medication. If she doesn't then she will slowly go back to her old self."
>that's the part you loved about her
>she was so unpredictable
>first she's sweet then she's sour
>it was enjoyable even if you were on the reciving end a few times
"I volunteer. I see her in my classes almost every day"
"Are you sure you're going to make sure she takes her medicine?"
"Yes."
"Very well then. I shall take my leave."
>a week passed and Sour was released from the facility
>you kept your promise of watching over her every day
>you pick her up for school and drop her off at home
>her attitude has been.. lackluster
>she barely talks to her friends
>almost as if she's not feeling anything
>it worries you and no doubt her friends as well
>until one day you get a phone call
>it's from Sour's mother
"Anon, I'm sorry we've been putting you through this."
"No, no. It's okay."
"Unfortunately, we have to bring her back to the institution."
>wait
"Excuse me?"
"We notice that she hasn't been herself lately and just today she refused to take her medication. We called the doctor and suggested we take her back for a few days but we need to settle some paperwork and we can't watch her 24/7. Could you please watch her for us while we finish?"
"I'm on my way."
>Sour's absent days have increased ever since she got readmitted to the facility
>her friends ask you how she is but you every time it's the same answer
"She's trying to recover."
>you head to the facility to visit her
>you were walking in the hallway to her room until you saw the doctor run and then a chair fly out of her room
>oh no
>you heard screaming
>it sounded like Sour
>you rush to her room to find her being restrained by one of the employees
"Ms. Sweet! Please calm down!" asked the restrainer
"Oh you want me to calm down?" asked Sour
"Yes, pl-"
"SHUT UP! I'm sick of taking these pills! I don't feel like myself anymore!"
>you intervene
"Sour!"
>she notices you
"Anon, help me!"
>you run to her and grab her hands
"Sour! Calm down! You aren't making this better!"
"I hate this! I hate sleeping here! I want to go home and live like a normal person again!"
"But you WILL go home if you just calm down and follow the doctor's orders!"
"HIS ORDERS?! HE'S A QUACK! He doesn't know what goes on! He makes conclusions from how he sees me! He doesn't know I've acted like this since I was born! I feel like I can't be myself!"
>you hug her and the restrainer backs away
"Sour, please."
>she tries to push you away but you kept holding on
"Anon, let go!"
"I won't. I won't let go of you. I want to help you but you need to calm down. I'm here for you."
>her pushes became lighter
"You.. You jerk."
"Sour, please."
>she stops pushing
>she arms wrap around you
"I just wanted to be myself again."
>you release your hug and put you hand on her cheek
"Sour, it'll be alright. I'm here for you."
>she puts her head down
>you hear a knock
>a head pokes out
>it's Sunny Flare
"Did we come at a bad time?"
"No, she's better now."
>the whole group came in the room
>Sour smiled
"He-hey guys."
"We didn't see anything but the way how everything was sounding, you went AWOL." said Indigo
"Have you been taking your medication?" Asked Sugarcoat
"No. I hate it." Said Sour
"Good, cause' we hated it too." said Lemon, "You were always quiet every time we hanged out. It was seriously a downer."
"Be glad this lug was there to help you." said Indigo, jabbing her elbow on your arm
>ow
"Excuse me, sir?" asked the doctor outside
"Yes?"
"Could I have a moment with you?"
"Uh, sure. I'll be back."
>you walk out of the room as Sour and her friends start talking
"What is it, Doc?"
"Ms. Sweet appears to be better the moment you got here. I thank you for helping us."
"No problem."
"I also must tell that I recently contacted the parents about her medication. As of tomorrow she will be no longer taking them."
"Really?!"
"We found the medications were not helping her. From what the parents have told me and the reports from the nurse, it's been making her worse."
"No kidding. I've never seen her so empty."
"That is why I decided to remove them from her treatment. However, she still needs to be monitored at all times to see how she behaves after we remove the medication from her treatment."
"..I'll do it."
"Are you sure? She needs a 24-hour supervision. The only way to do that is to have to live with you. Is that alright?"
"No problems for me there but that's me. I wonder how her parents feel."
"I will contact them about this."
>you look at the room and see Sour Sweet hanging with her friends
>they start laughing
>and you finally see her give a genuine smile after everything that happened
>you smile
>you don't know what will happen
>you don't know how she will act after tomorrow
>you don't know if she will go on a rampage again
>you don't know if she will be with you after all this
>but you feel that as long as you are with her, Sour will be happy
>and as long as she's happy, you're happy
>...

[The seasons change]

>Sour was finally free of her medication
>she moved in with you the same day
>it took some adjusting, living with a girl and all, but you made her feel like she was at home
>weeks later Sour started to become her 'normal' self again
>she was active and unpredictable
>her friends come over from time to time to hang out
>despite the doctor saying she doesn't need 24-hour supervision anymore, she didn't want to move out of your house
>she stayed with you for the duration of your high school years
>eventually you decided to pursue the medical field and become a doctor

[Present Day]

>you look at the time
"Crap, I'm gonna be late!"
>you quickly put on your clothes and out on some cologne
>looks like there's no time to cook breakfast
>you'll have to grab something along the way
>it's been years since you've been late for something
>last time that happened was when you were taking care of Sour in your house and overslept as a result
>you were late for school a couple of times because of that..
>you were rushing out the door
>suddenly you hear a voice
"HEY YOU! DON'T YOU DARE FORGET YOUR LUNCH!"
>you freeze where you are
>you turn behind you
"I worked really hard for it and I even left a special treat inside~"
"Heh, thanks Sour. I'll see ya tonight."
>you were going to head to your car until Sour pulls on your tie
>she kisses your cheek
"Have a safe trip, darling~"
>you pull her in for a kiss
>it lasted for a few seconds
>you pull away and head to your car
>you wave to her as you back up
>she waves back
>as you drive away, you notice in your rear view mirror that Sour was rubbing her belly
>you smile
"Heh, only 8 more months."