Here’s what I wrote in response to Sundays photo š
“Have you seen them?”
“Seen who honey?”
“The men, the men in the van.” She grabs my arm and digs what is left of her bitten down finger nails into my skin. I steer her towards the bed and ease her down gently onto the rough blanket.
“How are you doing Jan?” I ask. She turns towards the window as I prise my arm from her grip. “Has mum been in to see you?”
She remains silent and stares at the window.
“Jan, I miss you.”
She turns, a wry smile forming on her face and pats my leg. For a second, there is a flash in her eyes, a moment of recognition. A glimpse of my beautiful sister, the woman she used to be before this disease took over.
“Have you seen them?”
I don’t need to ask who this time. “I’ll come and see you next week Jan.” I stand and hug her, but she flinches.
I hold back the tears as I walk to the door and turn. She’s staring at the window, lost in her own world.
I make my way to my mothers room with the smell of disinfectant filling my nostrils. I pause at the door and wonder, when will it will be my turn.
There’s a whole debate isn’t there, on whether mental illness is hereditary. Not really sure where this story is going, or even what genre it is lol š I think I’d have to do a lot of research into mental illness if I wanted to continue with it. It must be soul destroying to see someone you love end up institutionalised š¦
Sorry, hope I haven’t depressed you all too much lol š
The View Outside 
Oh, that’s super sad. I couldn’t come up with anything for the picture. Too gut wrenching for me. You did well with it.
LikeLike
It is, I know. I have a friend who’s brother suffers from Schizophrenia….awful š¦
I’m not sure I could write a whole novel that includes someone who was suffering from mental health problems, although I have written about characters who have depression.
Thanks hon š
Xx
LikeLike
Over the years I have seen patients hospitalised for the duration because of mental illness or dementia. Dreadful, but with the right environment some of the symptoms can be controlled and stabilised and the patient has more glimpses of the character they once had.
LikeLike
I think I would need a lot more experience of it if I was ever to include a character in one of my books who suffered from most forms of mental illness. I had a small glimpse of it when I was a Samaritan. The stories I heard about people NOT getting the help they needed were shocking š¦
Xx
LikeLike
Absolutely, the alternative is getting help when it is simply too late. If you do decide to go further with this drop me an email & I can give you a few non patient specific scenarios.
LikeLike
Thanks Julie š
Xx
LikeLike
Reminds me of my Mum and Dementia. You wrote the piece well Vikki. I’ve felt those feelings and emotions on many occasions and could feel them again reading this post. š
LikeLike
Oh, I’m so sorry honey (((((hugs))))) š¦
My nan (who brought me up) had started to show signs just before she died….awful š¦
Xx
LikeLike
It didn’t upset me. I just loved how you captured the emotion of it all. You are a good writer. š
LikeLike
Thank you honey, and I’m sorry to hear about your mum (((((hugs)))))
Xx
LikeLike
Perhaps the most disheartening thing I have seen throughout my career is the way families slowly start separating themselves from their (formerly) loved ones after such afflictions. For every one sister/daughter in this passage, there are a dozen who may call a few times a year and make an annual visit or two.
That said, mental illness is fascinating if you are able to strip away the “humanity” and avoid getting emotionally attached to specific cases.
-A.M.
LikeLike
That’s a very good point hon. I guess sometimes, when we don’t know how to deal with things, we just try to avoid them š¦
Hmmmm, yeah, I’m not sure I can avoid getting emotionally attached lol
Thanks hon xx
LikeLike
Any time š
LikeLike
nicely done.
LikeLike
Thanks Bridget š
Xx
LikeLike
Beautiful job with this dialog, and with showing the despair between these two by their actions. Nice twist at the end too.
LikeLike
Thanks honey š
Xx
LikeLike
If you want to explore this further I’m happy to share my experiences with you (I’m no expert but whilst we were still together, my ex was hospitalised twice against his will, once for a period of two months, and just over a year later, for another four months, due to mental health issues). I think you’ve written this really well especially if you don’t have any experience of the issue. For some reason the pat on the leg really rings true.
LikeLike
ps if I’d written something using the same prompt, I would not have been able to resist making the tormented being something external to the sister. A lost alien, or something like that.
LikeLike
Awwww, thanks Zoe š
Oooo, that must have been hard š¦
Ha ha ha, oh, you must write the lost alien story š
Xx
LikeLike
As above commenters if you email me I can give you an idea of mental illness too. I was a psychiatric nurse for adolescents and also have mental illness in the family.
What you wrote here was more from the dementia state or alzheimer’s disease than any true form of mental illness or brain disorder. Good job by the way of dementia. š
LikeLike
Thank you so much Clar š
I’m not sure it’s something I really want to pursue….yet, but if I do…. š
Xx
LikeLike