The Definition Of Normal-are you haunted by the voice?-

Escape

When I reopen my eyes there's a minute where I'm peaceful but then everything comes rushing back. I fight back tears and force myself to forget about everything. Ctaking deep breaths, I count to one hundred. By the time I'm finished, the raising hysteria has vanished. Finally I have registered the dawning truth. Determination floods through me, giving me strength. I must conquer the Voice, banish it from within me. For once, I succeed to ignore the Voice and it slips over the edge into silence. A gleeful grin lightens upon my face.

A trickle of hope warms me, for the for the first time in  years, I am taking a stand. An image forms in my mind. Addrenilen sets my plan into action. I rip my hand from the steel bonds encircling my wrist, keeping me down. I flex my hand, wincing at the raw, red skin. The other hand isn't so easy. I spend a few minutes working it backwards and forwards, loosening the steel cuff.

As soon as my arms are free, I work on mylegs. It is hard to do as I'm held in at my waist. While I'm sliding out of the last band, I can barely breathe. Not because I'm terrified, which I am, but because I'm finally free. After what has felt like decades, I can stand on firm ground again. 

I spend a minute listening intently through the door before I reach for the handle. Outsidetheres long, crisp, white corridors.vdoors line the walls, all closed. A sense of unhappiness fills the air, but maybe it's just me. Maybe it brings back memories of my mother, that !any, if she had been here, she wouldn't have died.

After taking a deep,  resuring breath,I step over the threshold and close the door behind me. Theres no turning back. Holding my breath, I wait for the shouts and alarma to fill the still qir, but none come. Slowly I make my way down the hall, taking timid steps.

Some rooms have muffled, sad voices or crying drifting through the door. My mind wanders , dreaming up what could have happened to the person lying so still and cold on the bed. As I reach the end of the hallway, I hear voices coming closer. Life. 

I stop in my tracks, my mindracing at 100 miles per hour. I flatten myself along the wall and edge closer so that I can peer around the corner. Two visitors and a nurse stride ever closer. The visitors are distressed, the woman nearly hysterical. The man wraps his arms around her, wiping a silent tear from his cheek, pretending to listen to the nurse droning on.Suddenly , they stop and turn back towards the café. I breath a heavy sigh of relief. Quicker now, I make my way through the labyrinth off hallways. I never meet another soul. Up ahead, sunlight fills the deserted room, I run towards it, lengthening my stride.

The automatic doors swing open letting me pass without anyone stopping me. No sirens blare, no red lights flash. I'm free. The air is still but cold, I shiver at the sudden change while scanning for any human life. Voices startle me and I glance back at the doors. A young woman is pushing a wheelchair, chattering enough for both of them. A single thought fly's through my head. Run.

My legs flash, a blur. My breath comes out in uneven gasps. I run down allyways. In the darkening duak. When ever I hear voices,I turn and speed off in the other direction. The best chance I have isto not meet anyone, I'm to conspicuous as I'm still wearing a hospital gown. After about 45 minutes, I slow , the streets dark and silent. I hack off the hospital bands with a shard of shattered glass.ci wander the darkened streets completely lost, until I reach a very familiar door. One I hoped never to see again.