Chapter Text
The psychiatrist's expression dropped into a worried one when she saw her patient sit down and look up at her.
"How are you feeling?"
Her patient snarled in annoyance.
"They always asked that. 'How are you feeling?'"
She mocked, rolling her eyes.
The psychiatrist couldn't help but notice all the bruises and bandages on her arms...
Her eyes had dark, noticeable eye bags and were a pale pink/red. Her knees had really severe bruises, followed by a trail of old cuts that had already or were still in the process of healing.
"What are you staring at."
She flinched at the sudden question.
"You look so battered up,"
The psychiatrist started.
"I think I will postpone this session, please head to the doctor's office on the seventh level to get your physical health checked first... Grace."
Her eyes squinted at the poorly written name that was scrawled onto the piece of tape just above her patient's breast. She began scribbling information onto a form and handed it to Miss Grace.
"Please give this to the doctor, head to room 004 on the seventh level. Make sure to knock!"
Miss Grace rolled her eyes again and snatched the paper, marching out of the room and slamming the door behind her.
Psyche ward. What were nurses and doctors going to do? Diagnose her with stupid disorders and force-feed her a bunch of unknown medications?
Low growls left her throat as she stomped her way to her destination. It was going to take all her willpower not to bite or scream at the poor doctor that was assigned to her.
Her hand curled into a fist as she 'knocked' (banged) on a wooden door labelled '004' before pushing it open with more strength than needed and letting out a loud, frustrated huff to let the doctor in charge know that she was not in a good mood.
"Hello, Grace."
The doctor greeted politely, extending her hand out and gesturing to the form that was crumpled in Miss Grace's hand.
Miss Grace scoffed and slapped the crumpled paper onto the doctor's hand.
"I'll need you to step behind this screen and take off all your clothes, including your undergarments."
The doctor instructed in a gentle tone while flattening and smoothing out the crumpled form.
Miss Grace obediently did as told, stepping behind the screen and stripping. Her arm reached up to cover her breasts, it was one of the more... damaged areas from her childhood and adolescence.
Her body was stamped with purple, blue and red bruises, cuts and old scars that were either inflicted by hand or with an object.
God she was a mess. Thank god there was no mirror.
The doctor pushed the the curtains aside and closed them again behind her.
"Don't cover your body, I won't judge."
She said in a reassuring tone, moving to guide Miss Grace's arm to her side.
"You're beautiful regardless of how many scars and wounds may be inflicted on you. The scars just make you stronger."
The doctor's words replayed in her head like a broken record. Her voice was so soothing...
Miss Grace was too distracted by the doctor's words to even notice that the doctor was conducting her check. She went ahead to check the most intimate areas first, to get it over with fast.
"Alright. You may put your undergarments back on, but please do not put your clothes back on. Do you know your size?"
Miss Grace nodded.
"Large or medium."
The doctor hummed and scooted out through an opening at the side of the curtains, making sure that it was closed when she was outside.
"Please be patient, I will not take long."
And there she was once again, left alone with her thoughts. Being in a hospital was so much worse than other places... but at least it was better than her old home, if you could even call it a home.
Were they going to throw her into a room with other patients? Would the patients bully her like her classmates did for being 'ugly' or 'weird'? She was already kind of ready to be bullied.
It's all she's ever known.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the curtains being opened once again, the doctor slipping in to hang a clean hospital gown on the coat hanger that was attached to the wall and a name tag (that was really just those ones made of a piece of paper and a plastic card holder) on the chair.
"Once you've changed, just leave your clothes where they are, and make your way to Patient Room 001, it's just down the hallway."
Miss Grace just stared at her blankly, not even registering what she said or what she had just brought.
Her eyes scanned the hospital gown, it looked both comfy and uncomfy at the same time. It was made of a soft cotton material, but was very thin and loose. Hey, at least it had pockets.
After getting dressed, she picked up the name tag. It already had the words 'Grace, PNo. 102.' written neatly on it. Beside it was a piece of strawberry-flavoured candy.
She liked this doctor.
She pushed the curtains open and awkwardly made her way out of the office and down the hall.
It was eerie, despite the lights being on and the faint sounds of doctors and patients talking and conducting sessions. She stopped in front of a room.
001.
'Isn't there supposed to be a nurse guiding me here? Or the doctor... I'd take her over any nurse.'
Miss Grace pushed opened the door, her eyes being met with one of the last things she wanted to see.
Two beds.
She was going to have to share a room with another crackhead?! Her thoughts were bad enough already, but now she couldn't even scream and cry in her cold hospital bed.
Her mood was sour all over again, and she made her way over to claim the bed on the left, closest to the window.
'If this druggie wants to kill me, I'm jumping out of this window.'
She settled into the bed, which was surprisingly comfy. The window had curtains, too.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Miss Grace laid her head back on the pillow. She should enjoy her moments alone while it lasted.
Soon enough, she began to drift off into a sleep hopefully full of dreams instead of nightmares.