Okay, okay, i'm awake!

- Geeze Louise, what's the hurry really? If i miss breakfast, it's not like you would deny me a sandwhich, would you?

- No of course not Robert. But you need your medication.

- Whatever. I mean... sure, it helps to straighten up all this nonsense life's been throwing at me.

- That's good to hear. You sound like you're feeling better today.

- Oh yeah?

- Yeah... Doctor Knapphead has a time for you at 11, if that's okay.

- Already? Neat. I just wanna get this over with. Back to business like last time.

- ...

- What?

- It's just... Do you want coffe?

- Yeah sure. Half milk, please.

- Sure thing. Do you want to come out and eat with the others today?

- Why? Let me guess. Against all odds, there's a crazy guy out there, ain't it?

The nurse pulls her mouth from a slight chuckle, but quickly leans into her warm, yet professional demeanor again.

- No, he hasn't gotten out of bed yet. He seems to be busy telling jokes.

Welp, seems like a decent start to the day. Why is she so nice today?

I mean, she's always nice of course. But i don't know... I have had a hard time trusting that professional and polite behavior. Always like they want to get me out of my shell.

What do they know? Maybe i like my shell?

I give her a nod and look for my clothes. They are... where?

Ah, on my body. Silly me, must've been tired yesterday from binging that TV that seems to be showing the same things over and over.

- Anyone noticed if i forgot my clothes in the dryer?

- No, they're in your locker, as usual. I'll go and prepare your breakfast.

I look at myself, dressed in gray sweatpants and a large white t-shirt. I've always wanted one of these at home, so rugged and sturdy. Sure, it looks like a hospital shirt, no wonder. But i like the texture of it, plus they're good for basically boiling clean if needed.

And it's not like i have to impress anyone here anyway. I used to want to impress the other patients to some degree, have some form of social capital during my visit. But they have their own problems to think of, no point in trying to outdress people who just needed to get away from the pressure for a while.

I get up and do a bit of stretches. Weird. My body is aching more than normal.

My hands look... older somehow. More veined, slightly spotted. Must be the lighting. Or the meds. Definitely the meds.

I walk out into the corridor. Everything seems to be the same. I like the modern style they got going here though. Normally i tend to have strong opinions on how little tax money is spent on healthcare and other necessities, but when you're actually here, it's pretty endurable.

I park myself in front of the TV, as usual. It's so big, almost feels like i'm at some kind of niche cinema with mellow public space decorations. The only other person in the common room is a women in her seeming thirties.

This is kind of macabre. Having a place where people are supposed to get psychiatric care, and yet, we watch so much TV, like that would help. Or maybe it's mostly me.  Is this 8K? It's so incredibly vivid. Where is everyone else? It's just that woman who... who... who is she again?

- Here you go, Robert.

The nurse hands me a tablet with a food plate, juice, and a coffee mug. I look at it. It looks weird.

Why is this so perfect? Is it my birthday or something? That bread looks so... bready? Like someone took every good memory of bread I've ever had and baked them into one loaf.

- Wow, i haven't ever seen half of those vegetables before. What's that?

- The olives?

- Nuh-uh, i know what an olive is. Why does it look like a pearl? I mean, sure, it looks tasty, but no, you're pulling my leg. That's not an olive.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

- Do you want something else?

- No, i mean... sorry... it's just... I'm not feeling like myself, i guess. I don't mean to be rude. Sorry... Anne was it, right?

- Sure is. Don't worry Robert, it's okay. I've been here longer than even you, and it's understandable that some things are new.

- What do you mean?

The nurse looks at me, giving just a hint of somberness. She sits down next to me, and changes the channel. The display flickers, but not like TVs use to - more like reality itself hiccuped. It's a popular anime, i used to love it. The resolution is impossibly crisp, like looking through a window rather than at a screen.

- Neat. But what, do you mean i got some spine implant and went psycho like that guy?

- No Robert, just watch it. No point in dealing with this right now. I know you like it, that's why we have it on the media server. Some sense of familarity can be nice now, don't you agree?

The woman in the other couch looks patiently at us, seeming eager to talk. Her outfit seems to shift colors slightly as she moves, but that has to be the meds playing tricks on me.- Hi... I'm Christie.

The thin woman reaches out her hand. She must be at least 10 years older than me at least, thirty something, but she looks so, i don't know... frail? No wonder she's here then. Yet, she looks happy and healthy in her demeanor, it's just her physical appearance that seems like it's a bit weathered for her age.

- ... Robert, i assume?

- Yeah, Robert. Nice to meet you Christie.

- The same. The olives are nice by the way, i can recommend them.

I look at the plate. No point in just leaving it, even if it looks weirdly perfect. Again, it looks amazing, but it's almost like a caricature of what food is supposed to look like. Is it the meds messing with me, or are they not messing enough?

I try the alleged olive. This is like no olive i have ever tasted. It's like the first time I started liking olives, but dialed to 11. Indeed a perfect olive.

On the screen is a a young punky couple in futuristic clothes, dating on the moon. Just as he takes her hand, they leap together over the low gravity surface. The pre-chorus to that song starts. The sound seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, like the air itself is singing, quite befitting to the mood of the song.

"So, get away

Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know

And let yourself go

You know you didn't lose your self-control

Let's start at the rainbow..."

Aw man, not this scene... It's just too beautiful to not cry to, but not in front of strangers! Ah here's comes the waterfall i guess...

Tears start running down my cheeks, and without noticing it, i am comfort eating the off-puttingly perfect breakfast by pure routine. Time seems to stretch and contract with each bite, like an accordion playing with my perception.

- I ca--ah-aahnt help myself *sob*. It's truly a-ah-ah maasterpie-hie-hieeece *snivel*.

Both women smile somberly.

- We know, Robert.

Christie replies as she as known me for a long time, but i've never seen her. Her face seems to shift between familiar and strange with each blink.

I barely give notice to that oddity, and eat the breakfast, bit by bit, as the show moves to next episode, and next episode. Someone is passing by in the corridor now and then, but no one sits down.

Eventually, the clock strikes 11.

- Robert? Hi there, how are you today?

A slim, sharply dressed man appears in the corridor opening. It's obviously hospital staff clothes, but he seems to be wearing them incredibly well, almost like a tailored suit. The fabric seems to adjust itself as he moves, but that can't be right.

- Yeah i'm fine. Who are you?

- Marten. Marten Knapphead.

- I see. Good morning to you, Doctor Marten.

The doctor raises his eyebrows and smiles warmly.

- All right then, let's see what we can make sense of today, shall we?