i remember the first time i was hospitalized... i was taken by the cops to the hospital, was put on a bed in a barely lit room for a while, in the psych ward of the hospital... i stayed there for a day or so, but it was one of the most interesting days of my life.

small ward with a lot of small rooms in linear hallway, if i can remember. my room was maybe the second or third to the left. patients were walking around. this one guy however... he was off his rocker on something strong... but it was so... surreal... the guy reminded me of boo radley from "to kill a mockingbird". crazy disheveled short hair, some beard scruff, skinny.. almost the whole stereotypical nutjob look.

the guy was pacing back and forth in the hall, past my room, muttering to himself and making hand movements in the air. my mother with me at the time, we both looked at him like, what.... then, he noticed me, and my bandages on my forearm. he walked into the room, knelt down, held my arm, caressing it, telling me not to hurt myself or something like that, almost in a sad pleading tone... obviously, my mom was shocked and scared lol, wasnt sure what to do, but i watched. just felt so... strange to see this happen.