"Erastus," the doctor knelt next to him, "you just got up bud. You're not even fully awake yet. You've been walking around yawning and now you want to go back already?" The doctor sat staring at Erastus. His eyes gazed outward, like stone, his body unmoving. He could have been a gargoyle watching over the grounds. The doctor rose up and walked back to the nurse and began whispering. When they finished the doctor perked up and looked back in Erastus' direction, "We're going to prescribe some sunshine and community activities for you. You've been looking outside all day, we're going to send you out for some fun."
So Erastus went out. He met two others in the same ward as he, as well as some twenty and five. They conversed and sang and all became great friends. Erastus' quickly became renown as a bit of a comic, having made everyone laugh for hours while he talked on everything and nothing. And he would laugh right along with them. Eventually he told them he had to resign for the evening to get his room in order.
The doctor prepared for a check-up before lights out, having overheard Erastus' desire to set up his room. As the doctor walked down the tiled hallway he stopped within the door. Erastus had torn up his collages, astrology pieces lie scattered across the floor. There were boxes of his things pushed into the corners of his room, bags torn, his possessions filled the room. He was again in the chair, staring out the window, eyes sunken and still. The doctor realized Erastus had never been looking outside.
"Well Erastus, how was your day?"
"I want the shot."
"Why do you want it so badly? You looked like you enjoyed yourself."
"I didn't."
"I saw you laughing and singing and you met many people. You were smiling all day."
"A guise. I want the shot."
"Why don't we just talk for a little bit."
"I don't wish to talk."
"What about a story? You always have a story for me."
"Fine. I'll give you a story. Then I want to go back to sleep."
"If that's the way you want it Erastus, I can have it arranged."
"Good."
Erastus climbed out of his chair and pushed stuff out of the way, making his way for the bed. The doctor followed suit and sat across from him so as to listen.
n the beginning were the oceans, and their crests rose up with righteousness. The rivers ran with peace and the inhabitants were numbered as the sands, walking amongst one another with clean tongues and hands. An island in the northern lands.
Giant pillars, wider around than twenty and five men might wrap their hands around, held up a magnificent sky roof, painted so long ago and held up so high, that no one remembered what the pictures depicted nor could anyone see them. The myth goes that there were stories and promises painted upon them, and that the roof itself was a project from an ancient commander of the people.
"And there's some shaking of pillars and some pastures ravaged, the waters rock and rage before going dry, the people frightened of floods and the roof coming down upon them try foolishly to break out of their chains--" Erastus stopped his mad rant for a moment, taking a slight breathe.
"Fuck all this," Erastus continued, "Just put me to sleep."
"I wish I could Erastus," whispered the doctor, "but my shift just ended."
"You said you would have it arranged."
"I lied. Looks like you'll have to be doing the whispering this time, and I the sleeping."
The doctor got up to leave.
"Don't leave me," Erastus whispered.
"Sorry bud, looks like you're on your own for this one."
"But the night..."
"You'll be fine. I have to go now. Besides, there's nothing I can say to help you."
Erastus climbed back into his chair, vacancy came back over his eyes. The doctor shut the door behind him. It was pitch black, save the amber glow of an outside light, creeping in enough to light up Erastus and his chair. Tears. His eyes remained unchanged, his lips did not quiver, not a whimper nor a breath, a weeping statue. And darkness was upon the room.
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