i can't get hamlet out of my head

"what do the voices sound like?"

we could tell she was gone the second she walked into the classroom. mentally not there. something about the irregularity of her stride, and the way her eyes were so intently focused on her feet. like she was counting her steps. she sat down, introduced herself, and told us she was schizophrenic.

"any questions?"

no one spoke, of course. we all just... sat there.

she looked at each and every one of us, pierced us with her blue eyes and crooked smile. "boo."

we all laughed nervously, and she went straight into the story of when she was diagnosed. told us that she was popular in college, very social. except one day that all stopped and she started locking herself in her room. ignoring people's knocks and phone calls. it got harder to get out of bed each day. no particular reason... "just because... i didn't want to face anyone. or anything. i started blowing off classes. friends. and then... the voices came."

men and women. mostly men. deep, scary voices, telling her negative things. like she was ugly and useless. driving her crazy.

i raised my hand and asked in my timid voice. out of curiosity.

"...but are they always mean? are there any nice voices?"

she looked at me like i was insane.

"what do you think?"