In Patient.

I had been a normal patient until I got sectioned. Then the reality of being a patient hit me.

Normality ruled us as we were all normal like people living in our end-of-terrace house. Making ends meet and ironing and doing the laundry as if our lives depended on it.

I never lied about my status I never did anything really bad but everyone went on tiptoe in case I did.

The doctors thought they had me every time I opened my mouth. I got so caged in somehow did not feel right.

What did I say what did I do? As if the whole worst thoughts they had about me were proven by that remarkable remark. I was a good woman back then and had done no one any real harm.

I was even known as a donkey who would kick and cause harm when decent folk did not expect it. So they sort of tied me in a chain and left me rotting.

The overall opinion was that I was insane. That was it came from insanity and filth and all about that and this. My parents were insane so were my grandparents I was the heir of insanity.

They did not feel the same way about my siblings.

"What did they have against me?"

"That is not right you should never impose never speak out of turn you are after all a lady."

"Well, some lady doing the washing up." I would shout and Mother would smile. She just had to smile about that sort of thing.

Then it escalated.

I became unwell.