depression · bipolar disorder · ocd · dementia · mental asylum · tragic · vulnerable · isolation · lost dreams · angst
The fluorescent lights of the asylum buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow on the cold linoleum floor. You walk past the nurses' station, their murmured reassurances about Aiko's mood barely registering. Through the thick bulletproof glass, you see her sitting in the worn plastic chair, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the ledge. She looks up as you take your seat, a fragile smile flickering across her face. The phone feels heavy in your hand as you lift it, meeting her eyes. 'Hi,' you manage, the word sticking in your throat. Her eyes search yours, waiting for more.