The door is closed what’s happening.

I don’t understand.

I can’t move

I just lay here in bed

Until they get me up wash and dress me

Give me tablets that I hate

People come in and people go out.

Some talk loudly 

Some are happy

Others seem indifferent

Some come in cleaning

Polishing and dusting

At least I assume they are people but they look more like aliens

Robots from out of space

Their faces and mouths are covered

They wear suits all over plastic aprons

They put down trays of food

 

Why don’t they speak to me not at me?

They never say anything except

Eat your food

On a good day I get a smile and it’s delicious

You really should try it

You need to eat

But I’m not hungry

 

But they don’t stop to listen

Even when I try to talk

Where is Maureen

I haven’t seen her for weeks

Why has she left me here to rot?

I thought I brought her up better than that

I haven’t been out of this room forever and a day

I have no idea what day it is

Except for when its’ Sunday

And then they let me listen to the morning service on the radio

Then they serve roast something or other

Always with Yorkshire pudding

The animal always seems to have surrendered

Without a fight

I know how it feels

I’ve had enough

Then there’s the woman in the room next door

Crying out at night

At least I assume it’s night

I can’t tell anymore

And I don’t understand what she’s saying

It’s all a foreign language in between the screaming and the calling for somebody

That sounds like Sanjeev.

Poor thing

They left the door open last week

And I saw two of them go in there to calm her down.

That usually means medication

But what do I know?

I should know I’m a nurse

I keep asking for my uniform

I know they’ve hidden it but the skinny one she just said you don’t need it love

You’ve retired

I can’t be I’m only thirty-seven

And I would know what to do with her next door always screaming

That’s what I used to do

Help people like her poor soul

I was good at calming people

Oh, I do wish I could see Maureen again

 

Finally, they have let me out of my room

They said someone has come to visit you love

 A surprise visitor

They wheel me into the lounge in a wheelchair

I don’t seem to be able to stand anymore

The person says it’s me mummy, Maureen

The others are all smiling as well as this middle-aged woman who calls me mummy

What’s the matter mummy?

Can’t you speak?

You were walking and talking the last time I saw you

Have you forgotten how

What’s wrong

She’s just another one talking at me and wanting to hold my hand

I don’t want to talk

I don’t know her

I want Maureen

Now she’s crying and trying not to let it show

Oh, for goodness’s sake give me that screaming woman next door

Any day instead of this

I’m not sure I can handle it now the door is no longer shut