Free the Queen

[Madison Cox]

Madison stretches as she awakens from her sleep. Just another morning of her ‘extended’ stay in the psych ward. The same drab eggshell colored walls, the same stale smell, the same cold tiled floor. In her boredom over the past few weeks, she decided to dress up the place by ordering a few fancy and expensive vases of flowers for herself. On a nearby tray was a meticulously arranged pile of hospital cubed fruit salad, topped with chopped up Hershey's miniatures that she coaxed a hospital food service worker into bringing her. A “Homemade” Edible Arrangement, if you will.

 

She walks over to the observation glass and peers through to see what's going on. The plexiglass is still stained with a reminder of Eerie Sunshine’s visit, aka HIV juice. A doctor walks into the observation room, and waits for the ‘all clear’ to enter Madison's hospital room. Once inside, he looks around.

 

Doctor: I see you've made yourself at home, Madison.

 

Madison: Well someone had to. Being stuck in here can make a perfectly sane girl go mad! I mean really, who sleeps on hospital sheets like these? What thread count are they, like 25??

 

Doctor: Well…uh Glad to see that you're feeling somewhat like yourself again.

 

Doctor: Anyways, I'm here to let you know that you've finally been cleared to be discharged today. The psychologists have concluded that you seem to be in a much better and no longer pose a threat to yourself. Also, your emergency contact has given the ok and they will be here to pick you up shortly.

 

Madison: I’ve been cleared?? Well thank GOD- (she stops herself from another possible mistake) thank ‘goodness’, it's about time! I thought this was only going to be a 72 hour stay- it's been weeks now!!

 

Doctor: We had to make sure all bases were covered, ma’am.

 

Madison: Yeah, ok… And wait, you said my emergency contact is coming? Who, VERSUS? (Madison scoffs).

 

The doctor briefly flips through his papers.

 

Doctor: Oh… No Ms. Cox, I thought you knew… I'm so sorry to tell you like this but, Versus passed away a few days ago. I'm so sorry ma'am. We had to get in touch with your second emergency contact, Dennis Black.

 

Madison's eyes widen. She covers her mouth to hold back her initial reaction and pretends to cough.

 

Madison: (Cough) OH! REALLY? (COUGH COUGH) Such a shame! Oh my (cough), thank goodness for friends like Dennis Black. Thank you for delivering that news to me with such care, doctor. I think I'll be okay.

 

The doctor nods and leaves as Madison gathers her things. She changes, stuffs her couture vases in her suitcase, and takes one last bite of her homemade hospital chocolate and fruit arrangement. The doctor greets her at her room again and walks her out through the observation room, down the hall and up to the elevator. He hands her the discharge papers.

 

Doctor: Do take care of yourself, Ms. Cox. Go home and relax.

 

Madison nods: Oh don't worry doctor, I'm feeling just fine.

 

Madison enters the elevator with her rolling suitcase and leans against the wall as the door closes. Once the elevator has clearly left the psych ward floor, she lets loose the laughter she could barely hold back before.