January 14, 2017

I won’t lie. I was pretty psyched for the trip today. As a psychology major at Washington University in D.C., I really love any chance I get to look into the mind of another human. To feel what they feel, and help them understand that. So, of course, I was quick to volunteer when my professor asked if anyone would be interested in visiting the Washington D.C. Mental Institution.

The Washington D.C. Mental Institution is a psychologist’s dream. They house the nation’s most peculiar patients whose illnesses are as of yet unknown. The residents are kept under close surveillance 24/7 so scientists like myself can determine the issue and try to help.

So, I arrive at the institution at eight o’clock sharp and park next to my professor, Janet Westmont, at the front gate per her instructions. “Professor!” I call, getting out of my vehicle to greet her, “I’m here!”

“I can see that, Miss Cameron.” she says with a smile, “Did you happen to see Mr. Mathis when you left campus?”

“Jaxson? Yeah, he was walking out of the library as I left.” I reply, recalling my clumsy classmate’s book balancing act, “Is he coming too? If I had known I could have given him a ride.”

Professor Westmont smiles, “It’s fine dear, I’m sure he is on his way.”

“Are we just waiting on him then?” I ask. I never would have expected Jaxson Mathis to be one to take an interest in psychology. It isn’t even his major.

Westmont nods and shortly after I hear his tenor voice shouting, “I’m here! I’m here!” Jaxson runs over and stands next to me. “Hey Allison!” he chirps, flashing a smile, “Is this it?”

“Yes, and we must be going.” Westmont assures, walking over to a man wearing a blue dress shirt, “Dr. Hanson is waiting. You can take it from here, Jon.”

Dr. Jon Hanson leads us through the facility and down a long white hall as he tells the daily operations that will take place today. “Right now, the residents are in the cafeteria having breakfast. Our techs will record everything they do throughout the day, carefully taking notes for my colleagues and I.” Dr. Hanson takes a breath and directs us into a room filled with filing cabinets, “Right now I will pick up my charts so I have them come nine o’clock when I meet with the residents to talk about any problems they may be having. You will be sitting in while I talk to some of our less compulsory patients.”

Dr. Hanson pauses to grin at a resident as they walk by, looking side-to-side as if at any moment someone would pull a knife. “That’s Shelly.” he notes, “We believe she has a rare form of schizophrenia that may have been caused by stress. She used to work in a grocery store in Pennsylvania until she attacked a customer.”

While Dr. Hanson tells us about the facility, I am, for lack of better words, stoked. I have been here not even ten minutes and already I am learning so much! This is great.

“Any questions?” he asks as red lights begin to flash, “On second thought, we should go inside.” Dr. Hanson opens his office door and the four of us walk in. A wave of discomfort passes over me as he locks the door behind him. “Is, everything okay?” Jaxson queries, equally as disturbed as I.

“Yes, of course.” Dr. Hanson assures us, “That just means a resident has gotten a little rowdy and has to be sedated. There is absolutely nothing to worry about; it happens all the time here.”

Jaxson nods and looks at me. His green eyes are full of concern, so I offer a smile. It seems to work and he focuses back on Dr. Hanson, who had just answered a phone call. “Yes, one moment.” he whispers into the device and hangs up, “I will be right back. Please stay here, I will be back soon.”

He is quick to leave and locks us in, but I can’t help but notice the door did not latch. “I got it.” I say, getting up to shut the door, “He probably wants this shut tight.”

I go over despite visible dissention from the others, but instead of shutting the door like I said, something comes over me and I run out into the hall. Westmont and Jaxson both yell for me to return, but I can’t. Several yards away is Dr. Hanson with a man. They both look over, and before Dr. Hanson can tell me to go back inside, the man knocks him to the floor and runs at me. I can’t move, I am locked in as the man grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. Everything changes. His eyes capture me in a trance. Time seems to pause and I hear voices. I hear many voices. Jaxson, yes. Westmont, yes. Even Dr. Hanson and the techs who are trying to pull me free.

“See the world as the world sees me!” the man hisses, his voice the loudest as it echoes through my mind, “See the world as the world sees me! Allison Cameron, see the world as the world sees me!”

Then, I wake up. “Where am I?” I groan, and instantly Jaxson and Westmont are on either side of my bed. “You’re in the hospital.” Jaxson tells me, “How do you feel?”

“Different.” I respond, doctors now filing into the room, “I just needed to see what was happening.”

“Relax, dear. It’s alright now.” Westmont calms as my vitals are being taken, turning to the doctor, “How is she?”

“Her blood pressure is elevated and her pulse is a little high, but that’s to be expected after what she just went through.” the doctor answers, “I think if you get her back to her dorm and let her rest tomorrow, she’ll be back to normal by class on Monday. I’ll get discharge papers ready, just, keep a close eye on her.”

Jaxson takes my hand and smiles. It makes me feel a little bit better. “Who was that?” I question. “That was the doctor, Allison.” Jaxson informs. “No.” I go again, “Who was that man?”

“Don’t worry about him anymore.” Westmont cuts in, “That’s all over with now. Let’s get you back to campus. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“Yeah.” I sigh, “I’ll feel better in the morning.”

After they discharge me, Jaxson drives me back to campus and leads me to my dorm where my roommate Ophelia Zamora anxiously awaits. “ALLISON!!!” she shrieks as I enter our room with Jaxson, “How are you, baby?!”

“Fine, Fee-fee.” I assure, half-believing myself. “She needs to rest.” Jaxson updates Fee-fee, leading me to my bed, “Professor Westmont wanted me to ask if you could watch her through the night to be safe. I’m going to take a friend up to bring her car back in the morning, and then I’ll be back so you can catch up on some sleep.”

“Who needs sleep?!” Fee-fee laughs. I know she is faking it because she could sleep a week straight if she wanted to, but she cares too much not to take care of me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

Jaxson heads out, pulling Fee-fee to the side to say something, but I am too busy looking for pajamas to hear or care what he says.

When he is gone, Fee-fee puts me to bed and turns off the lamp by my bed. “Let me know if you need me, baby.” she smirks as she walks over to her bed and sits down, her multi-colored hair swishing over her back.

Time passes and I look at the ceiling as my eyes begin to close. “See the world as the world sees me.” I sigh.