By being agreeable and following all directions, Luan had slowly earned privileges. His proudest were being given normal clothes instead of the hospital gown, almost all of the patients had, and his room not being actively watched unless someone was in there with him. He specifically needed this privilege because he planned to leave the facility early.

After the day's exercises, other activities, and a routine check-up, Luan was walked back to his room to relax. A few minutes passed before Luan pulled on his favorite sweatshirt, put on an extra pair of socks, and slid his feet into a pair of slippers. He sat down on his bed and swung his feet because the slippers were tighter with the extra socks. Luan thought an extra pair might be a good idea since he didn't have sturdy shoes and wanted to at least keep the inside ones clean.

The room was mostly empty with his soft mattress lifted off the floor covered in a fuzzy blanket. Near the bed on the back wall was a cabinet. The cabinet didn't have cupboard doors, but still held his collection of clothes, books, and other possessions. Luan gave the stack of books a sad look, knowing he wouldn't take any of them with him. Lastly, his small, slightly raggedy teddy bear on his pillow was spotted and tucked into his hoodie pocket. Now, he was ready, but Luan did not know if he truly felt ready.

He hesitated as he looked around his room and thought of some of his boldest memories.

~✩~

Of the time he had forgotten his teddy bear as a young child one day when he got his blood drawn. The assistant wasn't able to distract him enough that he watched the blood taken from his arm by a scary, pointy needle. As a young child, it was too scary.

Luan wedged himself into one of the cabinets when he made it back to his room. The guards had notified the scientists, and one of the doctors came to coerce Luan out. Luan refused, planning on staying in until dinner time. Unfortunately, the doctor disagreed with his plan and opened the cabinet door. Poor Luan tumbled out and hit his head on the floor.

It hurt even more than the needle and the knowledge of his blood being stolen. Luckily, the doctor gave him a big hug to try and calm him. Several others had to join in, including his teddy bear, before he stopped crying. They even let him take his teddy bear with him into the MRI machine.

All the times they had celebrated Luan's birthday because he loved vanilla cake so much he would beg for days beforehand, even if they would have celebrated anyways. Or the times he got to help celebrate the others' birthdays by doing what they enjoyed. Specifically, the time Kane had gotten his first video game and Luan watched Kane and Kaipo play. They battled until Kaipo won mercilessly, much to Kane's indignance.

The best celebration was probably when Alfie turned twenty-one and decided to stay in the facility as a helper to the doctors. Of course, she had already been helping them for years, so no one was surprised by her decision. As she was the first patient to reach twenty-one, the Director let her ask for one thing. Her request was for all twenty of the patients above ten to have a game night together. Since no one had severely misbehaved for several months, they were given permission.

Luan had joined the table playing Monopoly. Their group managed several rounds, and Luan even won a game despite being less of a strategist. He had lots of fun and it was the first time he had met patients other than Kane and Kaipo. They usually were separated by their age, Luan being slightly younger than the other two ten-year-olds.

He was having lots of fun until a burly patient across the room got upset about constantly losing what appeared to be an easier game. The patient started throwing a huge fit and knocked over several chairs. Luan was frozen scared at the time, despite the patient being on the other side of the room and quickly sedated. Moving forwards, the group was never completely together again. Regardless, the experience had been a pleasant one.

~✩~

Many other memories, good and bad, flitted through his head before settling on one last moment.

~✩~

"Are you sure you want to borrow that novel?" Luan looked back from the books in front of him to see Dr. Evans peering over his shoulder.

"I think so. I like the cover and illustrations. Why shouldn't I choose it?" Luan replied, his voice rising slightly at the end as he started to question his choice.

"It's one of the shorter novels and the reading level is significantly lower than the books you have enjoyed recently." Dr. Evans looked at him with a cool gaze. She was not as friendly or companionable as some of the other scientists and doctors, but she was extremely intelligent. Luan was more nervous around her because he valued her opinion, but could never tell what she was thinking. Additionally, she had been teaching him in his higher math and science courses, she had a knack for explaining things.

Thinking of her words, Luan reconsidered his choice. The book he held was maybe a hundred pages and was a paperback. The cover had several bright blues swirling around an outline of a girl with the title scrawled across sideways. He knew that he shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so he had opened it to the first page. To his surprise, he discovered a thread of highly detailed illustrations forming the story. Luan remembered having read some comics a while back and assumed this was either a very long one or a collection of short comics. His unfamiliarity with the media pulled in his curiosity, especially with the illustrations' utter beauty. There was no reason to doubt his decision, he was sure.

"Yes, thank you, but this is the book I'd like to borrow," he stated as calmly as he could.

Dr. Evans gave him a reserved smile. Dr. B, a nicer doctor with a love of books, told him it was a good book and reminded him to trade it in for a new one next week.

Luan had free time for the rest of the day and requested to go to what he called the Comfy Room. Dr. Evans walked him there before leaving; he had a tendency to get lost in the similar corridors.

Kaipo was also there, but Luan knew they would not be happy to wake up from their nap in the hammock. He would receive a hit if he tried, not that he ever had. Kane was more likely to do so on purpose.

Seeing his favorite spot, a circular armchair, he crept up to it, careful not to make too much unnecessary noise. Luan flicked on the nearby heat lamp and curled up into the blanket he had previously left on the chair. Once comfortable, he opened the book.

The novel was about a girl who was locked up in a tower. Luan recognized it as a rendition of Rapunzel, but soon the story branched off from the original tale. The story did not have a prince, but instead, Rapunzel found a hidden staircase, escaping on her own. She unbraided her long locks and then cut them in hopes the witch wouldn't follow her.

As the story continued, the girl traveled through many exciting places. She used her wits to help the people she came across. With their help in return, the girl managed to travel even further. The pictures of the places she saw seemed stunning. Luan became awed at her compassion and determination to see the world. He knew the real world wasn't like the one she traversed, but he couldn't help his infatuation with outside the walls. Although he knew the Director would allow him to leave after he was 21, he couldn't imagine waiting 6 more years.

He was jolted out of the story and his thoughts when Kane barged into the room. The door slammed into the wall with a loud thunk, effectively waking Kaipo. In response, Kaipo growled at the rude awakening, giving barely any warning before launching themself at Kane. Luan watched as the tumbled across the floor. He knew it would be harmless roughhousing in the end, but he still quickly retreated from the room in case they tried to pull him in. He knew he wasn't as strong as either of them and he would never hurt someone if he could help it.

~✩~

Luan took a deep breath. He had already waited almost a whole three years, researching and remaining on his best behavior. Despite knowing the trouble he could find himself in and his lack of confidence, he couldn't wait longer. He wouldn't wait longer. Luan was going.