piano man; d.h [discontinued]

welcome home

My eyes were tired and beginning to close as I opened just one more search tab on my phone. My fingers typed slowly, too tired to go any faster: western state top 10. Instantly, search results began pouring in, from rapists to killers and everything in between. I tapped on one article and began reading away.

The Western State Psychiatric Hospital is notorious for its home of crazies. These are only the top ten waiting for you inside.

1. Fredrick-

My eyes shut for a brief moment, thanking me for letting them close before they opened back up again and i continued reading.

4. Stephen Byrne, known to have anger problems was locked away at Western State only 4 years ago.

I knew I was going to fall asleep any moment, so I began scrolling through, scanning each name briefly.

7. Chris Kendall

8. Indy Paoletti

9. Eli Lawson

My mind began drifting as I started falling asleep. I wanted to stay up, just a little longer but I knew I needed to get up early for my first day tomorrow.

10. Daniel Howell

---

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz

I woke up to the sound of my phone going off, alerting me that I had a call. I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey Lia! Just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," it was my older brother, Damon.

"I'm fine. What's going on with you?" I rolled over onto my side as the sunlight burst through my crappy blinds.

"Well Mum and I are going on holiday this weekend and she wanted to know if you were able to come or not." It was unusual for my mum to plan something like that, especially since she knew I needed this job to further my medical degree.

"I don't think I can... sorry."

"It's no problem, really. I'll tell Mum. Thanks sis!"

"No problem, Damon. Bye," I said before hanging up. I went into my messages to text my house keeper about coming over for the next month and then I began to get dressed. Skinny jeans and a black top never hurt anyone.

The house I lived in was lonely. It felt empty in a way I didn't know how to describe. Nothing fit, no one was here except for me and it felt so excluded from the rest of the worn out neighbourhood. It felt very alienated in a way that was difficult for someone else to understand.
After grabbing a quick breakfast I walked out to my car and began driving down the long, country roads. I decided to turn the radio on to the 80s station, just to see what was on. I heard the tail end of Thriller fade out as Uptown Girl started filling the empty space in my tiny car. My brain wandered as I began mindlessly singing the words. Uptown girl, she's been living in an uptown world.

I started driving slower as I got closer to the main grounds of the Hosptial. The roundabout went straight up to the main entrance, so I pulled up and parked to the side of the main road. I got out to examine the massive building. It had maybe three different wings as far as I could tell. and to the left of the main center, I could see children playing on a playground outside of another building.

I threw my small purse strap around my shoulder and waltzed in as if I owned the place. I was greeted with a small line of people waiting to talk to the woman behind the large front desk. The walls inside were all painted white, fake marble tiles covered the floor and cries were audible, coming from the left wing. I waited patiently in line until I reached the front, where I made eye contact with a seemingly nice woman.

"Hi there. Welcome to Westsern State. How can I help you?"

"I'm here to meet with a Madame Seamly about my new job here." I smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, of course. I'll call her down, if you'll just wait one moment," she said before picking up a phone and sending out a message over the com system. I swear I could hear the click clack of her obviously expensive high heels from up a flight of stairs. She greeted me with a strong handshake.

"Hello, dear. I presume you are Eliana Coldwell?"

"Yes Madame," I said carefully, not wanting to make a bad first impression.

"Wonderful. Let me show you to your dormitory and we'll get you situated." Her voice was sharp and unforgiving. Each word sounding slightly crueler than the last. Nevertheless, I followed her outside through a back door from the main lobby and towards the nurses' dormitories. She lead me to the third building, a single story, white painted, simple building, holding no more than eight dorm rooms. She opened the main door and began showing me around the place. The showers, the bathrooms, and the garden behind each building before we entered the quaint little room that was prepared for me.

There was a twin sized mattress up against two walls, a desk with paper and pen set out, a mirror and vanity, dresser, and even a hanging closet. "Thank you for the little tour Madame," I said in her direction. She looked at me sternly.

"This building and outside of this property are the only places you may now refer to yourself and others by their first name. You are now Nurse Coldwell, and all patients are to be addressed by last name. Are we in agreement?" I nodded understandingly. "Good. Welcome home, Nurse Coldwell."

-unedited