Cynara's First day On The Locked ward 1971.

I awoke in a strange room, said Cynara, light came in through the slats of blinded window, and the smell of disinfect, the sound of nearby voices and movement. I sat up in the bed and looked around. I sat on the side of the bed and looked to see I was in a white nightdress and naked feet. How did I get here? Where am I? I asked the empty room. I got off the bed and went to the window and drew up the blinds. The view showed gardens and path that led off to a gate further up. I turned when the door behind em opened and a nurse stood there. You’ve woken then? She said stating the obvious. Yes, where am I? I said. She closed the door behind her and stood there. You are in the psychiatric hospital, she said, you have been brought here to help you. Help me? Yes, she said, you’ve had a mental breakdown. I looked at her and frowned. Breakdown? She nodded. Behind her I saw Vincent standing there pulling faces behind the nurse’s back. I smiled. The nurse turned and looked at the door then looked at me again. You have been sectioned, she said. Vincent made more faces at her back. I sniggered at his antics. She looked behind her again but she didn’t see Van Gogh making faces. She said to follow her into the passageway so I did. Bright lights and that hospital smell. She took me into a room and asked me to select some slippers and a dressing-gown. I did as she said and then followed her along to a locked door, which she opened with a key and the another door. She showed me into the ward and locked the doors behind her. The ward had other people there, some sitting, some walking around. I was shown into a large lounge and she spoke to another nurse standing by the wide window. They spoke to each other. A voice said from the window: it’s snow.