Gwynette Reyes

[definitelypeebles]

Psycho

It was a sunny day when I decided to go out and unwind. I am a 3rd-year college student, and I took a BS in Psychology. As I go out, I remembered the incident that happened when I was a kid. It was an accident, and nobody knew it except my mom.

Flashback

I had an illness disorder since I was a kid, but I didn’t know it until today until I became a teenager. My parents didn’t tell me ever since because I might overthink a lot to the point that I would kill myself. But they were wrong because they have no idea about how hard it is to cope with it.

I was playing outside with my dad then suddenly I became aggressive, to the point that I didn’t know what to do. I became aggressive because he was teasing me, and my temper can’t handle it anymore. So, without any hesitation I accidentally killed him. I was holding a sharp object and I thought I have thrown it beside him but since he moved, the object that I had thrown hits him. It was an accident; I didn’t do it intentionally.

As the blood flows down his body, I was scared. I can’t even move because I was in shock then I shouted “Mom!! Help!!! Daddy’s dead”. Mom went outside quickly; she didn’t saw what happened and she didn’t even ask me about it. I was still in shock, and I can’t move, I can’t even talk. I guess that time I had a trauma.

My mom approached me, she asked me if I know what happened to Dad. I didn’t even bother to answer her question, then she repeats it… “Amara! Do you know who did this? And do you know what happened?”. I said yes. I was a kid and all that I can do is, to be honest. I told her the truth and said to her that it was an accident. My mom shows no emotion at that time. She just said “okay” then after that, she told me to go inside and just stay there. I have no idea about what she did to Dad, but what I am sure about is that she didn’t call the cops nor an ambulance to get some help.

--

Years had passed, I am now in college and in a year, I will be graduating from college. I am now slowly turning my dreams into reality. After a year I will become a Psychology.

One night, my mom asked me to go down and said that if she could talk to me for a bit because she has something important to say.

As I go down, she looks very serious. I felt a little bit nervous because it looks like she has an important matter to discuss. She asked me to sit in front of her.

As I start wondering about what’s happening, she breaks the silence and asked me “Amara, have you remembered the incident that happened years ago?” “Yes”, I answered. “What about it mom?” “Do you have anything to say about it?” She nodded. “Do you remember the time when I told you to go inside the house and don’t go out? I buried your dad that time while I was crying and trying to not blame it on you since you were just a kid, and you have an illness disorder”. As I listen to my mom, my tears started to flow down my face and I got angry because all these years, she didn’t even bother to tell me that I have an illness disorder and she didn’t tell me that she buried my dad outside. But I had no right to be mad at her because she’s the one who suffered a lot.

Years have passed, I am now a Psychologist and I have my own clinic which is located beside our house. I threw a party that night, to celebrate my success and to celebrate the opening of my clinic.

That night, I was having a mental illness because of the pressure, stress, and other problems that I am dealing with. Luckily, I was able to survive the night without doing anything bad to myself.

10 years later…

I am now able to help a lot of people, but I was frightened because I couldn’t even help myself. In the past 10 years, I am suffering from a mental illness almost every day. I don’t know how to cope with it and sometimes I don’t even recognize myself. I could lock myself up in my room for at least a week, I guess I was slowly turning into a psychopath, but I didn’t do anything. My mom didn’t even know it because I was dealing with my problems on my own.

Days have passed… My friend Andy and Cindy went to the clinic to visit me and to have fun. They stayed there up until night. We eat, drink, and have fun. Some of our college friends joined us too, all of us were having fun because after years we were able to meet again but amid the fun, I had a mental illness attack and it’s getting worse like even worse.

Andy went outside so I followed her. No one knew that the both of us are outside the house. She went to the woods, and I followed her as if I was a stalker.

Andy and I are great friends, we knew each other since high school but when we were in college, we became enemies just because of one misunderstanding and after that I was angry to her, to the point that I wouldn’t forgive her. But as we get matured, we became friends again because we have forgiven each other.

So, as I follow her in the woods, I remember all our fights in the past few years. I was having a mental illness that time. So that time I became aggressive to the point that I was losing myself. I don’t know what I’m doing. The last thing that I remembered doing was chasing her and wanting to kill her. Before the night ends, I murdered her. I killed my friend Andy. I had no emotions at all, it seems like I was totally losing myself that time.

I ran quickly and when I arrive in front of our house, I acted like nothing happened.

I opened the door, went inside, and vibe with them like I wasn’t missing the whole time.

They next day…

It was Monday morning when Cindy noticed that Andy was missing. She didn’t notice that she was missing the whole night. She just noticed it right after she wake up because my friends were drunk last night and all I did is to cry the whole night.

Cindy went to the woods all by herself. While walking she saw something… “Amara!!!”she yelled. “Look at this! A-andy is h-here” her voice is cracking because she was in shock. As she was struggling, she said to me that she wants to consult her condition right now. So, we went to the clinic, and I helped her with her mental health problem. After the consultation, Cindy saw something on my table. It was my record about my illness disorder that no one knew about except my mom. It was shown in my record that I have accidentally killed my dad when I was a kid and that I have a mental illness ever since I was a child.

*Camera shutters* *click*

She took a photo of my record while I’m outside because she suspects me of killing our friend Andy.

The cops are in the woods, investigating the situation. Their suspect was Cindy because Cindy was with Andy when they went to my house.

Cindy went out and she go to the cops to show the photo of my record…

The cops went to my clinic to investigate and look for any evidence that they could find to prove that I am the one who killed Andy. They saw my record; they saw that I have killed my dad when I was a kid and that he was buried here.

They dig until they saw the body of my dad, my mom was the one who buried him there not me, but it was my fault because I am the one who killed my dad accidentally. After that, they saw a proof that I am the one who killed Andy.

I was under arrest; my mom didn’t do anything because I have been also threatening her that I would kill her if she said anything about killing my friend Andy. She knew about it because she was also there when I chased Andy, but I didn’t know that she was there. So, she made a way so that I would get caught by the police because she knew that what I am doing isn’t good that I am now slowly turning into a psycho.

I deserve to go to jail and pay for what I did to Andy because I did it on purpose, aside from I was having an illness disorder, I killed my friend on purpose. And now, I can say that I am a total psycho.

[definitelypeebles]

"The Startling Hug"

With PPE flowing through my body

Fading smell of antiseptic in it

A startling hug came from an old manly

A someone that no one attempts to hit

Shook came to my veins as I'm not ready

Then grasped as he's likely to entail it

Hence, I hugged him back with feelings heavy

And pleased to see his face gradually lit

Then gently thanked me for being steady

His eyes and his face may swollen a bit

He may look weary, hungry, and thirsty

But he cried even more as he admit

That he's a weak old man, crying loudly

Not outward, but deep within his spirit.

[definitelypeebles]

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC

Mental health is a state of well-being. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health affects our mind in spite of how we think, how we feel, and act.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

In short, mental health is a person’s condition considering their psychological and emotional well-being.

In this time of the pandemic, mental health is very important. We all know that our current situation isn't easy. We suffer from different kinds of problems; we people aren't all the same. In fact, we faced some serious challenges in our mental health. Along with the different kinds of problems that we faced daily, the health impacts of the COVID-19, as well as self and social isolation, quarantine, lockdown, and more.

Let's just say, we all fight but at the end of the day, we are all dog-tired. Some people may think that all of us will gonna die, so why do we need to fight? And that's how our mental health will be affected.

Well, the issue of mental health isn't just relevant, but it is crucial. Since then, we need to take care of our mental health.

It is an important part of our well-being and it heavily influences the overall quality of life. So, as we go through the pandemic, how can we make our mental health a priority?

Here are some ways that we can adapt to take care of our mental well-being:

1. Eat healthy foods. In these times of pandemic, we need to prioritize our health, so we need to eat nutritious foods as much as possible.

2. Regulate your sleep. Get to bed early and sleep at least 8 hours.

3. Connect with others. In short, socialize. We need it on a daily basis. Stay connected to those people who bring you happiness.

4. Focus on positive thoughts. Thinking that this pandemic has destroyed our lives before, but of course, despite the things that are happening currently, we need to look on the bright side.

5. Do the things that make you happy. It can be your hobbies, like listening to music. I like listening to music tho, because it helps me to escape the real world, just like reading fiction books.

So in this time of the pandemic, we must all survive. We must hang in there and hold our horses because this pandemic will end soon.

[definitelypeebles]

First Steps on an Unknown Planet

Elena looks around. It’s dark and the sky has a black color without any stars. She thinks about his boyfriend. “There is no chance that he died! I know him for twelve years and he is strong enough. I will see him again. I’m sure about that. She hears nothing but the silence. Never before has she heard absolutely nothing. And suddenly she realizes that she is alone. There are no creatures on this planet. Everything is destroyed. A teardrop rolls over her pale face. And she takes the first step on this unknown planet.

Elena just walks around, trying to look at the things that were destroyed. Upon looking at those things, she remembers how the love of her life died. Suddenly, she saw something beautiful, she was amazed because, after the tragedy that had happened to them, the place that she saw wasn’t even looked like destroyed. Elena went there, she sits beside the tree while looking at the sky even though it's dark and the sky has a black color.

After a few minutes, she fell asleep. And her dream has begun.

(A week earlier)

“Elena!!” her mom said. She went to her mom, asking why she called her.

Elena: Yes, mom? Coming… 

Mom: We should get ready as soon as possible. Because there will be an upcoming tragedy, an earthquake. We don’t know the exact date and time, so we must get ready. 

Elena: Yes, Mom! I’ll tell Elijah right away.

Elena went to Elijah’s house so that she can inform her boyfriend about the tragedy that might happen anytime.

And then…

Elena was amidst of conversation with Elijah, then suddenly, the floor starts to crack. Elena hasn't told Elijah the tragedy that was about to happen anytime.

It all starts there. An earthquake happened, it was very strong.

While Elijah was trying to protect Elena, he didn't notice that there was something about to fall.

A hard cement had fallen into Elijah’s head and that caused him to bleed. Elena had nothing to do, she don't know what to do. She panicked.

Elijah slowly loses his blood and he was slowly dying. Elena didn't notice it because she was panicking and didn't know what to do. Until Elijah died, without saying any last words to Elena. He did it so that Elena wouldn't cry, and that Elena will go on her life, will be continuing to live.

Meanwhile, Elena saw Elijah. Elijah wasn't breathing. She started to cry, thinking about Elijah. "Why didn't you tell me?" she told Elijah while she was crying.

But she realized that if she cry, she might also die because aside from she's getting weak because of crying, she might also die because of the tragedy.

Elena looks for a safer place, she went to the corner of the house, and luckily there was a table on the side, so she went underneath and wait for the earthquake to stop.

She was crying, thinking of her boyfriend. She says to herself that she must be strong, she must fight, she can't die because Elijah wouldn't be happy if she dies.

Elena became strong. She stopped crying. Then after a while, the earthquake stopped.

She went outside, looking for the other people. But she didn't see anyone on the planet. The surroundings were wiped out by the earthquake. There was no one, it was very quiet.

After she had a dream, she woke up.

Elena stood up and walk by herself, she can barely walk. She's getting weak, she doesn't even know what to do, so she continued walking. And while she was walking she says that "my first step on this unknown planet won't be forgotten." after saying it. Elena died.