You need to come to the hospital.

No, I don’t.

We will look after you.

Please don’t bother.

You are unwell.

I know.

I am concerned.

Don’t be.

I am afraid, I have to be.

Yes, you are at risk too.

You have no insight.

Do you have?

You have no capacity.

I have no capacity to resist you.

I have to decide on your behalf.

I’ll let you believe that.

Section! How do you feel?

How do you feel?

Well… I have to keep us safe.

Staying alive is not safe for me, don’t know about you.

Nitesh Painuly has been writing poems in English and in his native language Hindi. His work as a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS informs a great degree of his writing.