The doctors dosed me again. It was like I was back to that messed-up place after they died. It’s like I lost it myself as well as Carly.
Honestly, Dee, I have no idea what I’m going to do.
I’ve had more dreams. What is going on???
I keep hoping I’ll discard when the sun rises.
Fourth Entry
The girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is
here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is
here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is
here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here
the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl
is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is
here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is
here the girl is here the girl is here the girl is here the
girl is here the girl is here
Fifth Entry
I watch them watching me. They stare and they analyze, hoping to figure out what has broken. Where they’ve gone wrong, never for a moment thinking that what I told them might be true. They call me the real Carly now. Suddenly, she’s the alter. Funny how quickly they turn it all around.
48
69 days until the incident
Inpatient Therapy Notes
Dr. Annabeth Lansing
Patient File [Johnson-C-0399524], Session #59
Thursday, 25 November 2004
Carly was found sprinting along the east hall. There were lesions on her hands and feet, and Nurse Tulk informs me that she appeared terrified. When Health-care Assistant Rogers caught her, she scratched his cheek and screamed wildly, kicking out. Nurse Tulk reports that she was staring down the corridor, eyes wide and manic, saliva dried on her lips.
She insists she did not hurt herself, but that “something” was in the room with her. I have no choice but to believe the injuries are self-inflicted, and her nails have been cut short to prevent further damage.
We have started a saline drip for dehydration, and for now she has been locked in her room. I fear she may be a danger to others.
The Johnson Claydon Diaries
Sixth Entry
My mind climbed out the window… They think they can cage me? My nails could be broken and bloody, but what would that matter? My body is a tool.
Up here, my mind seems to open up. I can picture the rows of psychiatric wards that lie dull and dead under a moon that should make them sparkle, and I can almost hear the silent sobs from within each blocky window. This is different from Elmbridge, but it’s still a roof. I can still fly. If I want.
And I still float here and wonder why I don’t—what’s holding me down?
Carly. Please. Where are you?
Carly? Are you there?
49
Inpatient Session Recording #59 [Ref: Johnson-Inp-0033]
Friday, 26 November 2004, 11:13 AM
Claydon Youth Psychiatric Facility, Somerset
Dr. Annabeth Lansing (AL) and Carly Luanne Johnson (CJ)
(AL): What is it, Carly?
[Silence]
What’s so amusing to you? Hm?
[Slow laughter]
Care to share it with me?
[Laughter building]
Carly.
[Raucous laughter]
Come on, now. Let’s talk, shall we?
[Laughter becomes manic]
Very well. We’ll try again tomorrow.
[End of tape]
The Johnson Claydon Diaries
Seventh Entry
The Dead House
Dawn Kurtagich's books
- The Bourbon Kings
- The English Girl: A Novel
- The Harder They Come
- The Light of the World: A Memoir
- The Sympathizer
- The Wonder Garden
- The Wright Brothers
- The Shepherd's Crown
- The Drafter
- The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
- The House of Shattered Wings
- The Nature of the Beast: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
- The Secrets of Lake Road
- The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen
- The Blackthorn Key
- The Girl from the Well
- Dishing the Dirt
- Down the Rabbit Hole
- The Last September: A Novel
- Where the Memories Lie
- Dance of the Bones
- The Hidden
- The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady
- The Marsh Madness
- The Night Sister
- Tonight the Streets Are Ours
- The House of the Stone
- Murder House