Lucinda

Being confined to a bed is the most barbaric thing I’ve had to endure. The discolored mattress I’m stuck to is bare without a spreadsheet, which sits atop a silver metal frame. Everything from the walls to the floor were once white I’m guessing, but now they’re all a brown tinged color. My only way out of this room is a heavy cell-like door without a handle.

The ceiling light in here flickers incessantly. I want to scream at it but the door catches my attention as it slides open loudly.

An orderly comes in holding a small white cup filled with medication. I would like to spit in his face and slap the cup out of his hand, but I smile at him instead.

“I have your medicine Lucinda. These will help keep you placated while you meet with the doctor.” the orderly tells me.

After I swallow the colorful array of pills, the orderly unstraps me from the bed. I sit up rubbing my wrists, raw from all the friction. When I look down I see they are red and welted.

“The doctor will be in shortly. For now you’re welcome to move about the room.” he says as he leaves, pulling the door closed behind him.

Treading from corner to corner in this claustrophobic nightmare is a great way for me to go crazy. A knock on the door disturbs my thoughts. I wish I could scream “Go away!”.

Another man enters the room. I roll my eyes and find a spot on the wall to stare at. I notice a smudge in the shape of a hand gliding downward.

“Hello Lucinda. It’s so nice to meet you. My name is Henry.” he says in a cool tone.

“Are you the doctor?” I ask flatly, still not meeting his gaze.

“Yes.”

“So not doctor, just Henry?” I ask sarcastically.

“I’d rather this be a less formal setting. Afterall, it’s going to be difficult discussing the terms of your stay.”

“How long am I expected to be here? I was under the impression this would be a weekend affair.” I lock eyes with him. He’s smirking, satisfied that I’m visibly upset. I resist the urge to wipe the look off his face.

“Let’s start with why you’re here.” Henry says.

“My husband and I have been fighting… alot… felt like I was going insane.”

“And that’s overwhelming?” he asks condescendingly.

“Sure.” I say pointing a cold stare at him.

“Can you tell me about your most recent fight?”

“I told my husband off and he didn’t like the tone I took with him. So I came here to cool off rather than kiss his ass,” I shrug, nonchalantly.

“Is that all that happened?” He probes.

“Yes, that’s all that happened.” I snap back. He certainly got what he deserved, but I won’t share that with anyone, especially a man.

“Your husband was reported missing, Lucinda. And your house burned down. Do you know anything about that?”

Who reported him missing? Sure as hell wasn’t me. I bet it was my neighbor Nora. ‘Nosey Nora’ would love nothing more than to see me locked away forever so she could run off with my husband. Well, the jokes on her. She’ll never get the chance.

“Is he now? I left after our fight and came straight here so, no, I don’t know anything about that. It’s a shame though about my home.”

“Your neighbor spoke to the police. She reported hearing shouting and seeing you leave an hour after it had stopped. She didn’t see your husband leave though and shortly after you did, your home was engulfed in flames. Are you not the least bit worried he might’ve been caught in that fire?!” Henry sounds incredulous.

Note to self: pay nosey Nora a visit, and teach her a lesson on minding her goddamn business.

“I tried to cool off on my own, but that didn’t work so I came here. As for my husband possibly getting caught in the fire, I suppose that’s an awful thing.”

“Ok Lucinda. Get comfortable because I won’t be discharging you any time soon.” Henry says curtly. He scans my face, searching for a tell. After a moment or so, his expression shifts from inquisitive to defeated, and he silently leaves the room.

I let out a sigh of relief and plop down onto the rickety bed, arms spread, legs dangling. Now that the doctor was gone, I could sit in peace recapping the truth of that wonderfully tragic night.

My husband and I were having another one of our nasty fights the night I came here. This time, however, he thought it’d be bright to tell me he was going to divorce me and leave me with nothing. I slaved my life away, being a housewife, submitting against my will. I wasn’t just about to roll over. I had no choice but to rifle a hot iron at his face. The shell cracking sound of his head hitting the fireplace was serenading. Dark red blood spewed from his nose, mouth, and skull, seeping into the rug he laid rigid on. I stood over him to revel in the quiet. It was the first time in 20 years that my mind felt at ease.

Setting up the fire must’ve taken longer than I thought. It truly is a shame my home is in ashes but that was merely a means of concealment. I hadn’t planned to murder my husband then come here after, in hindsight this seemed like the perfect cover story. I should've known nosey Nora would be watching my every move.

I begin feeling the effects of the medication given to me earlier. I realize the light has stopped flickering. I’m all alone and it’s absolutely serene. As I begin to drift to sleep, I smile to myself. I may be stuck here, but I am finally free of that man.