One of the residents is leaving, James. We were all encouraged to say goodbye. I like the guy, but I don’t feel that I got time to know him. We didn’t have that much interaction in this short time together. He’s peculiar, in his own way. He doesn’t seem that far off the mark, but like everyone else in here, he was here because he needed to be.

You don’t get institutionalized for being normal. James always seems as though he is hiding something; what, I don’t know for sure. I’m going to miss James. I wish that we got to know each other better. I think he has a whole different personality that he doesn’t always let show through. I think he is screaming on the inside with passion, sexuality, and a real “party guy” sort of nature.

It is funny though. Instead of everyone being happy for James moving on, they seem to be more concerned about their loss. Nobody wants James to go because it will affect them. Instead of wanting out of this place too, everyone wants to stay, and they want the people they like to stay too. They are not happy here, but they are comfortable, and to most people in here, that seems to be better than happiness.

From inside a mental institution:

Signing off, Sam