"How did it go yesterday Edward? With Mr. Henry and all?" I asked stepping into his quarters. Henry was the only one we all knew by name. He was a gentle fellow and everyone even the worst patients adored him.

However as I stepped into Edward's quarters I noticed it was much more disheveled than normal. He had no table and chairs set up this time and his two books were askew on the floor. He sat with wild hair and glasses askew in the corner.

"Come now Edward what's the matter?" I couldn't help but take up a tone of concern. He'd been in such wonderful spirits the day before it seemed an odd occurrence for him to be so out of sorts. He did not look up at me once.

With a sigh I picked up the nearest book and dusted off its cover trying to straighten a few of the crumpled pages. Grabbing the next I stacked them neatly and set them aside on the table.

One of the chairs had been broken it's wooden legs bent and splintered. Picking up the largest of pieces I passed them outside to where the guards stood. They took them without question to dispose of.

"Edward this really is a mess you've made." But my scolding was half hearted. It was hard to stay mad at him, I pictured his face just yesterday evening as he sat playing chess by himself, bright and happy.

Kneeling I began to gather the smaller splinters as best as I could. A sharp prick of pain and I knew I'd embedded one in my palm. "That smarts like the devil!"

"Wh-oh, oh miss I'm so sorry!" Edward darted over and began to gather the mess up himself. Carelessly not wicking one as he too received splinters in his hands. Standing he simply tossed the splinters out of the window though I did not believe it would be safe for anyone walking below. "Let me see."

"It's alright I'll go see Mr.Henry he can sort it out." I stood to leave when he gently caught my arm.

"It was my mess it's the least I could do." He examined my palm and with careful steady fingers managed to pull the splinter form my skin. Wincing slightly I watched as he tossed it aside. "There. No need for Mr. Henry."

"I suppose not. But your own hands-" He waved away my question and began plucking what looked like porcupine needles from his own hands.

"I'll be fine. You may go now." He sat back down in his same spot.

"I haven't finished my evaluation Edward-" He held up a hand yet again.

"There will be no need to finish Miss. I won't be your patient much longer." He said pulling his glasses off his face and running a rough hand over it.

"What do you mean Edward of course you will." I insisted wondering if he was in one of his state of minds again.

"Ah you don't know." He shook his head smiling lightly. "It isn't my place to tell. Well good day miss."

"Edward-" But he stood yet again and escorted me to the door still managing to be such a gentleman given the circumstances. The door was shut firmly behind me.

Shaking my head I took a moment to compose myself and headed towards my second destination. The girl's wing. The room was the same as always, and like usual the girl was simply in another spot.

"Hello." I smiled walking in and trying to keep up my facade despite my throbbing hand and Edward's oddness. No reply. "I brought you another flower. This one is a daffodil."

I made a move to rest it on the windowsill when I noticed the other two flowers were missing. "It appears the others were taken...I should have known this was a foolish idea. They don't allow anything here for the most part."

Still only silence spoke. It seemed to be more willing to talk to me than the girl did. Sighing I placed the flower back on my coat. There was no sense in continuously leaving them. Not if they were taken.

I made a move to sit in my usual chair when an idea occurred to me. The flowers were gone. Edward was to no longer be my patient perhaps...no. That couldn't be it. But it was all that made sense. They'd discovered the clippings I'd been sneaking to Edward. The flowers now too. It was no mistake now.

I was to be fired. The feeling that followed my realization could be equated to that of nothing. No sounds not feelings just numbness. The idea had never once even occurred to me until now. The thought of not coming here was so absurd.

It was my everything, it had been since...since him. Truth be told I was as lonely as some of the people here. Most people condemned my line of work. It took crazies to work with crazies but we were all people with hearts. Even them. Of course I'd never experienced any of the truly bad cases but I was fine with that.

The idea of not seeing Edward, so optimistic and harmful despite his episodes. Even this girl who said and did nothing. It had all become such a normal part of my life to tear it away was unthinkable.

I could feel the eyes of the girl trained on me. Her gaze forever studying me. Gripping my lip board tightly I turned back to face her. Sitting down in the chair for once I didn't say anything and pulled the flower back out of my coat. It's vibrant orange and yellow colors like a small fire in the dreary colors of the room.

Setting the clip board on the floor I leaned back in the seat and spun the little orchid around in my fingers. The faster it spun the more the colors looked like fire. Flames licking at the air swirling around.

It was all so familiar. I remember it clearly the first flame of his I ever saw. How enticed he looked at it. The power to destroy things. The way he'd tossed everything that belonged to them into the flames in a burst of pitiful anger.

His words echoed in my head. 'The only one who understands me is Anna!'

"Oh Ben." I sighed

Closing my eyes I let the flower fall to the floor. I could see the flames on the back of my eye lids as if it had happened just yesterday. Anything he could get his hands on was tossed inside those orange greedy flames. It's what finally sealed the deal. How he had ended up here. Abandoned.

I heard the soft sound of movement but didn't bother to open my eyes. If I did see the girl move, if I recorded it at all, who knew they might think I was crazy.

Something soft brushed against my fingertips mad with curious hands I traced it with my fingers lightly. The flower. Opening my eyes I was surprised to see the girl kneeling before me her small pale hand holding the flower delicately up to my own. She made no eye contact.

Gently I took it back and watched as she retreated to her corner all over again. Studying the flower all over again it seemed to be nothing more than a petaled stem all fire from it gone.

Blinking I looked back to the girl. Grabbing my clip board I made a move to write it down when her eyes flicked up at me. Hesitating with pen hovering over paper I rested it back down not making a single stroke. Standing I took one last glance at her curiosity painting my features.

Talking lightly on the door it was opened for me and I left the girl behind for what I assumed was the last time. How fitting and brutally ironic it would be that she'd give me such a gift before I'd leave her.

Smiling at the flower I tucked it away yet again. People had often asked me what my favorite flower was and time and time again I said I didn't know. I now knew. Daffodils. They were my favorite.

Spotting Helen in her usual place I handed over my relatively blank charts to her smiling face.

"So, how did it go?" She asked.

"Edward must have had another episode and-"

"No silly didn't they tell you yet?" She asked laughing lightly and setting the chart aside before clasping my hands on hers. "You're being promoted."

"I-I am? Why that's incredible!" I laughed smiling and suddenly forgetting my anxious worry. Helen hugged me tightly over the desk.

"Increased pay that's what that means missy. You can treat yourself. " Helen sighed happily. "What I'd give for that. But no I like my place here behind this old thing."

She patted the desk tenderly as if afraid to hurt it. A voice interrupted our embrace and I turned to see Henry standing smugly behind us.

"I see you spilled the news Helen." He mused to which the two of us laughed. "You Miss Irving have now been added to the night shift list."

"The night shift?" I asked curiously. Only a few people were deemed well enough at their job for that.

"Yes indeed it's only for the most well equipped. You've shown prodigious qualities." Henry said shaking my hand vigorously. "I recommended you to the boss of course."

"Well thank you Henry that's very sweet of you." He nodded and waved at Helen before glancing at the gleaming watch on his wrist.

"It appears I must be going." He said and walked off quickly his shoes patting the ground.

"Oh this is wonderful Helen. I won't lie for a moment I thought I was to be fired." Sighing happily in relief I fingered the small flower tucked safely in my pocket.

"Fired? You? No Miss everyone loves you to lose your expertise is almost as bad as if someone were to cut off their own hand." Helen chuckled and glanced over my charts. "You may be off now miss. And congratulations again."

"Thank you Helen. I suppose I'll be seeing more of you then." She nodded and with that I made my way outside smiling as brightly as I had my first day on the job.

The night shift. No one I knew had ever worked the night shift. From what I knew it wasn't much of a wanted job and no one ever spoke of it but I supposed that simply meant harder work. If that was the case then I'd take the full load.