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rest of us should be held prisoners in our rooms,” one of the woman said glaring at Rose Mary with disdain.
    I looked her up and down not sure if I cared for her selfish attitude, couldn’t she see Rose Mary was in dire need of medical attention?
    “What you looking at, Kid? Huh?” The woman asked me directly.
    Emily stood up from assisting Rose Mary and walked toward the other patient. Her name was Sam. She told me she was born into the wrong body, she wanted to be a boy, but was instead a girl. She wanted to be housed with the men and felt her confinement with the women was the worst humanly possible assault against her.
    I heard Emily speaking sternly to Sam, but decided this was as good a time as any to go back to my room and nap. I always liked naps and was suddenly overcome with exhaustion; even my muscles ached and needed a rest. It had been a whirlwind of a day. I missed the smells that wafted through our house and soaked into the fabric of our everyday life. I missed my hens, Millie and Evelyn. I would give anything to be outside setting traps and enjoying Father’s land. But, instead, I was in a hospital for the insane, some of whom were criminally insane and frightening. I failed to understand how being among truly crazy people would make me get well. But I trusted that my parents wouldn’t send me some place on a whim. They said this was the best place for me to heal and get help. If they would only come and get me now I would promise to obey them at every turn. I would learn to sew and embroider. I would cook and do laundry and clean, too. I just wanted to be home. I felt more confused than ever as I drifted to sleep.
    A loud knock, different from Emily’s, forced me awake. I answered my door and was surprised to see Rose Mary standing before me.
    “Can I come in?” she asked clutching a handkerchief with her left hand.
    “Sure,” I said, opening my door wider to allow her entrance.
    “I am sorry if I scared you before, my seizures, they come out of nowhere sometimes. I should have warned you.” She dabbed her runny nose and folded the handkerchief where it was now damp.
    “It’s okay. Are you alright, though?” I asked sitting up. I admit that seeing her in such an uncontrollable state was unsettling for me.
    “I am fine once they’re over. I get really tired from the adrenaline but at least I am back in control now. When I have a seizure I can’t control anything, I am sure I must look really weird.”
    “Scary. That’s how you looked.” I did my best impression of her eyeballs rolled up into her head and tongue hanging down. Rose Mary let out a loud laugh and then I did too.
    “Iona, I hope you are the one that really does get to go home in a few weeks. You seem pretty normal to me. Except for your hair. What were you thinking?”
    “I just got so mad and pulled a bunch of it out, then I wanted it all to match so I cut it. There was no harm done to anyone but myself. Still, my parents are embarrassed and think any girl who would want short hair is crazy,” I admitted.
    “I understand that, my parents were always embarrassed around me. I would have seizures in church or in the salon and my mother was useless. She just cried as I rolled around on the floor, but really I know she hated her friends seeing me that way. They sent me away because there is no cure for epilepsy. I could be here forever, who knows.”
    “Jeepers. I feel really bad for you. It’s not like you’re crazy and yet you’re stuck here in the hospital. Well, at least there are classes, and movies, and things to do, right?”
    “Yeah, I suppose. I am learning to keep a positive attitude. Well, I’ll see you later, I am getting tired again but just wanted to apologize.” She stood to leave.
    “Please don’t apologize, and thanks for coming, that was nice,” I said, grateful for anyone who dared to show me that I existed.
    The day and night passed uneventfully, Emily led us to supper in the dining hall. We had a