The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.
Marcus Aurelius
"What's your name?"
"Holden Caulfield. What's yours?"
"It's not as good a name as Holden." He stared at me, making me replace my own smile with a straight face. "You're a tough crowd Caulfield. You ever wonder what raw human flesh feels like, Caulfield? Dead flesh: cold and yet, oh, so warm."
"You murdered someone?" His question was understandable enough but his voice was filled with disgust and powerful judgment, not sympathy.
"He told me to…he wanted to die and I just helped him along. So don't you dare judge me, you rotten sonovabitch!" By now I was shouting at him. Two nurses held my arms back while another pressed the pressure point on my neck till I stopped.
"Watch yourself, Livinia. You don't want to be in cuffs again do you?"
"Get off of me!" I snarled, twisting my arms out of their grasps and rebelliously glaring at the nurses until they had gone. "You from New York?"
"Your name is Livinia?"
"No, he just called me that for kicks. Answer the goddamn question, Caulfield." I sat back down into the chairs, menacingly meeting the eyes of the onlookers who clapped at my exceptional performance. They were all as bonkers as Caulfield here.
"Alright, no need to get sore."
"I ain't sore!" I hissed in irritation, thinking of different exotic ways to kill this schmuck.
"His daddy's a lawyer." Ms. Judy Turner leaned back, knitting needles and all, and said. I turned to Caulfield a wry grin plastered against my face, hoping to rile him up.
"Is that right? Big shot, huh?"
"No,"
"I could swear I still saw momma's milk on your mouth." He grit his teeth, making that handsome jaw look sharper than ever, and furrowed his eyebrows between his eyes in anger.
"I need a smoke."
"Smoker, huh?" I handed him a cigarette, conveniently forgetting that I had pocketed it from Doctor Perkins' desk. Caulfield stared at it, making sure I held it out long enough so he could snatch it. I held out a lighter as he stuck the rolled paper in between his lips.
"This pretty girl pretends to love men and then steals their money." Ms. Judy helpfully put in with an innocent smile.
"Thank you, Ms. Judy. Ah, waiter," I flagged down the closest nurse. "Ms. Judy needs her needles confiscated. Shame on you, you know better than giving her sharp things."
"Come on, Ms. Judy," The nurse helped the old woman to her feet, prying the knitting needles out of her hands and leading her to her room. I waved after Ms. Judy, eventually turning back to Caulfield who was smoking and staring intently at me.
"Oi, take a picture, it'll last longer, you wanker."
"Let me get this straight. You are a gold digging murderer who has a trouble with her temper." I shrugged.
"Please, don't act so surprised. Might I just be the first one to welcome you to the real world? Things like me happen. It's all part of the hierarchy. Not everyone's been fed with a silver spoon, mind you." I took the cigarette from his fingers and took a few puffs feeling terribly suave.
"Kingsley!" Perkins barked snatching the cigarette and snuffing it out with the soles of his shoe. "You know better than smoking in the recreation room! You asked for the cuffs. Let's go." I stood nonchalantly.
"Why don't you just shut me in a dark room with a candle, Perkins? Saves us both the time."
"But that isn't fun, is it Kingsley?"
"I'll see you around, Caulfield. Don't miss me too much." I nodded at Holden smiling.
