Happy Friday!

I listen carefully at the sounds of the prison coming through the crack in my door. It's a busy morning, and everyone seems to be up and about. There's an excitement going through the air. Just from their hushed whispered, I can't tell if people are thrilled or scared.

"I can't believe it's her!" I recognize Jessica's voice.

"Whatever." Lauren is not as amused as her sister drags her down the hall.

"We've never had anyone famous in here." I crack my door open a little bit more, catching Angela's gaze as she twists her hair between her hands.

Lauren notices me in my doorway, raising a curious eyebrow. I would tell her to keep on moving, but I wisely change tactics. "What's going on?"

Jessica hops on her foot, forcing her sister to stretch her leg up to accommodate her. Lauren slaps at her arm. "Stop that!"

"It's Jane Jolie!" Jessica explains. "Slayed by Pain is one of my favorite movies!"

Hale turns the corner, his cart crashing into the wall. "Shit!" He scrambles to keep the cups in line. Only Angela notices when I slip against the wall to Alice's door, knocking softly on the wood. Her eyes are full of questions, but nothing comes out of her mouth.

Lauren rolls her eyes. "Let's get out of here, Jess."

"Not yet! Let's wait for them to bring in Jane."

"Good morning, ladies!" Hale greets everyone. "Why are you all gathered here today?"

"Jane Jolie," Jessica answers.

"Oh yes! Our new movie star resident." He hands me my cup. "A special cocktail for a special lady."

I smile a timid thank you.

Angela carefully watches as I tip the candy back into my mouth, while saying, "The rumor is that she killed a bunch of her coworkers in their sleep while filming. Some sort of breakdown. The trial didn't even last a month."

The candy sits painfully on my tongue.

"Because that's their solution to everything with people who don't fit in." Lauren smirks, but there's more bitter on her face than humor.

I nod silently, ignoring the urge to spit, just as Alice opens her door. She's wiping at her mouth with the ends of her sleeve, the black under her eyes almost taking up her whole face. Hale's happiness drops like a stone as he rushes to her side. "Patient! Are you okay?"

Alice steps back into her room, Hale close on her heels, and we all wince at the sound of her retching. That's when the screaming starts. Not by her, but ringing down the hall. These high-pitched wails of agony.

"I'm not fucking crazy, you motherfucking assholes!" When Jessica drags her twin closer to the entrance hall, I know it's the new patient coming in.

Her yells make my brain vibrate in pain, so when no one is looking, I escape toward Wing F, coughing into my hand and pocketing the wet candy. Jane Jolie's screams follow me, but they're just a faint echo of what they were before, blending into the silence, a soprano to Esme's sobbing harmony.

"Hello, Esme," I say, laying my hand on her shoulder. Her fingers grab at mine, but she doesn't raise her head from where it's leaning on the door. "How are you today?"

"Can you help him?" It's hard to understand her around the never-ending weeping, but I've grown used to trying to translate her from the past few days of visits.

"Who are you talking about?"

She taps the door, and it's the first time I see her show any other emotion besides sadness. Her knock is almost frustrated. "Help him please!"

"Tell me who he is, Esme."

She doesn't speak again, her crying too powerful to allow her, so I lean against the door instead, pushing wet strands of hair from her face. When I hear it the first time, I think it's Esme, but I had been brushing the tears from her cheeks, and I know for sure that her lips hadn't moved. When I hear it the second time, I realize it's coming from beyond the closed door we both rest on.

"Peter? Is that you?"