Liquid Perception

Chapter 5

The folder flops on the desk next to a newspaper that hadn't been thrown away yet. I notice the date November 21, 2013. If this is a current newspaper, I have been here for the past 8 months. I take a deep breath, and open the file.

A picture of myself stares back. My stats are all outlined neatly in type. One of the nurses must have done this part. I skip down to the doctor's handwriting.

"Subject is highly intelligent and capable. Must keep him confused and disoriented at all times. If the subject becomes lucid he will undoubtedly try to escape. Must keep surveillance on subject at all times." This last sentence is underlined in red. "Subject will try to manipulate nurses if allowed to speak. Suggest minimal contact." What is going on here?

I flip a few pages to the most recent entries. The first one dated July 30, 2013.

"Subject has become less hostile since the last update in medication. Suggest keeping the same dosage for the foreseeable future. Lysergide (LSD) keeps him disoriented. The new experimental Orbiculol makes him forget nearly everything at higher doses. We have gone above the recommended dosage, but the undesirable side effects have been minimal. Fentora has kept the subject calm. Suggest keeping subject on Fentora to facilitate a stronger addiction to the drug. Subject may choose not to escape if given the opportunity due to the addiction." Who would do this to me? Why?

One last entry dated November 20, 2013.

"Subject has developed resistance to Orbiculol. Subject remembers more each day. Unable to increase dosage any further. Most subjects at the same dosage have died. Subject is learning to ignore hallucinations. Fentora addiction is high. Change in medication is needed in the near future. Must research other memmory inhibitors. Subject's benefactor, Charles, must be informed."

I turn the page to find invoices. All paid by a Charles Millingham.

Charles? Why is that name familiar? Wait.. that is my father in law. I have a wife! I can't picture her face. Closing my eyes, I try. Her blonde hair escapes me. I open my eyes again. The words of her description dance around my head like gnats, but the image doesn't appear.

I flip past the invoices, and there is her picture. Nothing else in the world exists in this moment. I must escape! Getting to my wife is the most important thing at this moment.

"Are you OK friend?"

I had forgotten he was here. I say, "Yea I am OK. Let's go Ron. We're getting out of here." I pull the photo of my wife out of the file. I have no pockets, so I will have to keep it in hand.

He says, "I was worried you may be melancholy, but now my heart soars. I knew we would be going on an adventure friend!"

I don't bother to wipe the tears from my eyes. We walk in unison out of the doctor's office. Incidentally it is next to the exit. The double doors open without any resistance. For the first time in a long while I hear birds chirping. I am free.