𝟸𝟾 ᴅᴀʏs (hiatus)

𝟓.

"𝙰𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎-

𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜,

𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚛.

𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚜, 𝚒𝚏 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚛."

—

The food was as dull as the previous day, with no edible or tangible improvements. It seems like the hypothesis drawn by the two was false, as expected. But what made it worthwhile was the look of offence on their faces,

"This looks disgusting, just as it was yesterday. Can you imagine what sort of impression we are giving to the Queen?" Jonathan asked Charles, a limp hand placed on his forehead.

"Truly, I have not the slightest clue of what Weathermore was thinking while preparing these dishes. They simply are a shame, and an absolute dishonour to serve the Queen." Charles replied, patting Jonathan's shoulder in consolation.

All the while I stood there, absolutely bemused by their show. Yet I laughed along, remembering mothers words,

"Be pleasant to your companions, no one likes a grouchy person, moreover a grouchy woman."

"If we are done here, perhaps we can finish eating and return to our businesses? I think I would much rather stay confined to my room than earn judging looks from all over?" I asked.

"The Queen has spoken, and so shall it be followed." The two spoke in unison.

We ate, sharing small talks here and there, purely for the sake of preventing a bad atmosphere. From the talks, I gathered that Charles had been a close friend of Jonathan ever since he was admitted here.

"So, Adelaide, do we tell him?" Jonathan asked in a hushed voice, that still seemed loud enough in the quiet cafeteria.

I did not know if I wanted to hide myself or hide Jonathan forever, both of them seeming to be a reasonable option. And it did not help that Charles seemed to be a curious person.

"Oh, tell me, any mysterious thing happening?" Charles asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"Oh, it's-"

That was all I heard before the world unceremoniously blacked out, or was it me who blacked out? I wasn't sure, but the prickly sensation brought back intense deja vu.

Sedatives, as usual. How oddinary.

I was not sure what their obsession with sedatives was, but I would write on the asylum walls that they were borderline abusing their usage. It would make up for a good wall decor, something to catch the eye.

Just as the world was about to turn black, a single phrase caught my attention,

"They knew too much."

.

The surroundings slowly started to gain colour, not that there was much to begin with, but the neon lights stole the show once again.

From being in the hospital for a while now, a few valid lessons managed to stick, the most crucial one is not to make any abrupt movements. After gaining consciousness, just enough to sense my surroundings, the scent of fresh sheets and bleach invading my senses.

"So, you are up already, huh sweetheart?" A voice spoke. It seemed distant though.

"Well, I'm afraid it's too early, go back to sleep, I'll wake you up soon." The voice continued, patting my shoulders. If only I were able to open my mouth to refrain, alas, the familiar prick once again sent me off to sleep.

.

This time, I woke up, abruptly of course, unfortunately. For directly in my line of sight was a warden with a full-on smile. Now, it might have been a pleasant sight if his teeth were not worse than degenerates.

"Enough Gerald, you are scaring the poor child. Go clean up something, or whatever you do." Miss Katherine muttered the last bit, shooing the man out of the room.

"How are you feeling now, darling? Better? Do you want a cup of water to drink?" She asked, handing me a cup of water.

The water looked yellow.

Disgusting.

Ignoring the nails that ran over my chest each time I breathed, I smiled,

"It is alright, miss. I'm not really thirsty."

She merely hummed and shuffled a stack of papers while murmuring to herself. Leaving her to be with her own business, I observed the place around. It was nothing special, but definitely carried more shades than the entire asylum combined.

"Miss?"

"Yes dear?"

"I.... I was admitted here, saying it was a hospital for me to get treated for my injuries. It doesn't seem like it though. An asylum doesn't treat injuries, not that I have heard of, at least." I said, wrapping the blanket tighter around myself.

She sighed. She sighed once again, making her look more her age,

"An asylum is a place to get treated too darling. Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health. Your parents were concerned about your mental health, immensely so, that they drove halfway across the state to admit you here."

"But I am not sick in the head." I retorted.

"How do you know that?" She asked.

"How do YOU know?" I asked again.

"I did not come here to argue darling. The doctors verified your mental status and then gave approval. Now drink that herbal tea I kept there while I go attend to Jonathan and Charles." She instructed me.

I looked at her surprised. Why were they here?

"What happened to them?"

"Oh dear... All three of you were found out cold, lying on the floor in the cafeteria. Your fellow patients luckily came and found me in time." she said softly.

Patients. What a charming way to address us.

"I see." I said. Miss Katherine took that as her cue to leave. I hesitated, but did call out to her,

"Miss?"

She turned, looking at me with a smile, "Yes, dear?"

"Thank you." I said, looking grateful. Pa would be disappointed if he knew I failed to thank the one who helped me.

"Anytime darling. Now, chop chop, drink your tea up."

I obliged, drinking the tea. It was lemongrass or lavender; I couldn't really tell. Despite trying to focus solely on the warm drink, my mind drifted back to the phrase I heard. It truly was ironic; how much knowledge is actually too much?

My mind was never really my companion. Not then, nor now.

Too immersed in my own thoughts, slight laughter from the nearby bed caught my attention.

"Oh you will feel better in no time. Just take your prescribed medications on time, and you will be moving around on a whim."

If only answers to everything were medicines. I would happily drown in them, for ages to come and go.

Thanks for reading!

-persii