“Room service.”
Albert stood up, slightly alarmed. “You can’t but I can.” he whispered to himself as he opened the door.
“Good evening, sir.”
Albert peered at the man, squinting, as if giving him some sort of mental test. After an awkward moment he opened his eyes wide and shouted, “I don’t believe in you!” He paused to process his thoughts, then leaned in closer. “But I believe in bigger things. I have dreams…I believe in them…”
He slammed the door and happily galloped back to the bed, pausing only momentarily to clap and laugh about the encounter.
His countenance fell as he looked down at his hospital robe. He’d worn nothing but variations of the same robe for over three years now - since being admitted.
He had decided that morning that he would be confined no longer. He left the Institution and wandered the suburbs until he happened upon a hotel. He snuck into the room - now his room - as the tenant was leaving.
His lip quivered and he clenched his teeth as he pulled the robe off. “No more. No, no more.”
He stood naked by the balcony, shoes and socks in hand.
For a moment he was calm – almost sedated by the breeze. He felt free.
But he could feel the tension beginning to come on, creeping through his body and finally overtaking him. “I did, I can, and I will…” he spoke in a low, monotone voice.
He closed his eyes and sighed as the breeze won him over again.
“This is it. My time. I have everything, and I can. I can.” A smile canvassed his face as he slowly stepped out onto the balcony.
Carefully, he climbed onto the ledge, staying low. His body began to tense with fear as he studied the ground. He closed his eyes again, concentrating...fighting the anxiety.
Shunning the sanity, he let go of his shoes and slowly rose, now smiling again.
A small crowd was forming below. Albert could see them pointing and talking to one another.