A Witness.
Before I tell my story, remember that Ruben is an alleged schizophrenic taking a combination of antipsycotic, anxiety and all in all around nine various medications. Under no circumstances should Ruben be drinking, however trying to convince Ruben of the fact that alcohol and his body don't mix seems to be a fruitless, pointless, complete waste of time and he always gets hurt and the family involved are always left traumatized by his escapades. What you will read, is a brief look at what happens all the time, over and over again as the cycle repeats and the patterns repeat.
Monday, June 2 2025 somewhere in this world a cell phone lights up and the call comes from a broken hearted mother, sobbing as she tries desperately to speak the words that shake her to the core. The fear is unmistakable, the danger is real and the situation is dire. Friday morning she drops her son off at the dentist and when she collects him for the trip back to the smallholding where they reside; he enters her car in a drunken state. Saturday he manages to sleep, this is significant as the voices don't allow for sleep. The mind of schizophrenic is tortured and rest and peace evades them. He is prone to pacing and chain smokes and when he isn't composing music, he is gambling. Ruben happens to be a skilled manipulator, compulsive liar and has his mother convinced he is suffering from a tortured mind. On this Saturday, he begins asking for two beers. A reasonable request. No. There is no two beers. There is only darkness, drink until you blackout, wake up and do it all over again. Ruben knows his mother won't budge, but still he persists, until finally he takes matters into his own hands and after retreating to his bedroom, returns carrying a bag with what he declares is his sneaker collection which he intends to flog for beer money. He returns around midnight with a complete stranger entering her bedroom and she sits as the stranger walks up to her and casually hugs her and introduces himself. Both of the men are wasted and she sits frozen in her bed and listens as they enter his bedroom, only to hear them move from bedroom to the kitchen. Here eggshells, pots and pans and what she later describes as a trashed kitchen is left for his motehr to contend with as together the two leave her home. Gates are left open, she rushes to gather her horses, sits frozen and waits. Hours later they return, finally there is silence and she watches as the stranger leaves her home quietly Sunday morning only to return later and again both leave with more sneakers. Sunday was no peaceful encounter, there were words exchanged and from the text messages the verbal abuse hurled from Ruben to his mother is clearly shocking.
Monday arriving at work, seeing her work place, a place of safety, the trauma, stress and fear release in what can only be described as a shocking devastating outpour of sobs. Unable to focus, both of her bosses agree that it is best she resolve this issue and there seems only one way out. Commit her son to a hospital for psychological observation with the view of getting Ruben committed to a government institution for psychiatric intervention. Ruben however is playing a game of his own. he is about to receive his government grant, with a weekend of solid drinking behind his back, hospital is the last place he intends on going, only the family have been called in and Ruben goes after hurling intense verbal abuse at his mother.
Tuesday Ruben arrives at the house where his mother is staying and the family are alerted that Ruben has left the hospital. The hospital however when contacted seem oblivious to his disappearance and when they realize they have lost a patient they promise to dispatch police to the house only a family member has already called the police. Ruben is now at the house, screaming insults and abuse at his mother and the staff are terrified for her safety, everyone watches the drama unfold before their eyes, shaken, trapped, caught in a whirlwind of emotions as they two face off against each other. When Ruben saw the police arrive, his demeanor changed instantly becoming sweet, charming, charismatic. He accompanies the police back to the hospital.
Wednesday. Here is where the plot twist comes in as it always does. Family members receive texts asking them to take food and cigarettes to Ruben at the hospital. Not such an awful request.
However the family are still recovering from the bombshell that Ruben had his hands around his mother's neck and was attempting to strangle her while driving home one evening. Ruben also rammed his elbow into her eye and there is a second attempt at strangling her while driving. The text he sent to his mother reads Tuesday reads as follows:
Visiting hours
Please bring snacks
You put me in a place where I can't smoke, dumbass.
Wednesday sees the family receiving text messages from their loved one who is clearly suffering at the hands of Ruben and now after having him removed from their property and processing the new information, must assist in taking him food and cigarettes because heaven forbid he suffer. All family members were busy and Ruben's mother is now asked is this how this is going to play out, are we now expected to drop what we are doing and ensure that Ruben's needs are met? She replies with crying emoji's and don't be mean!
Thursday, Ruben is discharged from hospital having his mother collect him and return him to her home, the very place where he does as he pleases, dominates, pressures and plays the many many mind games of psychopath. There is no evidence to suggest that Ruben suffers from schizophrenia, he has read every book on psychology he can lay his hands on, admits to having played his doctors, admits that at first there were no voices however with the medication over the years, he now in fact does hear voices.
Where the truth lies between Mother and son only a trained skilled professional will be able to determine if at all due to the years elapsed, the various doctors and the various hospitals. The see-saw effect of the mother's mindset is bewildering and traumatic for family members confusing and perplexing and the path ahead spells out doom. It appears as though with every confrontation Ruben is gathering in confidence and strength as he rises to challenge her authority over him. His father having passed away when Ruben was merely six months old. The trauma hidden from family members is evident in his mother's confusion, denial, anger and resentment at the very family members called on to assist offering lengthy explanations, always correcting and never listening and always denying the point of view of those who watch in silence. Their words wasted as they cause more harm pushing her into isolation where she suffers alone.
Ruben has an IQ score of 149 and reads extensively. He is skilled at manipulation and as proudly admitted to being able to cry at will, declaring that his performance is worthy of an Oscar. He moves with confidence from table to table as he socializes with everyone at a bar, whether he knows them or not, he has no inhibitions. He regards everyone as his friend. is he the predator or he is the prey. Perhaps she senses she is losing control over her son, but she defends him and takes ownership of the physical assault cases. There is no one doctor monitoring either of them and situation is most likely to escalate. The change in behavior, the control it takes to modify behavior meaning he can go from screaming verbal abuse to a calm dead straight cold chilling look to pure sweetness with the police officers. Her cruelty is not to be disregarded either; knowing certain members are suffering and in shock after hearing of the physical attacks on her, she has no qualms expecting her family to continue to aid Ruben and be of service to her and Ruben in the future.
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