Early, before medication time
a subdued light fills the room.
All of the game tables glistened
Freshly polished with Pledge
The hallways smelled of maple syrup and bleach
as
Docile muzak filled the air
Michael leaned against the door frame
Counting each of the 85 floor tiles
He smiled, reassured,
as it was the same number as yesterday.
The same as the previous forty days.
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