Friendship

“Friendship, that’s the important thing.”

They looked into each other’s eyes, enjoying the moment. He was glad they agreed about the friendship part, with so many things that go into a relationship. Not that he claimed to understand relationships.

Sometimes they would just talk, hours into the night. He felt sorry for people who didn’t have this kind of connection.

But it had been a long day, and they were both tired. They smiled at each other. There would be more time tomorrow to continue the conversation. “I’m sorry,” he said, feeling himself drifting off. “Guess I’m starting to lose it.” He was so tired, he might just fall asleep right here, sitting up.

The orderly came and gently took him by the shoulders, leading him back to the bed. “Until the medication kicks in, you can’t even try to move him.”

“What happens if you try to move him when he’s still awake?” the young doctor asked. It was her first day, and she was just getting to know the ward.

“Oh, you really don’t want to do that. He can get kinda violent. Might even hurt himself. Does everything he can to get back there, to the mirror.”