Chapter 2- Ryan

Sitting in this prison waiting for death to concur us is like hell, sometimes, I ever pray that I will die soon, just to get away from here. Sure, the doctors are here, and the nurses to take care of us, but what about the people we love, and the people who love us.

They're no where to be found, as if we were contagious! They very rarely come around, and when they do it's like they don't want to touch us, their afraid we'll break or something, or maybe they'll catch what we have.

It's ridiculous, which is why I made up a place where we can be, and we can be the family and loved ones to each other that we don't have on the outside world.

We sit on one of our suites, in the sitting room, in a circle around the fire, and just talk, sometimes people write stuff to bring into the circle, other times they won't. . . Like Kate, Kate always brings a short story to share with us, usually something she really experienced in the out side world, a little of her nirvana. Others, like Joel bring their dream diary, and tell us all about a cool nightmare or dream they had. Sometimes we just talk about what life was like before hell, other times, we'll sit back and enjoy a little music, (provided by the radio or Dane's guitar.) It helps calm us, when we're to tired to talk the whole time.

A lot of the time Brittany won't say anything at all, Her brother Garrett says she wasn't like that before she got put in here, when she was at home, with her parents and friends, she loved talking, and singing. I've never seen her do either. If she wants to communicate, she writes a note to Garrett, or she signs in sign language. We all learned it when she joined us. We wanted to make sure that everyone was able to participate.

The doctors just opened the hospice to more people, ones who aren't as rich, and who need to use their insurance to help cover it, and ones who can't pay for it at all. Doc says she expects at least 10 people in the next two weeks. I'm very excited to have some fresh people. We call them fresh people because they can tell us about everything that's going on in the world, and remember so much. . . Not having been in here yet. I've read the names of the first three off the charts in the doc's lounge. Jamey Carter, William Read, and Jennifer Lasiana. . . That's all I got to read before Doc found me, and sent me back to my room. I told the others, and they're all as excited as I am. . . I wonder how many of them will join us in our little group. . . I can't wait to find out.