Gretchen was actually feeling somewhat relaxed for the first time in many months. She was finally on her way to receiving real help…hopefully. The clouds outside the plane window were fluffy puffs brilliantly illuminated by the sunlight. She shifted in her seat to face the window more, the shackles on her wrists and ankles clinking as she moved. Out of the corner of her eye, Gretchen saw Colin glance her way from the other side of the plane. She was glad he was accompanying her to Colorado. She always felt better when he was around. He was the only one who seemed to truly understand what she was going through.

Gretchen was uncertain what or who was going to be awaiting them when the plane touched down in Denver. On the other hand, she really didn’t care. She was out of prison and going to a place that promised to help her. Although there was a little tiny tickle in the back of her mind that something wasn’t quite right. How is a doctor able to get a judge to allow her to transfer from prison to medical facility? Was this place another type of prison?

She pushed those thoughts from her mind as the plane slowly taxied into an open area near a hangar. There was an ambulance, a woman in a lab coat, and a couple of uniformed security guards awaiting the plane’s arrival.

“Ready for this?” Colin asked as the prison guard helped Gretchen out of her seat.

“Definitely.” She replied, anxious to get away from the prison guards and anything else that would remind her of that place.

Colin followed her and the guards out of the plane. The woman in the lab coat eyed Gretchen’s restraints with a curious look. She gestured to the prison guards to place Gretchen in the back of the ambulance. They pushed (shoved?) her up into the vehicle and one guard attached her shackles to the support bar underneath the bench. This prevented her from being able to sit all the way back, but Gretchen really didn’t care right now. She heard the woman introduce herself to Colin as Dr. Elise Gorman, head of Patient Relations for DIDI. Gretchen wondered what that stood for.

The prison guards exited the ambulance and the security guards entered, each taking a seat on either side of Gretchen. Colin and Dr. Gorman also entered, and sat toward the front of the ambulance. Dr. Gorman said something to the driver as one guard closed the doors. With a bit of a jerk, they were off and rolling to whatever facility now held Gretchen’s fate.

Gretchen awoke with a start as the ambulance jerked to a full stop. Blinking, she realized she had been resting her head on a shoulder. She looked up and saw Colin’s calming smile. He had positioned himself between her and one of the guards. She was a bit surprised, but also thankful. At least one person understood she was still a human being and not just some maniac in chains.

“We’re here.” He said softly, gently helping her sit up. He waited while one of the guards removed her shackles from the bench and then followed her and the guard out of the ambulance.

Gretchen was not surprised to see that it was evening, the orange rays of the setting sun barely visible from behind some tall mountains on the horizon. The building before them looked very much like any ordinary hospital, brown brick, white cement and greenish glass. The only noticeable difference was the lack of any advertised hospital name. Only the numbers “2208″ were prominently displayed on the wall next to the ambulance drop off area. As she was escorted inside, Gretchen began to notice the real differences.

It still smelled like a hospital, the pungent smell of disinfectant mixed with the underlying odor of what can only be described as sickness and blood. The entryway they walked into looked much like an emergency room with curtained bays and white sheeted beds. But there was only a dark-haired woman of about mid-forty sitting behind what one could call the Nurse’s Station. She glanced up, peered at Gretchen, and then gave the guards and Dr. Gorman a curt nod. Other than that, the area was devoid of activity. There was an audible buzz of an electronic lock being released as the guards opened up a set of swinging doors and guided everyone through. A heavy feeling began to slowly settle in Gretchen’s stomach. The hallway was brightly lit, the fluorescents glaring off of the shiny linoleum floor. But as they walked down the hallway, she noticed that each door was tightly shut and the rooms were all designed so that a wall blocked the view of the interior. They walked all the way to the end of the hall, where it opened up into what was made to look like a waiting area. Several rows of cushioned chairs were setup in a carpeted area to the right, with another hallway of doors starting immediately where the carpet ended. A large circular desk was on the left and yet another hallway continued past it. At this desk there was a flurry of activity. Men and women dressed in lab coats were bustling around computer screens, monitors and printers. They went in and out of windowless doors in each of the hallways. A few took a quick moment to glance over Gretchen and her entourage. But most seemed unaware of their presence. Even with all the bustle though, no one seemed to talk. There were slight murmurs from behind the doors, but otherwise the only noise the click of keyboards, and the hum of computers and printers. Gretchen was getting a rather uneasy feeling rising up in her stomach. She took a deep breath. Have to remain calm. I’m here to get help.

Dr. Gorman went behind the desk and whispered quietly to a gray-haired man in gold glasses. He glanced up at Gretchen, smiled quickly, and looked back down. He nodded to whatever Dr. Gorman said and she returned to the group. Gretchen could feel her heart pounding and her breathing becoming labored, as she followed the slender doctor down the left hallway past the circular desk. The doors here were exactly the same as the first hallway. Brown wooden doors with vertical rectangular windows, but a wall blocking the inside view.

A firm but gentle hand suddenly rested on her shoulder and squeezed. “Relax. Everything is alright. They will help you here.” Colin’s soothing voice whispered in her right ear. Her heart slowed a bit, her breathing eased.

They finally stopped at a door in the middle of the hall. Dr. Gorman removed a magnetic key card from inside her lab coat, and swiped it through what Gretchen had thought to be doorknobs, but now realized were electronic locks. There was a soft buzz and the door swung outward. Dr. Gorman entered first, there was another quiet buzz and the click of another door opening. The guards pushed Gretchen inside. She now realized why the interior wasn’t visible. Immediately beyond the hall door was small enclosure, just big enough to fit 3 or 4 people. The wall in front of them extended a few feet to the left and then there was another door, exactly the same as the hall door. At the far end of the enclosure was yet another door which looked into a darkened room. She followed Dr. Gorman through nearest door and entered a large square room. A hospital bed, complete with side rails, was to the right. Next to it was a white dresser and a white painted wooden rocking chair. In the far right corner was small wall extension made out of thick glass blocks. A bright focused light shone behind it, making it clear that if anyone was behind the wall, you’d see it. Gretchen could make out the outline of a toilet and small pedestal sink. The left hand side of the room was bare of furniture, but there was a large rectangular piece of steel embedded in the wall and a smaller rectangle of steel in the floor. Gretchen heard the doors close behind her and glanced back. The security guards were looking at Dr. Gorman. Gretchen looked too. Dr. Gorman nodded at the guards and they proceeded to remove the shackles from Gretchen’s wrists and ankles. She felt a small sigh escape her lips as the weight of the chains was lifted.

“Welcome, Gretchen.” Dr. Gorman finally spoke directly to her. The doctor’s voice was warm and genuine. “I know it looks foreboding, but we had to make the facility completely secure in order to accommodate certain individuals as well as comply with legislative standards for retaining convicted criminals. That’s the only way we can get people like yourself out of your horrible situation in prison.”

Gretchen’s hearted lifted a bit. This woman had a very likable air about her. “But,” she thought to herself, “I s’pose if you’re going to be Head of Patient Relations then you’d better be likable.”

“Everything you need is already here for you. There is a brand new toothbrush and toothpaste in a cup on the sink.” Dr. Gorman gestured toward the glass extension. The lights are in your control, the switch is there by the door. However that light does not turn off ever.” Again gestured toward the glass wall. “Think of it as your everlasting night light.” The doctor smiled brightly before continuing.

“If there is anything you need, such as reading material, art supplies or special food items, just ask any of the staff that pop into your room. We will try to accommodate your requests, within in reason of course.” Another bright smile.

“Well, I’m sure you are tired from that long trip. We will leave you to rest. There are pajamas in the closet.” Dr. Gorman waved at the white doors in the near wall that Gretchen had not noticed before. “Dr. Halzek, we will have a taxi take you to your hotel.”

“Good night Gretchen.” Colin stopped and rested his hand on her shoulder, “I will be back tomorrow.” He smiled warmly and followed Dr. Gorman and the guards out the door. As the audible click of the electronic lock snapping into place rang through the room, Gretchen sighed. It was a sigh of relief mixed with anticipation. She was slightly dreading what tomorrow would bring as she opened the closet to reveal, a 2 piece set of white cotton pajamas and several white short sleeved shirts, white pants and a white cardigan with snaps all hung up neatly. At the same time, she was relieved to be out of the prison. The cotton pajamas felt cool and crisp, and had a smell of bleach and detergent that comforted Gretchen a great deal. She slipped into the surprisingly soft bed and was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.