I’ve never deserved to be bound in a straight jacket. I never did anything to be placed inside padded walls. But it doesn’t stop the deaths happening. 

I told them all that I wasn’t responsible for the dead animals. I didn’t kill those people, either . But did they listen? No, they placed me inside here. A room without refuge. 

Only she listened. The lady in the white gown trimmed in gold. She didn’t laugh when they asked me how the person died in the rec room before I was placed here. 

She saw in my eyes that it wasn’t me. Still, it didn’t stop them from blaming me. Just like the police and the courts about those seven poor souls. 

I told them it was my dead brother. Told them he killed those people. Those animals when we were young. That I couldn’t stop him. Sure, they said, sounding so much like my mother. You are either a good actor, they would say, waving their hand to encompass my empathy. Or mentally unwell.

It would seem the former was my diagnosis. But that didn’t stop the killings.

From wards, to examinations, to tests, back and forth I went. Each doctor wanting to crack these mysterious murders. The cameras didn’t help. Every time they failed,  the person in the room with me wound up dead. But not since her. The gold trimmed lady. 

Something about her stops Liam, my brother. But I see the way he looks at her. See the lingering gaze when others do not. 

I’ve never been able to stop him. Never had the control over him. I knew he was planning something. 

You will be sad about my decision, Dr Jane. And I’m sorry. But I have to find the strength to stop him. Or I will lose the only person who sees me as a human and not a monster to be studied. Please know that you saved me with your praise. With your attention. With your humanity.

I know my brother. As evil as he is, I know how to push his buttons. 

When you find this letter, and my corpse, please know that I didn’t take my own life. It will be by Liam’s hands. I’ll wait until they have strapped the jacket on so there can’t be any misunderstandings. Hopefully it will achieve two things. 

They will know I was telling the truth and you won’t end up dead like all the rest.