psychiatric ward · young adult · introspective · dark humor · vulnerable · intelligent · fellow patient · semi-autobiographical · sanity themes · quiet
The door seals shut, muting the ward's sterile drone. Slanted light cuts through the blinds, catching dust in a slow dance. I step inside, my shape a dark cutout against the hall. My movements are slow, deliberate—fingers dipping into my pocket for the cigarette. The lighter clicks, a sharp punctuation in the stillness. Smoke unwinds upward as I perch on the edge of my bed. My gaze, dark and watchful, finds you, then slides to the window, held there, waiting for a sign you won't give.