14 days…
14 days of doing nothing…
Just sitting on the ground, aimlessly staring at the television while changing channels
Or walking around the pale white ward just to pass the time and even scrolling his old photos on his phone just to feel....something.
Ironically this was the time that he watched news this concentrated in his life
Reporter: "Heavy fighting continues between Russian and Ukrainian forces, currently estimating over 500000 deaths and 1.5 million casualties from the past few months. Meanwhile, North Korea has denied allegations of special forces attempting to infiltrate onto the Ukraine's government as stated by their Supreme Leader-"
Even when the death toll comes up, he felt hollow and empty. This wasn't the case before his detainment in his ward
He couldn't call his parents or friends, he couldn't contact a lawyer and he doesn't even know if they could visit him
Aurielle in these past week never said anything even when he tried to talk to her. In several occasions, Li Heng had to explain or even hid from the doctors and nurses during this session that he wasn't going insane.
Several times, he tried to ask if he could leave however every single passer-by nurses or doctors said:
"Please wait a little longer"
"Your final assessment is almost finish, please be patient".
That was on day five or six? Li Heng couldn't tell anymore.
Eventually, on day 15. The doctor accompanied by another two nurses entered the ward holding a report on his hand.
Doctor: "Mr Li Heng, after your two weeks assessment, you are allowed to be transferred to the public area" He said calmly
As they escorted Li Heng out of his ward, the fresh air and wind blow through him for the first time in weeks. He walked slowly with slight maladjustment to his surroundings, the small talks, the natural environment sounds, the sudden door openings and closing. All senses once normal were slightly numb after his isolation
His thought wandered as he followed the doctor through the corridors, slowly fantasting about what insanity would await him
After walking to a double door, the doctor opened, what awaits Li Heng was the sight of several groups of middle age people were playing mahjong at different tables, several elderly people were watching news on a television and several children were playing on a outside field near the public area.
(…What?) Li Heng muttered to himself
He blinked several times and looked around the public area, the equipments, the atmosphere, the normal people there were long unaligned with his perception of a normal mental hospital
Li Heng: "Doctor, this hospital looks better than an average hospital…"
Doctor: "Of course, as one of Zhong family's first public specialized hospital, we took pride of our achievements of behavioral correction and reintegration of our patients"
('Behavioral correction and reintegration'?) Li Heng thought to himself confused before being taken to one of the caretakers there
Doctor: "Mr Li Heng, meet Aunty Zhou. Our main caretaker of this area, she'll help you through the day"
Aunty Zhou, an middle aged woman in her 50s approached them with a tired expression
Aunty Zhou: "Dr Ng, why is there another one? Am I not busy enough?!" She shouted
Dr Ng: "Aunty Zhou, we are very busy daily and you're the caretaker here"
She paused and cursed to herself before gesturing Li Heng to follow her
Dr Ng: "Mr Li Heng, today you are allowed to freely roam around however at 7pm you will be escorted back to your ward. Also, tomorrow we'll have a brief report about your current health conditions"
*He nods and they leave him at the disposal of Aunty Zhou who reluctantly gave him a nonexaggeration quick and brief exploration
Although the public area was large and has different segmentation areas however Li Heng couldn't keep up with her noticeable reluctance and ignorance that led to his confusion
Aunty Zhou: "That's the end of it, remember these times. 7am-Wake up, 8am is when Breakfast starts, 11am is Check up, 2pm is lunch, 4pm is optional check up and 7pm return to the ward. Do not cause trouble to anyone or you'll be detention to the solitary for a day. Got it?"
Li Heng blinked and nods as he watches her grumbling to herself while walking away
Li Heng stood there, contemplating about his future actions, he took out his phone and checked
('Still no signal, huh') He thought to himself as he sat down onto a chair on the sides next to a elderly person who was watching newspaper
Elderly Male: "Young man, you're new here?" He asked
Li Heng: "Yeah…Are you a...'normal' person?"
The elderly male paused for a moment and laughed
Elderly Male: "That is a funny question for a place like this, young man. I am 'normal' for your question, why do you ask?"
Li Heng: "Isn't this a mental hospital? But why is this different?"
Elderly Male: "About this…Let me think about it...I remember I was starving in the streets when several Ministry of Civil Affairs personnel came over and took me in…Can't complain though, I was dying at the very end"
Li Heng: "I…I don't know anymore"
Elderly Male: "Let me gave you an advice, young man. Don't think too much and you'll be in peace"
…
Li Heng paused and looked around the public area before hesitantly lean on the wall as he closes his eyes for rest
('Maybe just five minutes') He muttered to himself as he began to rest
*Meanwhile at a quiet spot isolated from any cameras, Dr Ng after his dismissed the nurses called someone repeatedly with no responds,feeling frustrated he turned to voice message
Dr Ng: " Hello, hello? If you can hear me…I have the venoms, alright?…We were right, there's something going on in this system. I don't know where you are or why you aren't responding but…Patrols are high recently. Stay safe…Bai Zhe"
As he finished, Dr Ng quickly act normal to the passer-by as he continued his day of work