Inside the Fluorescent Hum

 

For me, the scary parts are all of the little things that make up the entire beast.  They seem to have their own language, and they all wear smocks or lab coats over their clothes.  In almost every room there are machines for who-knows-what.  Big, frightening, expensive-looking machines.  And the smell - it’s overwhelming.  Some kind of disinfectant, like they are trying to make you think the place is spotless.

Then there are signs along the hallways and on every door.  Lab, X-Ray, Cafeteria, Morgue, Lobby, Exit, Cashier.  Cashier, that’s the one you want to avoid.  It’s never a good prognosis out of that room.  Seldom is there a full recovery.