"Martha is sick, Karen. You know this as much as I do!"Joe exclaimed.
Karen turned her head and looked away at the tall distinguished man.
"I know you don't want to hear it, but it is the fact of the matter. The truth."
"The truth Dr. Cardin?" Karen replied coldly.
"Are we back on second name terms now Karen? Don't do this."
"Do what? I am simply calling you by your given name, if you please- continue your observations"
"Karen..." Joe sighed, taken back a little by the stinging comment.
"Well, why are you here? I seem to recall asking you this about 5 minutes ago" Karen flicked her eyes in the direction of the doctor.
"I am here because of Mrs. Mortar..she said that Martha tried to kill-"
Karen's eyes diverted away and she nodded slowly, not saying a word whilst averting his gaze.
"Karen, then please-" Joe reached out for her
"Go..Joe.." Karen whispered no longer able to keep her emotions in control, she felt sick at the reminder of what just transpired.
"I can't Karen.."Joe looked around in Martha's room and saw the noose hanging freely. "I need to do this, she is a danger to herself... and to you" He looked backwards towards the hallway, hearing Martha's hysterical laughter.
Karen also heard the laughter and burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
Joe looked at Karen and sighed "You know I have a responsibility.." He trailed off. Karen never said a word ,still crying that was so uncharacteristic of her usual stoic nature.
"I don't like doing this, you know I love Martha" Joe added carefully "She needs help."
"Promise...me you won't..." Karen mustered weakly.
Doctor Joseph Cardin stood solemnly as he could not tell the truth to Karen for the first time and walked away toward the hallway.
"Martha.." Joe looked at young blonde headmistress who was serenely silent .
"Martha, are you listening to me?" He kneeled to her level and looked her straight into her now lifeless azure eyes and then glanced at Lily Mortar who was keeping her distance from her niece. Joe grimaced and grabbed Martha's shoulders with both hands "Martha I am going to take you to a special place where they will make you feel better."
Aunt Lily looked in horror, "Doctor..surely you don't mean..I did not think it was this serious"
"I'm afraid it is"
"Oh..no" Lily raised a hand to her face to cover the gravitas of the words she just heard."You can't take her away, she is the only family I have left!"
"Joseph Cardin!" Karen exclaimed standing stationary in the middle.
"Ladies..look, I have to, I don't want-"
"-You don't have a choice..I understand..." Karen spoke slowly holding back her emotions. She looked over at Martha standing there as if she was somewhere else, far away. Karen turned her back to them in an attempt to conceal her feelings.
Joe walked with Martha in tow slowly out of the farmhouse past Karen and guided her into his blue convertible. Defeated, Martha put up no resistance and surrendered to the doctor as she had no spirit remaining left to fight. With her safe in the car Joe closed the door firmly and entered into the front seat. He started the engine and turned out of the farmhouse not looking back - even for a second leaving Karen and Lily to watch the convertible disappear into the skyline.
2 months later
Karen gazed at her reflection in the wooden framed mirror of her bedroom for what seemed like an eternity. Nothing was good enough - the outfit, accessories or the shoes.
'It'll be alright' She mumbled to herself as she adjusted her expensive neck scarf and patted down her designer military styled coat. The words she spoke seem to echo throughout the room which unnerved her slightly. She never got used to living in the farmhouse by herself. It was too big and spacious for one person, Lily Mortar was gone after she gave her money to go. It was what Martha would have wanted.
"Martha.." Her voice whispered in a lowly tone.
Her thoughts reminisced back to the times where everything was fine. No, not just fine, good. She often wondered how Martha was doing, was she eating alright? Was she safe and well? Did she miss talking to her as much as she had done? More thoughts raced through her head in anticipation of visiting Martha. Karen felt her cheeks flush a little as she reached for her ear to adjust the silver ring earring it was slightly uncomfortable as she never really wore earrings. She was really looking forward to seeing her blonde haired best friend. Karen smiled in response to the thought and walked downstairs to the entrance of the large farmhouse. This was the first time in 3 weeks that she will have been out of the house properly. She only went in and out to hang up the laundry and to take it back in. At first it was difficult to even do that and she didn't even understand herself the reason why. Food was delivered on a weekly basis and often she longed to go outside but she found it impossible to be motivated. It was a lonely two months and her only visitor Joe, rarely went over and kept his distance. Karen was kept going by a few letters sent by Martha, her handwriting was always so neat and cursive with the flicks at the end of the t's and y's. Karen always did admire the way she wrote her feelings seamlessly with ease and could tell a story as if the words leaped off the pages and materialised in the real world.
Karen carefully folded Martha's latest letter that was written a few weeks back into her leather handbag , fastened the metal clasp and clutched it closely. Although short, the letter sounded encouraging and today was the day she would be able to finally see her. Today was going to be different.
Martha stirred from her slumber and awoke to a dark room .'What time is it?' she thought whilst wiping her eyes. "It doesn't matter I suppose" she muttered when the realisation dawned on her that she was back in a high security cell."Four walls, no windows, no door..no escape" Martha tried to scratch her arm gently to get feeling but then she remember that they cut her nails so short that they were barely there.
'You are awake Miss Dobie? Well you know you will have to get your jacket fastened, we cannot have you running off and do what you did last time!" A condescending female voice echoed from beyond the door that was masked by the padding of the cell. "You have to be good today or we will cancel your visit."
"Please don't...!" Martha whispered, slouching to the floor in response.
"Please don't...What?" The stern voice snapped.
"Please don't cancel my visit Nurse Starling"
"Good girl"
Light flickered into the cell as the thick padded door creaked open and the blue eyes of Martha squinted towards the azure sky in the far window behind the old nurse. Today she felt something she hadn't felt in such a long time that she had forgot what it was initially.
"Time to get your treatment. We have to make sure you look and feel your best for the special visit."Nurse Starling looked down on Martha with her beady cold eyes and grabbed her bare arm with an iron grip.
"Today, I will see you.. "Martha whispered as she was forcefully pulled toward the treatment room.