FACING ME WAS DOCTOR QUINN.
She stood at attention, like a frail drill sergeant, but her outlines seemed curiously smudged.
"I thought you should know," Doctor Quinn said. "Joan has been found."
Doctor Quinn's use of the passive slowed my blood.
"Where?"
"In the woods, by the frozen ponds...."
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
"One of the orderlies found her," Doctor Quinn continued, "just now, coming to work...."
"She's not..."
"Dead," said Doctor Quinn. "I'm afraid she's hanged herself."
"I thought you should know," Doctor Quinn said. "Joan has been found."
Doctor Quinn's use of the passive slowed my blood.
"Where?"
"In the woods, by the frozen ponds...."
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
"One of the orderlies found her," Doctor Quinn continued, "just now, coming to work...."
"She's not..."
"Dead," said Doctor Quinn. "I'm afraid she's hanged herself."