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Gabe looked over at the journal. Now as as good a time as any to look at it. He picked it up, sitting in the chair with his back to Alex.
Do you really want to trust insanity? (Private with Icefire, it's pretty fooking mature, matey)
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(I gtg now, idk if I'll be back)
The journal was leather bound, some of the cracks had blood in them still. Some pages were crinkled and wavy from being wet.
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Gabe pursed his lips. Most weren't able to keep their journals in asylums. This was something he had never seen before.
Alex had been able to hide it from the guards, though not always very well.
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Gabe began to read quietly, glancing at Alex. He was very brave to have hidden this. To have kept it.
It started out with a simple-ish page explaining who Alex was. His age. Why he was here.
I was kissing Henry. We were in the living room. His father was supposed to be gone on a trip for another week, and he came home early. Found me sitting in Henry's lap with my hand up his shirt. Long story short, he sent me here.
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So, Alex wasn't actually mad. Or at least, he hadn't been when he went to Bedlam. He looked over at Alex, sighing softly.
Alex was still curled up, sleeping peacefully.
The rest of the journal seemed to be just…words vomited onto the page. Stream-of-thought sort of a thing. And it showed as Alex's mind slowly deteriorated and broke down under the treatment. The pages went from nearly no extra marks to strange slashes and tears. Wrinkled spots from tears became common, along with blood drops, long dried.
There were three whole pages where the words "I am not insane I am not insane I am not insane" had been written over and over and over, some of the letter blurred by tears.
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Gabe's lips pursed in a thin line. Proof, that what Bedlam did was the opposite of help. He set the journal to the side, open, looking over at Alex for a long moment.
"Oh Alex," he said softly.
Alex was still asleep, curled on the bed.
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Gabe sighed softly, hand resting on Alex. He pulled away, standing up.
Alex shifted a little when Gabe got up, letting a soft, sleepy sound.
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Gabe looked down at Alex again. He looked peaceful, like this. Hopefully he wouldn't have any nightmares. Gabe changed quietly, getting ready for work.
Alex kept sleeping, curled up in the blankets.
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Gabe finished, grabbing a bite to eat in the kitchen. He made Alex some food too, setting it down on the table next to the bed for when he woke up.
Alex rolled over onto his front, though he was still curled up in a ball, which meant that he looked rather like a lump.
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Gabe chuckled softly when he saw how Alex was laying. He pulled the blankets over him a bit more, hand resting on his head for a moment.
"I'll be back soon," he said quietly, not expecting Alex to hear him.
Alex turned his head to the side, waking up a little bit and cracking an eye open.
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Gabe didn't notice, leaving his hand on Alex's head a moment longer before pulling away.
Alex looked up at Gabe.
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Gabe finally saw that Alex was awake, and he smiled softly.
"Good morning," he said gently. "I have to leave soon, but I made you some breakfast."
Alex sat up, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He nodded a little bit. "Alright. Thank you."
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"You're welcome," Gabe said with his soft smile he was so good at.
"One of the neighbors might be stopping by later. If I'm not here when that happens you don't have to let them in, okay? They can wait for me to come in."
Alex nodded a little. "Okay. Who?"
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"The one who lost her husband. She comes over for tea sometimes. Don't worry, she'll understand and leave you alone."
Alex swallowed. The ghost… He nodded a little. "Okay."
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Gabe nodded in return, stepping away.
"Stay safe, okay?" he said, standing in the doorway.
He nodded again. "I will." he said softly, eating a little bit.
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Gabe gave Alex one last smile, glad he was eating, before leaving.
Alex watched Gabe go, swallowing. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.