Place-

CTA mental health hospital

Prisoners ward

Palermo

Date -

3rd November 2014.

The sound of a boot clicking against the squeaky clean hospital floor, subdued by the screams of a weeping delirious patient. The rancid smell of medicine fought to overcome the pungent fumes of lemon floor cleaner

The Palermo ward - designated for those who were mentally ill; Except bed number 27- reserved for Kore.

Brought in the night before, the tall lanky girl was a criminal, accused of the death of 42 people. It was a dirty prank played on him by fate that he was forced to treat her on his very first day in this Hospital. But doctors treat all: is what he told himself, attempting to calm his hand that betrayed the fear that underlined his actions.

Adjusting his stethoscope, he walked over to bed no. 27, the handcuffed girl lay stick-straight, staring at the ceiling. Her chest rose rhythmically- calm, eyes shut in a straight line. She wasn't sleeping he understood, just... Quiet.

The crimes she had been accused of- printed in the papers- flashed before his eyes as he walked closer.

Her eyes opened, urging him to shrink back, but he pushed himself.

"Hello, How are you feeling miss Kore," he asked, a bead of sweat traced his forehead, she noted.

Not earning a reply back he proceeded to shine a torch near her eye and assess her.

"Do you have pain?" He asked, squirming as her eyes remained trained on his.

With a slow nod, she touched the left side of her neck which had a taser bruise on it.

"Oh well that's because..." He trailed off as he looked down at her hands... Had she…raised them? Wasn't she cuffed?