Fragment #12 - Hard time at work

"Franck, have you seen Joe? I've been looking for him everywhere."
"Nope, did you try the smocking area?"
"No. Does he smoke?"
"I think so, yeah."
I rush to the little yard next to the parking where the staff is allowed to smoke. Nope, no Joe there either. I rush back up and actually jump on Mary.
"Mary, thank God, come with me. It's Jonathan."
"What's wrong?"
"I think he's suicidal."
We get into the bedroom where I left Jonathan with Amy, the nurse. He's still seating there, in his wheelchair, the scalpel in his hand, looking through the window. I walk straight to Amy and whisper quietly: "Any better?" She nods her head.
"I'm afraid no, Steve. He hasn't utter a word since you left but he wouldn't let me get anywhere near him."
Mary gets closer to us and asks me in a quiet rush: "What happened?"
"His mum is at the hospital. She had a heart attack. He's absolutely convinced that it's his fault, that the stress his mum suffered from his actions killed her."
"But she's not dead?"
"No, but I don't think he registered that."
She moves closer to the boy.
"Jonathan? Jonnie?" Her voice is melodic. It's almost hypnotic. Even Amy is under the spell. The boy doesn't move.
"Jonathan, what are you looking at?"
"The trees." Amy and I are a bit startled by his voice. It's really harsh. But Mary steps closer to him.
"Why?"
"Because they are beautiful. And because they're completely feeling-proof."
"Do you mean, you want to be like them? To have no feeling?"
"Not just me. I wish we were all a bit more selfish. Maybe if we didn't let the others get so much to us, we'll suffer a bit less."
"That doesn't make any sense, Jon, and you know it."
Suddenly, he starts screaming. "I KNOW IT! YOU KNOW IT! THEY KNOW IT!" He's pointing at Amy and me. "SO WHY CAN'T MY MUM KNOW IT TOO?" Then, his voice is just a whisper. "Why doesn't she leave me in my misery?..."
Mary stretches her arms and cuddles around Jonathan's shoulder. By doing so, she manages to get the scalpel in her left hand and to give it to Amy. The nurse gets out and Mary and I stay behind to help our friend.