WNP: 2/19/13

 

“It’s always the quiet ones, you know?”

Selah and  Doctor Havilier walked slowly  through the ward.  It was stark, bare, and offered no form of comfort to the distressed.  She looked at the patients in various stages of awareness.  Some were crying, laughing, or arguing with an invisible person.  She was speechless at what she was witnessing.  Her heart ached for the human devastation she saw. 

"Is this what we have come to?"  she asked the Doctor.  He did not respond but continued to walk to the next door, with a soft whoosh, the door opened.

This room was completely different from what she had just experienced.  It could almost be described as lovely,a solarium with wicker furniture, flowers, and greenery, lots of light and artwork created by the patients. There was no sound,  only the soft dulcid tones of classical music...here the patients appeared to be calm, almost composed.  They were fully dressed in street clothes, walking about,  or playing chess, Majohng, painting and reading.  The Doctor noticed Selah looking about with a surprised look on her face. 

"I see you have noticed the stark difference between the two wards?" 

She looked around before answering.  "Yes, this is like an oasis."

"This is a new experieiment, our staff wear pink or blue blazers to differentiate them from the clients. Would you believe that some of these patients are convicted murderers?" he said in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"No," she said.  "I would never have guessed, they seem so..." her voice drifted off.  "Murderers?"

"Um hmm," he muttered quietly.  He looked around the room and her eyes followed his. "You see," he continued, "it's always the quiet ones, you know?"