The Asylum

"I knew you wouldn't feel safe here," he sighed, motioning for the other person to stop. "Calm down. You're not Captain Splendid. And besdies; we can't get out. Nobody gets out." He then pointed to the large fence topped with broken glass. "There is nobody in this garden but you and me." He was starting to sound more annoyed, but he was desperately trying to stay calm. "You are a goshdarn actor. Sorry. I'm not allowed to swear anymore."
His muscles were tensing up, and he did a little neck roll to calm himself down.

Daniel stopped with one hand at the door's handle leading back inside. He wanted to rush back in into safety, but stopped to hear the man's words. They didn't sound like the words of an evil man either. If they were, they'd be threatening music playing in the background. But something the man said resonated with him. "You are a goshdarn actor." As soon as he said this, memories whooshed back into his head. Memories of a man sitting with a doctor, being explained his situation. Life of his younger self, back stage of a television set, reading a script. A vision of a much younger self, in school, with friends. Reality began to seize control. "My name is Daniel Hazard." He whispered to himself. "I am just an actor." He reminded himself. "I have no super powers, and no body is out to get me." He said, in just the manner the doctors had advised him to.

He removed his hand from the door and turned to face the man. His demeanor was much less frantic and much more controlled. He looked around the garden, and smiled, actually finding it quite peaceful. He had very little recollection of what he had just gone through, but he knew that the man now standing in front of him had helped him through it.

"Sorry about that." He apologized. "I sometimes forget where I am and who I am. I hope I didn't cause too much trouble. I tend to get violent while in that state. I didn't punch anybody, did I?"

He smiled. "It's... It's okay." he said, half-laughing. He always tried to help the other patients around him, but this was the first time he had actually helped. His doctor had convinced him to stop, but he felt the old him surge a little inside. "And I don't think you... punched anybody. You were just running around the hall." He paused for a bit. "Why don't I show you around the garden for a bit?"

He loved the garden. It reminded him of his mother's garden. But that one didn't have trees. This one did. And his mother grew some vegetables. They would have pumpkins for Halloween, but the idea of going up to strangers and getting candy terrified him, so he always stayed at home to give out Snickers and Milk Duds. His mom always told him to eat his vegetables.

It made him sad that there were no vegetables in the garden. "They ought to put some spinach--- or carrots, maybe..." he blurted.

Daniel smiled at the new friend. He was mostly glad he didn't cause an unsightly commotion, but also appreciated the kindness and patience of this fellow patient. "I'll look around the garden with you," He answered the man's offer, "But you don't have to show me around. I've been here before. I actually quite like it, you know, when I'm not being overly paranoid about everything. But I'll walk with you." He said, trying to be friendly. He's actually been at this hospital for a couple years now, though his progress has seemed to have taken a stand still for most of it. "If you want spinach," He said, responding to the man's second comment, "I'm sure they have some in the kitchen. I'm not sure if those type of plants would fit in with the rest of the plants." He said, still trying to sound kind.

"I don't believe we've been properly introduced." Daniel told him, realizing he didn't know this man's name. He held out his hand as he prepared his introduction. "My name's Daniel." He told him. "David." He said, correcting himself. "Darwin?" He guessed again, doubting himself. He pulled his hand back and used it to rub his forehead as he scrunched his eyes, trying to remember. "What was it?" His eyes started to become moist, as Daniel began to face the realization that this small piece of his identity was lost to him. Panicking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet and looked inside at his driver's license, which he still kept around just for this purpose. "Daniel." He said with a sigh of relief. "My name is Daniel. That was my first guess." He looked up at his new friend. "That was rather embarrassing." He told him. "Hopefully that doesn't happen to you."