Chapter 133 The Visit

Chapter 133 The Visit


By the time school ended the next day, I had almost convinced myself that I wouldn't go with Brian to spy on Miranda.

But the problem was that every time I tried to push Brian's words out of my mind, they came rushing back.

Why would Miranda visit a psychiatric hospital?

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

It didn't fit the Miranda I knew or maybe that was exactly the problem.

Maybe I didn't know Miranda at all.

I stood beside the school gates after the final bell, hugging my books against my chest while students streamed around me.

Brian appeared a few minutes later with a serious look on his face. "You ready?"

I frowned a little. "Ready for what?"

He gave me a look. "You know exactly what."

I sighed. "I still don't think that is a good idea."

He snorted. "Neither do I."

I stared at him. "Then why are we doing it?"

"Because you're curious."

"I'm not." I muttered under my breath.

But in truth, I was definitely curious and scared too.

"You've been staring at the same page in your notebook for ten minutes." He raised a brow.

I glanced down at the notebook in my hands and realized the page was completely blank.

I frowned. "I was just thinking."

"About Miranda." He folded his arms.

I said nothing.

Then he smiled faintly. "Exactly."

I sighed again. "Fine."

He immediately gestured toward the parking lot. "But we won't get too close."

I raised a brow at him. "How close?"

"Across the street maybe, somewhere we can see the entrance without being noticed." He shrugged.

I hesitated.

"Brian, if she catches us…"

"She won't."

"You said that before."

"And I was right."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

He laughed softly. "Come on now and stop complaining."

He drove, and we eventually reached the area near the hospital without Miranda noticing us.

Brian had been right about one thing.

We were far enough away that we couldn't be easily identified from the hospital entrance, as we stood partially hidden near the side of a building across the street.

I kept my arms folded. "This is ridiculous."

Brian glanced at me. "Yet, you're still here."

"I know."

"You could leave."

I almost snapped. "I know that."

He smiled. "But I know you're not going to."

I glared at him. "Stop being annoying."

"I'm trying to keep you distracted." He blurted.

I rolled my eyes. "From what?"

He looked toward the hospital. "From overthinking."

I followed his gaze.

The building looked ordinary. There were patients, visitors, doctors and nurses walking through the entrance.

Nobody looked particularly unusual.

I exhaled slowly. "God… maybe she's visiting someone."

Brian nodded. "That's what I thought at first..." He trailed off.

"Maybe she has a relative there." I said again.

"Maybe." He said with a bored tone.

So, we waited.

Five minutes.

Then ten.

I shifted my weight impatiently. "This is pointless."

"Geez… give it another minute, will you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Brian…"

Then a familiar car turned into the parking area.

We became serious and stopped talking.

The car came to a stop, the driver's door opened and Miranda stepped out.

I watched her shut the door and looked around.

I instinctively ducked slightly but Brian grabbed my arm.

"Don't do that."

"I'm not doing anything." I defended.

"You're about to."

I slowly straightened up my posture.

Miranda adjusted her bag and walked toward the hospital entrance.

I watched her carefully.

She wasn't with anyone, she came alone.

There was no friend, relative, or even a Blackhawks member.

I frowned and then I shrugged lightly. "Maybe she's visiting someone."

Brian didn't answer.

We watched as Miranda entered the building.

I waited.

One minute.

Two.

Three.

Nothing happened.

I looked at Brian. "See?"

He raised an eyebrow almost in annoyance. "See what?"

"She went inside. That's it." I said tiredly.

"Let's wait a little." He suggested.

I sighed. "You're obsessed."

"So are you." He shot back.

"I'm not."

He snorted. "You haven't looked away from that door once."

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Because he was right.

I couldn't stop staring.

Eventually, the glass doors opened again.

Miranda appeared.

Only this time, she wasn't leaving.

She walked toward a reception desk.

I narrowed my eyes. "What is she doing?"

Brian leaned slightly forward. "Watch."

Miranda spoke to the receptionist.

The receptionist appeared to ask her something.

Miranda nodded.

Then she reached into her bag and pulled something out.

It looked like a form.

My heart began beating faster. "What really is that?"

Brian shook his head. "I can't tell from here."

Miranda placed the document on the desk.

The receptionist examined it before she handed Miranda a pen.

Then Miranda signed something.

I frowned. "Maybe she's registering to see someone."

"Maybe." Brian muttered.

The receptionist said something else.

Miranda answered and pointed toward herself.

I froze. "What is she doing?"

Brian stared. "Hold on."

Miranda pointed toward herself again and the receptionist nodded.

She wasn't pointing toward another person. She was talking about herself.

Wait, could she really be…?

My stomach dropped. "Brian..."

"I see it."

Oh my…

Miranda was checking herself in as a patient.

I stared at the scene in disbelief. "No way..."

Brian remained silent.

"She..." I paused for a moment. "She's actually here for herself."

The realization hit me slowly.

Not actually like a dramatic revelation but more like something sinking through water.

The traffic behind us seemed distant, the voices around us faded, and even Brian's breathing seemed far away to me now.

I watched Miranda complete the paperwork and collected whatever the receptionist handed her.

Then she walked toward another desk and then a nurse approached her.

Miranda spoke to the nurse quietly.

She wasn't wearing a smug expression and there was no arrogance in her posture.

I swallowed. "She's actually a patient?"

Brian nodded. "Looks like it."

I shook my head. "I don't understand."

"You don't have to understand yet."

I stared at him.

"She actually comes here… regularly?"

He nodded slightly. "That's what I told you."

I looked back toward the entrance as Miranda disappeared down a hallway.

I couldn't see her anymore but the image of her standing at that reception desk remained fixed in my mind.