After 22 years in a federal institution, today would be the first night that Norman would be a free man.
Free in the sense of finally being released as well as meaning that he'd finally rid himself of his mother.
He was nervous, really.
Norman truly believed that he'd been redeemed while in therapy, but after spending so much time surrounded by others, going back to his childhood home alone seemed daunting.
He figured, however, the sooner he got settled in and headed to bed, the sooner he'd be able to once again surround himself with company when he started the job that his psychologist had gotten for him.
Dr. Bill Raymond had actually been the one to drop him off, even offering to put him up in a hotel if Norman thought staying in his old home would be too difficult.
But Norman had politely declined; he'd have to face his past eventually.
The door to the old house creaked open and Norman's senses were flooded with the house-
The sight of old, cloth-covered furniture.
The scent of layers of dust, so heavy that he could almost taste it's staleness in his dried mouth.
The sound of the wind making it's way through the door behind him and taking a tour of the home.
The feel of the uneven floorboards as he finally crossed the threshold of the entrance.
Though the house hadn't seemed to have changed in those many years, Norman surely had.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he shut the door and began making his way upstairs.
Not daring to even spare a glance towards the room his mother had once occupied, Norman paced directly into his old bedroom, shutting the door quickly as if his memories would follow behind him otherwise.
He decided against unpacking his one suitcase; There was nothing inside he'd ever need again anyway.
After unmaking his bed, which Dr. Raymond had been kind enough to request the motel manager put new sheets on, Norman made his way to his bathroom to wash up for sleep.
The sight of the shower make his heart race, so he turned quickly to the sink to splash some water on his face.
'Remember who you are,' Norman thought to himself as he dried his cheeks with a hand towel, 'You have changed.
