White. That was all Ruby Claudia Banford could see as the young attendant escorted her down the hall of the asylum. She had half expected to see a story of sorts written on the walls, in the atmosphere, but there was nothing. Nothing to indicate the internal torture of the patients, the gradual recovery of sanity, of their very souls. There was only white…cold, unforgiving, unrelenting white, revealing nothing, and rebelling at her very presence. Ruby had faced many dangers in her life, yet nothing scared her more than the stark unknown she felt around her at that very moment.

            They had searched her before they allowed her anywhere near the internal heart of the institution. They took her belt, her headband, her keys…anything they felt a patient could use to harm themselves. Or her.

            Finally they reached a room at the end of the hallway. The attendant punched in an access code on the door, blocking Ruby’s view. Ruby didn’t mind. She didn’t want to know the secrets of this place, did not want to be a part of this nightmare. And yet there she was.

            The door opened. Ruby was startled to see a rather comfortable looking room. The décor was soft and elegant, worthy of a wealthy womans’ home. Reds and browns swirled in a harmonious dance. At a table she saw two people playing cards. Some people were reading, and there was one woman on a computer, being closely watched. In one corner the plush carpeting gave way to a stone floor, and on that flooring people were engaging in art activities. A man was sculpting what appeared to be a potato.

            After scanning about, Ruby saw her there. She sat by a window, painting. The attendant had already spotted here and was leading Ruby to her. They made their way through the recreation room, one of the most misleading rooms in the entire building, for it disguised the insanity that had brought all the people together. Ruby took a deep breath, a little bit anxious. They reached her.

            “Lorilei,” the attendant said cheerfully, “you have a visitor!” From the way she said it, it sounded as though she had won the lottery.

            “I told you, no media,” Lorilei muttered absently, making a long brush stroke down the canvas. Ruby looked at it, and shuddered. It was merely a background of black and stormy grays.

            Ruby took a deep breath, and spoke up. “Last I checked, I ain’t no reporter,” she said. Lorilei slowly turned and looked up at her. Ruby barely contained a gasp. If she hadn’t known that Lorilei wore make-up before, it was painfully obvious at the moment. Lorilei’s white skin was almost transparent, and she could clearly make out blood vessels all over her face. Her hair was now very short, having just started to grow back in, and it made her appear almost skeletal.

Lorilei then smiled. Her facial muscles were barely obstructed by her skin, and Ruby could see some of them with that expression. “It’s about time you came,” she said with a slight pout. “I know I can trust you.”

“Course ya can Lorilei,” Ruby said back, relieved that Lorilei knew her.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Lorilei demanded. “Take me home!”

Ruby felt like she could cry. Lorilei was all right! She wanted to come home! “Sure Lorilei, sure,” she said. “I’m working on it.”

“Good,” Lorilei said, pleased. “I am sure Julianne has missed me. I know you and the others are looking after her, but she needs her mom.”

Ruby’s heart sank. Lorilei was definitely not okay. “Yeah…she sure does,” Ruby said quietly.

“I knew you would understand. The idiots here do not,” she continued. “I have thought about creating a disturbance…but I suppose I do not need the police involved,” she mused.

Ruby decided to change the subject. “Whaddya painting?” she asked casually.

Lorilei frowned, thinking it over. Then she smiled, almost child like. “I was painting yesterday, but now I think I will paint today.”

“Wha?” Ruby was confused.

“This is yesterday,” Lorilei explained, pointing at the picture. “But I do not like yesterday. So now I will paint today.” Having made her choice, she tore the sheet off the canvas and handed to Ruby. “Be a dear and burn it for me.”

Ruby took the painting. Close to tears, she whispered, “All right. I just wish I could make your past go away fo’ real.”

“Lorilei,” the attendant spoke up. Ruby jumped, having forgotten she was there. “It’s time for you to go back to your room now.”

“Can you not see that Ruby is visiting?” Lorilei returned icily. “I will go back when I am ready, and no sooner.”

“Nah, it’s all right,” Ruby said. “I’ll be back again real soon Lorilei, you’ll see.”

“Did you hear that?” Lorilei said smugly to the attendant. “I shall be out of here soon enough.” She rose. “I shall retire to my room now then,” she ordered. The attendant nodded. They left the cozy room, back into the bleak whiteness.

As Ruby went to leave, another young woman stopped her. “I am Doctor Vanya Kostiknov,” she said. “May we speak in my office?”

“I don’t see why not,” Ruby said shrugging. They went to the office, where Vanya closed the door. She sat down at her desk, and motioned for Ruby to take a seat. “I’ll stand thanks,” Ruby said irritably.

“As you like. You may know, I am Lorilei’s psychiatrist,” the doctor continued.

“Yeah?” Ruby studied her, interested now.

“You may realize that Lorilei is in for a long period of recovery. That is, she is to be a long term patient.”

Ruby looked down. “I guess.”

“She has suffered a lot of abuse, that went untreated for years.”

“Because no one would believe her!” Ruby snapped. She was starting to dislike this know it all doctor.

Vanya raised an eyebrow. “I am merely stating the facts.”

“I knew all this. Why call me in here?”

“I have a request…you are the first person Lorilei has recognized. I think it would be beneficial if you visited often. That is, if your schedule allows.” Vanya looked Ruby over.

“Whaddya mean?”

“Right now, Lorilei is frozen in time. That is to say, she is stuck at a certain point in her life. But you can help her move forward, maybe even remember the years she has lost.”

“You…ya think so?” Ruby looked hopeful.

“I’m not saying it will be overnight, but I believe it will help.”

“Then I’m in,” Ruby said confidently. “I’ll bet Saph and the others are in too.”

“No no!” The doctor exclaimed. “Only you.”

“Why?” Ruby demanded.

“Because…” the doctor cleared her throat. “Because it may overload her and make her worse.”

“Oh,” Ruby said dejectedly. Then she brightened. “But I can still help.”

“Absolutely.”

“Great!” Ruby was enthusiastic.

“But I must ask you not to mention what I’ve told you to anyone,” the doctor warned. “They may unintentionally try to help and…well.”

“I get it,” Ruby said. “Thanks doc!”

“Don’t mention it,” she replied, signaling the conversation was over. Ruby didn’t mind. When she left the asylum that day, she was renewed with hope that one day the friend she had come to know would someday return.