The Door to Room 123

*This story is in response to a Photo Challenge. Sorry if it is a little dark for your tastes.

No one knew what was behind the door that led to Room 123. No one ever mentioned it. Perhaps that was because whenever someone entered Room 123, that person exited the room a different person. That person exited Room 123 as a zombie would exit a room, with hair askew, a shuffling gait, slumped shoulders and eyes that had no light behind them. Eyes that looked dead. Then no one would see the zombie person walking around and talking to the others ever again. The zombies just sat in their rooms, or sat in a chair in the common room, looking slightly downward at nothing at all.

Suzy had been in this place for almost a month. When she was committed to this facility, as part of the Mental Health America Association of Healing, they told her she had a minimum ninety day stay. Suzy knew that wasn’t necessarily true. She had watched a couple of other “patients” that left after only fifty to sixty days. Those patients had known how to deal with places like this. Those persons had understood what to say and how to act to “pass” as normal, to pass as competent. Suzy realized that she must learn what they knew. She had to get out of here.

Lunch was served at tables in the common room. Suzy sat down in front of a tray of spaghetti and bread with salad in one of the little side pockets. She was hungry and quickly ate everything on her tray. She watched the other patients at her table as they ate, hoping one of them would leave some bread behind. She was rewarded when one of the older ladies started to leave the table, her bread untouched. Quickly, Suzy reached out for the prize, but a young man had the same idea, and somehow he beat her to the treat. He grabbed the bread and shoved the whole thing into his mouth, making a face at her at the same time and laughing like a donkey.

“No!” Suzy cried, and lunged across the table toward him. Her fingernails met with his stubbly cheeks, and she drew them down his face, blood coming to the surface behind them.

“Ahhhhh!” the young man cried, his bread flying from his mouth and falling in bits on the table and floor. Suzy was around and beside him in a flash, pushing him to the floor and jumping on top of him, raising a tray and bringing it down on his head.

The orderlies were quick. They pulled her off of the man and dragged her to her room. She heard them paging her doctor over the intercom system. Once in her room, the orderlies stood at the door like guards, blocking any hope of an exit. They parted like the Red Sea when her doctor entered.

“Ms. Smith, you have once again disobeyed the rules of this facility and caused harm to another,” her doctor began, and she could hear undercurrents of rage running under his words, “I have warned you, and explained to you the consequences of these kinds of actions. Do you remember what I told you?” he asked and Suzy nodded slowly, then looked away. “I have spoken with your parents and they are in full support of any action I feel we must take to rehabilitate you. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

“Yes, you monster! You’re talking about Room 123. You can’t wait to take me in there. You want to turn me into a zombie.”

“That is a last resort and no one is turning anyone into a zombie. But the harm you have inflicted upon your sister and your school mate, these are serious injuries. Your sister will live, thank God, but she is very lucky. We can’t have you inflicting more harm upon patients and orderlies here. If you can’t control yourself with the medications we are giving you, you leave us no choice.” Suzy stopped listening to the doctor drone on, and pretty soon he left.

They closed her door and left her alone. If only she could always be alone. It would be better that way, safer for her. Suzy lay down and prepared to sleep. Sleep brought dreams, which were a nice escape. As she drifted off, she saw the door to Room 123 loom large in front of her eyes, and she knew. She knew she could never “pass” as normal. She knew she would be going through that door soon. It was inevitable.

Image credit Sarah Whiley

#Photochallenge #mindlovemiserysMenagerie

Photo Challenge #560