It's Still Life

At an Intersection Named After an English King and a Saint
Six Sentence Story: Part 25: Out of Bedlam

earlier this week: … and silently walk out the door, deafening myself to their words chasing after me.

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A letter from Bethlem Royal Hospital arrived 3 days ago; it’s still unopened, and out of frustration, Hanzō picks it up and forces it into my hand, “Open it,” he demands – and I reply, “It’s from Bedlam,” and he waves the envelope at me again. I read:

Dear Ms Brigid Murphy,
Thank you for your letter and notice of appeal requesting an independent mental health assessment of patient number 699357-B4. We are pleased to inform you that the independent Tribunal finds all conditions for reversal of the sectioning order are met by the patient, and the request is granted.

Due to significantly improved mental health, and based on his willingness to comply with a community treatment order, and that you as his closest friend (as he has no family in this country) will provide him with emotional and practical assistance, Pierre will be released into your care.

We look forward to arranging a release date, and until then,

We remain truly yours,
Dr M. Crowthorne,
Chief Executive Officer of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

“Pierre will have to stay here with us; we will clear out the storage room for him,” I say, and Hanzō nods silence; it is the heart of a noble relic that agrees, and he heads into the kitchen to make proper Japanese beef and vegetable stew.

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Written for Denise’s Six Sentence Story, include the word “relic”. Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Images are copyright and not to used without permission, which I willingly give when asked, and when not for commercial use. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2024.