Mercury for the Masses

            Lollie took in the pristine white walls and inhaled the smell of ammonia this brought on a feeling of. Although she was visiting her ill friend the simple clean walls washed a sense of calmness over her. Nothing needed to be reorganized; nothing needed her attention. She sat in a neat floral swing skirt dress. The dilemma that brought her to the asylum started to rear its stressful golden mane back into her heart. Not having anything else to put right she started to count the many purple and blue flowers decorating her dress. 1, 2, 3,4...66,67,68.

            “Hello, are you here to see Isabella… Dormis?” Asked the coarse voice, who had interrupted her counting.

            Lollie ignored the orderly’s intrusion and returned with a large smile. “Why yes, I am Lollie Faux”

            The orderly responded with a curt nod of the head and gestured for Lollie to follow. Lollie trailed the nurse through a series of halls and enjoyed the bright lighting that removed any sense of darkness. Finally after entering a large room with many chairs and tables Lollie saw her friend. Isabella sat with her shoulders hunched over. Her nose almost touched her knees. She looked like a house of cards ready to be blown away at the slightest breeze.

            “Bless your heart, hun. Are you alright?” Asked her old college roommate, Lollie.

            Isabella muttered a brief “yea,” then returned to her resting state of half sleep, but only to be nudged again by the fruit fly, Lollie.

            “Baby doll, we can’t have you lookin like that now can we?” She paused. “You look like a darn coon with those circles under your eyes.”

            Lollie cracked open her purse to retrieve her concealer and sponge. Next Lollie grabbed Isabella’s chin and dabbed furiously at her friends face, as if the layers of make-up could save her friend as it had Lollie in high school.

            “Sstop,” was all Isabella could muster up in response to her friend. Lollie saw Isabella’s muscles twitched as if she were trying to lift her arm to bat Lollie away. Sadness twisted Lollie’s heart as she imagined what her friend’s response would actually be if she were healthy:

            “Oh, come on Lollie. Who do you think I’m going to see in here? Am I going to doll myself up for the doctor?”  She might say as she crossed her arms in defiance followed by a quick roll of her eyes and headshake.

              “Darlin’ you never know who might be waitin round the corna! Plus, maybe that doctor you have could be just the man you’ve been needin”

            Of course Isabella would finally give in to Lollie’s persistence and Lollie would make her friend look as pretty as a picture. Lollie liked to carry around the picture of them down at the grove. Isabella with her dark brown hair straightened as if with an iron and Lollie with her golden locks in tight spirals down her heart-shaped face. The silk dress Isabella chosen from the square in Oxford was in stark contrast to Lollie’s choice of a bright summer dress.

            That is what Lollie really enjoyed about Isabella, her ability to be herself. Isabella always possessed a sense of self, which Lollie never could grasp about herself. Little help that did her now, she thought to herself. Lollie pinched her skin in response to her own cruel thought.