The room was silent, except for the constant buzzing of the fluorescents. The bed was crisp and clean but it lacked the comfort and warmth that a normal bed provided. The walls were a solid white color that had faded to a light gray over time. There were no windows, no way of telling time unless he asked the staff.

     Alan sat up in his bed. His arms were bound in a straight jacket. His dark hair was tousled, and the bags under his eyes were the tell sign of how much sleep he actually got at night, even after he received his medication.
     The click and spark of a lighter echoed throughout the room as the other man lit his cigarette.

Alan scowled, “I told you to stop smoking in here. That stuff reeks.”

     The man simply shrugged his shoulders, as he blew out another puff. To Alan, he still looked the same as before. His dark brown hair was a bit messy but better kept than his own. He had a gruff appearance to him, yet it was the complete opposite of his personality. He still wore that same style of clothing that made no sense with his line of work, but it made him stand out.
     Alan glared at the man sitting across from him. This was an ongoing routine for the two. Everyday they would just sit and stare at each other. They never really spoke about much, but Alan was tired of this and he wanted answers.

“Honestly Vince, what is it going to take for you to leave?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not leaving yet.” his deep voice was the only sound that Alan trusted. Everything else, he wasn’t so sure.

“You should.”

     A calm shrug was all he got in return. His impassive attitude grinded on Alan’s nerves. The man was always so tranquil. He never used to be this way, but it was all different now.

“You know many times I don’t even know if you’re really here or not. Are you?” Alan quirked an eyebrow.

“I’m here.”

“Why?”

Vincent shrugged, “I really don’t know.”

“Can’t you see I don’t want you here?’”

     The man shrugged. Alan hated this whole situation. It has been a while since he’s been here. His friends and family suggested that he get help, after the incident. And after having a mental breakdown at school, there were no more negotiations as he was put here against his will. They all thought it would be best for him. And it was all because of the man that was currently sitting across from him. Of course he didn’t mean for any of this, but it was still his fault.

     Alan usually gave up talking to him, but today he was starting to lose his patience with Vincent. It reminded him of how they used to be. They would always be fighting. They used to hate each other, but even their hatred could turn into friendship. So much had changed between them and those memories were sometimes unbearable for Alan. The way he coped with those memories are what landed him in here.

     His friends had seen the change in mood, but any time they approached him about it, he’d always wave off their concern. Then his parents got involved and they tried to convince him to see a therapist. Alan didn’t trust anyone. His friends and family kept trying to convince him to get help. If he had told them what was really going on, then they would have thrown him in here sooner.

“I forgive you.” Vincent simply stated.

     Alan wanted to ignore him just like the many other times, but all those times were starting to pile up. This man has been here everyday since the beginning, but that was the one thing he always made sure to say.

“That’s pretty stupid of you.” Alan retorted.

He shrugged, “Well I forgive you.”

“You shouldn’t expect anything from me. I told you that before didn’t I?” Alan received a nod in return.

     Alan wasn’t sure if it was the restraints holding him down, but he suddenly felt trapped, like some cornered animal. The small space of the room wasn’t helping him either.
     This man’s attitude was driving him crazier than he already was. He knew what Vincent wanted. From the very beginning, he knew. That was one of the qualities he always liked best about Vincent. He was an open book, and that wasn’t always a good thing. As much as he wanted to give Vincent exactly what he wanted, that voice in the back of his head always gave him a reason not to.

"How could you even think about that? After what you did? He shouldn't forgive you and you know it. You don't deserve his kindness."

“I forgive you.” he repeated.

The voice countered, "Don't you dare."

“No! Just stop!” Alan’s eyes narrowed.

“But I forgive you.” Vincent pushed again.

“And I said no! So stop it!”

     Alan grit his teeth, trying to stop himself from spouting out what was really on his mind. He couldn’t understand why Vincent was this stupid. How could he forgive him? Alan shouldn’t be forgiven. He simply couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

“I forgive you.”

“Why?!” Alan pleaded in exasperation.

“Because I do.”

“You can’t!”

Vincent shook his head, “I forgive you.”

“Stop saying that! Stop it! Just stop!”

“I forgive you.”

“NO! No!

"You can't! And you won't!" the voice pounded in his head.

“I don’t care! I don’t care! Just stop already!” Even with Vincent sitting across the room, he still felt cornered.

“I forgive you.”

     Alan wanted to scream some sense into the man but he knew that there was no way of doing so with him. Since the beginning he’s never listened to reason.

“I killed you!” Alan continued when he received no further response, “I killed you! Have you forgotten that?!”

     Alan’s eyes met with Vincent’s and almost instantly he regretted it as the man spoke his next words, “Alan, I forgive you.”

     That was the last blow he could handle. The voice in his head echoed away. He wasn’t so sure as to why he ever listened to it in the first place. All this time all he’s ever wanted was to tell Vincent what was really on his mind. Alan could never bring himself to accept Vincent’s kindness. He didn’t deserve it and he had convinced himself of that for so long when forgiveness was all he ever truly wanted.

He slowly nodded, choking back a sob, “...okay…”

     The smell of cigarettes was gone, almost as if it had never been there. The steady inhale and exhale from the cancer stick had ceased. The comforting sound of another person breathing, had disappeared. The shadow that used to sit in the corner chair of the room seemed to have faded into the light gray of the wall. That only feeling of familiarity was no longer there. His only company had left.
     Alan tightly gripped the sleeves of the straight jacket, as he frantically looked around for his one hope of sanity. He collapsed to the tiled floor thrashing about, trying to free himself. His legs kicked at the floor in a desperate attempt to get closer to the dusty chair in the corner. Tears flowed freely down his face as all the emotions he had been trying to keep in, all burst out.

“VINCENT! VINCEEEENT! VINCEEENT!”

     His heart wrenching sobs continued on until he could only whisper the name. His tears never ceased, as the poor man kept calling out to his long deceased friend.