Florescent Lights
The florescent light glared down at him, casting a yellow hue on the room. He blinked slowly, heavily, as if opening his eyes was the worst possible torture to him. This was his reality and no matter how long he kept his eyes closed he eventually had to open them.He was not insane, but they thought otherwise. Carts rolled down the perpetual white halls, vacuums glided over the glossy floor, shoes scuffed the passage way as workers tried to avoid co-workers as they scurried to their patients. Expensive lights were used in the main corridors so that guests and visitors would find the place welcoming. The cheap lights that colored everything near them a disgusting yellow were used in the patients rooms - as if they werent already at the brink of insanity. He sat on the edge of his bed, his feet hovering above the cold white tiles. The tick tock of the faux wood clock echoed inside his skull and the screech of the vacuums pierced his ear drums. Dangling above the door frame was the horrendous light that captivated his eyes. Expressionless, emotionless, he stared at the light. His eyes burned, his mouth was dry, and his eyesight was indefinitely worsening, but his stare never subsided. Not quite countless days had passed, been wasted, misused on the wretched light that seemed dangerously close to burning out, but would always unfailingly flicker back on in the morning.The door creaked open but his eyes never moved. A woman slipped inside and closed the door behind her in such a way it seemed almost as if the click of the door would strike her patient dead. "Dear, Ive brought you your pills," she spun around and cheerfully sang. Mood swings were not uncommon among the workers. "Now, now, dont be so excited," she teased. Pretending to be constantly, mind achingly cheerful was also not uncommon. "Silly boy,your pills are here!" She giggled to the boy who seemed oblivious to the fact that she had entered his room, but he had bluntly ignored her. The apathetic expression never left his face. "Alright, now open up!" she laughed. The boy didnt even twitch. She sighed, suddenly impatient. "Now, dear, you must take your medicine, really, its mandatory," she explained as she did every time she was sent to deliver his medication. The busty woman pried at the boy several more times before agreeing with herself that maybe, just maybe, if she left the room, he would take his medication on time. "Alright, you win once again," she laughed," I guess Ill be going now!" The woman set his pills on the dresser next to the door, She giggled, and with that, she took her leave, closing the door as considerately quiet as the first time, but it didnt click. The door that had been unintentionally left opened slightly caused the vacuum sounds to grow more agitating. "Im telling ya," the busty woman began, "the boys been here eight months, eight months, and hes been staring at that light bulb every day. Even the ones whove completely lost it move every now and then! And on top a that, hes not said a single word! Wont even tell me his name, " she huffed to the nearest cleaning lady, who responded with a shrug, not bothering to look up at the woman. Being two faced was also very common among the workers. A moment later she felt a chill run over her, tickling at the base of her back and she reached her hand back and grasped the door knob, jerking it closed as she hurried away. The boy sighed, and thought to himself, " Yes I have been here eight months, eight more than I shouldve been. I never belonged here until I was locked up here. I realize its been eight months, I count the days, the days that have passed since Ive seen someone who hasnt visited me with a cup of pills and a white outfit. Ive spent eight months alone. I couldnt tell you what fresh air feels like, or the sound leaves make when theyre rustled by the wind. I couldnt tell you what fresh baked food smells like, or how the summer sunlight feels against your skin. Eight months Ive been in your isolation chamber, yet you still dont know my name? You havent even asked. " He blinked for the first time in perhaps ten minutes. When his irritated, dried out eyes were given a split second break a tear rolled down his cheek. He didnt move to wipe it away. He screamed a thought so loud, he wouldve sworn for a split second, the workers hesitated. "My name is Daehyun."