Scary Stories and Facts

The Definition of Insanity

It has been said that the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I understand the sentiment behind the saying, but it's wrong.

I entered the building on a bet. I was strapped for cash and didn't buy into the old legends of the hotel to begin with, so fifty bucks was more than enough to get me to do it.

It was simple. Just reach the top floor, the 45th floor, and shine my flashlight through a window. As I reached each platform, I noted the old brass plaques displaying the floor numbers. 15, 16, 17, 18. I felt a little tired as I crept higher, but so far, no ghosts, no cannibals, and no demons. Piece of cake.

I can't tell you how happy I was when I entered the last stretch of numbers I joyfully counted them aloud at each platform. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 44.

I stopped and looked back down the stairs I must have miscounted, so I continued up. 44. One more flight. 44. Then down ten flights. 44. Fifteen flights. 44. And so it's been far as long as I can remember.

So really, insanity isn't doing something repeatedly and expecting different results.

It's knowing that the results never change; that each door leads to the same staircase, to the same number. It's realizing you know longer fall asleep. It's not knowing whether you've been running for days or weeks or years. It's when the sobbing slowly turns into laughter.