Dr. Chang- Would you like to go inside?

It was exactly as I had imagined it. Sterile, soft, welcoming whiteness, you just wanted to step inside, jump around, go nuts. The only thing holding me back was fear, the little voice in my head that said this is wrong, you’re not crazy. But I knew that, I was just here to try it out, see what it was like. I told Dr. Chang that I would like to.

Chang- Excellent. Let me first explain it to you. Usually when we put patients in this room, we make sure that they are diapered as well as straitjacketed. This is so that they cant tear at the walls or make any further mess of the room.

I was already regretting the decision, were they going to force me into a diaper and straitjacket now?

Chang- But since you are not a patient here, we don’t have to worry about any of that right now.

Relief

Chang- What we do need to worry about are those (Point at my shoes). No one is allowed in the room with shoes on so we’ll have to remove them.

Even this put me on edge. I was already very afraid of relinquishing any power I may have to these people, losing my shoes just seemed like a bad idea but before I could say anything an orderly behind us grabbed me and sat me down on a gurney to the side of the padded cell door. Before I knew what was happening he had got a hold of one of my feet and began untying the shoe, taking it off, then the sock.

Me- Hey, I….

As he was untying the other shoe…

Chang- Don’t worry Jeffrey, you’ll be fine.

Before I knew it I was totally barefoot, the man was fondling one and I was embarrassed to say that I enjoyed the massage.

Chang- John is very good at relaxing the patients, comes in handy when they’re all amped up.

It was fantastic. I felt really relaxed, so relaxed that I barely noticed I was stood up and guided into the nice softness of the cell. My feet recognized the change first, sinking somewhat into the padding. It brought me back to a time as a child when I would run around blow-up castles, although this was more like walking on a pillow or a cloud. My footing wasn’t great so I would walk for a moment and then stumble. Getting up was also kind of a challenge but I did it and soon was running, jumping, throwing myself into the walls, if one were to walk by and look in they would think I really was a patient here, although..

Where did the opening go? I looked all around the square shaped room, I saw no open door. In fact I could not remember where the door was even located. I was now in panic mode, I walked along the walls, pushing as I went but nothing revealed itself to be a door. How was I supposed to get out of here? I yelled for Dr. Chang or anyone to come and help me. Nothing happened. I waited for what felt like an eternity, then I screamed and kicked and punched the walls again. Bad idea. The door finally opened. 2 big men filled the door frame.

Man 1- You’re making a lot of noise in here fruit cake.

Me- Oh thank god, listen, something happened. Where is dr. chang?

Man 1- She was called away, emergency.

Me- Oh, well can I just wait in her office or something? I’d like to get out of here.

Before I could leave, one stopped me by putting a hand on my chest.

Man 1- Not so fast. I’m not sure who put you in here, so we better just sit tight til they come back.

Me- It was Dr. C hang, she’s showing me around.

Man 1- Well that may be true but she’s not here so we’re just going to have to wait.

I was getting very angry now.

Me- Look, I am not a patient here, I’ve had enough of this, I’m leaving.

One of the men grabbed me.

Man 1- This one looks like he could use a little nap, right Jimmy?

I saw Jimmy nod with a smirk and then disappear, only to return a second later with the stretcher that was sitting beside the door before. I noticed for the first time it had leather restraints on it.

Me- No, no, no,

Man 1- Too late fruit cake. It’s Haldol nap time for you.

Before I knew it I was being cradled and then dropped on the stretcher. Man 1 held my torso while Jimmy grabbed an ankle and guided it into a leather cuff. I tried to kick with the other foot but it didn’t do much to hurt him. He then grabbed that other foot and put that in the other cuff. Then both men pushed me back so my head was lying on the pillow and then did the same thing to my wrists. They then brought a strap over my torso as well.

Man 1- Ok, one more thing.

He disappeared, while that was happening Jimmy started undoing the strap that held up my shorts.

Me- What are you doing? Please let me go.

Jimmy- Shhhh, it will be over in a moment.

With that I felt a yank and my shorts and underwear brought down to my knees. Then I saw the other man return with a needle and put 2 and 2 together. I protested best I could, kicked, screamed, nothing was going to stop that needle as it plunged into my butt cheek. The result was almost instantaneous. I felt loopy and about ready to fall asleep. I could hear 2 voices faintly telling me to rest, it seemed like the best idea. I closed my eyes and within moments, was sound asleep- locked in a padded cell, restrained to a gurney, barefoot, with my pants still brought down to my knees. My last thought was that power seemed to be shifting.