I had surgery on my elbow this morning, so my doctor wanted me to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. I was put in a room with a stabbing survivor. She was nice, really quiet, so we didn’t talk very much.

Different members of my family visited over the course of the afternoon, but she didn’t have anyone visit her at all. It was strange, but I decided not to linger on her problems when I had my own.

Night soon came, but bringing no sleep with it. I have insomnia, so it is really hard to fall asleep at night. I got out my current book and started reading my heart away. I was immersed in the world of hobbits and dwarves when I was pulled back to reality by murmurs coming from the bed next to mine.

I thought my roommate was talking to me, but I quickly realized that she was talking in her sleep. Most of what she was saying was hard to determine, but one phrase stuck out from the rest.

“I had no choice, I had to kill him.”

Terrified, I pulled my blanket close around me and wondered if her dream had anything to do with the stab wound she was recovering from. I couldn’t shake the dread clinging to me like a heavy shawl so I decided I would go out to the hallway and tell the nurse on duty what I had heard. She would know what to do. Hopefully.

When we returned to the room, we encountered a sight that made us tremble and gasp. My roommate was holding a knife. And she was looking directly at me.