Page 8 of Madness

Harry sighs but opens his arms, and I smile at the two of them together.

Everyone here knows that Hare is off limits, and he’s a beacon of innocence and gentleness that everyone loves for anyone to want to try.

Though, I don’t think they would get far in Wonderland if they did do anything to him.

Hare has somehow managed to befriend the most terrifying patient, who was placed in solitary the moment he stepped foot through the doors. Even then, it doesn’t stop said patient from roaming the halls at night.

“So, what’s the paper for?” I ask Hare, knowing that he only gets a few pieces each day; otherwise, we would all be able to wallpaper our rooms with the drawings he would give us alone.

“I get to make a name,” he says, his broad smile pulling one from my lips.

Hare is special to us all, and with his wide amber eyes that are filled with childlike wonder and his wonky teeth that are missing a few at the sides, he’s the bright spot in this otherwise dreary place.

Hare makes unique name signs for each patient who comes into Wonderland, and we take this very seriously. It also helps him know who is in which room, and he doesn’t get lost as much anymore.

Wonderland is a maze, but thanks to Hare, we now have colourful spiral arrows and bubble letter writing to show us the way to therapy.

“Is it for Alice?” I ask, curious about the newest addition to this crazy place.

“Yup! Look a pen!”

A bright pink pen is thrust into my face, “Very nice, buddy. Are you making the name pink?”

“Pink! Pink! Pink!” he shouts, jumping on the spot and clapping his hand, tearing the paper at the corner in the process.

“Hey bud, how about we walk ya to Wocky’s office, and ya can help me look for Doris?” Harry offers his hand out for Hare to take.

The warden’s office isn’t hard to find as we navigate the halls with white walls and speckled red diamonds. Hare’s special signs help when we worry that we’ve taken a wrong turn.

I’ve been trapped here for three years now, and I see no way out unless it’s in a body bag.

“Wocky!” Hare shouts, banging his fist on the warden’s door.

Both Harry and I take a step back, not wanting to gain the warden’s attention, and slip away just as the door opens.

“Bye, Hare,” I call down to him just before we turn the corner, and I’m gifted with another big smile and enthusiastic wave.

“Bye Red. Bye Har!”

We spend the next hour searching for Doris, which proves to be more difficult than I expected because she’s a tiny field mouse who could be in the walls or scurrying through the smallest crevices, and we wouldn’t know.

“Am gonna call it a night, Red. Doris will probably be in ma room before they call lights out,” Harry says, leaning against the wall across from my room.

“Do you want to come chill for a while?” I ask.

It’s a tough pill to swallow, feeling desperate for his attention to only get rejection in return.

He smiles sadly at me as if it could soften the rejection I know is coming, his voice gentle as if to comfort me, but it does nothing to ease the sting, “No thanks, lass. I’m beat, and I want ti git to ma bed, y’know?”

“No, yeah, that’s fair…” I take a step back, “Another time, maybe?”

“Sure.”

I close the door, leaning against it until I can’t hear the soft footfalls of his feet against the floor anymore.

I haven’t been able to crack him since we were placed in the same ward – I don’t know what possessed me to think I could today.

He’s a work in progress, just like the beautiful mural on my wall, and I need to be patient.

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