There's this floor at the hospital I work in where they house all the crazy mental (usually older) patients. Although I don't know exactly how long they stay there (whether or not it is similar to a nursing home or hospice) but there is this one women who has been there for probably longer than I have been at the hospital - about a few weeks. I won't reveal her name or anything since that could be seen as a violation of patient confidentiality laws or something but let's just say that she is this very pleasant woman. Her first sentences to me were about a week after I joined the hospital. She said, "You have a very nice shirt on." And I did. I had this nifty white polo with a interesting design on it. Anyway, I said thanks but tried to flag the nurse down so I can get the hell out (the doors are locked so no one escapes - really)

Well, today she was were I was and she started talking to me.

"How old are you? 12?"
"No ma'am, I'm actually 19."
"19? You're pulling my leg. I'm not that crazy, you know."
"Nope, I'm really 19."
"Then you must be in college?"
"I am."
"Where?"
"Temple University."
"Oh really? My son Jamal goes there."
"Yeah, its a nice school."
"Do you like it?"
"I do. What does your son study?"
"I don't know. I just know that he's studying. What are you studying?"
"Biology."
"Yeah, you go boy, you go."

Now, sorry for being skeptical or whatever, but really - her son is probably grown up and has graduated from Temple already. But does this mean that her son doesn't visit her? Or does she not remember him? Or does she even have a son? Nevertheless, seeing people like this really makes you wonder what the future holds. I am sure that once in her lifetime, she was a very beautiful and vibrant woman, full of life and humor. Now, she's stuck in between a nursing home and...well - a mental institute.