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Ch.4

I didnt move. I kept my eyes shut the whole time, just waiting for him to go away. I heard him take a couple of steps closer. I felt his eyes staring at me, and a lump formed in my throat. I was on the verge of tears. I shakily removed the cloth from my arm and showed Dr. Shomo, who grabbed my wrist lightly and examined it. The blood had stopped, but the crimson color stained my skin. I looked at my wrist, seeing a deep new wound right down the middle. I saw stitches under the blood. Actually seeing my wrist was too much, and I broke down crying. He got on his knees and held my wrist still, and looking at me.

"Im sorry... I didnt know I did it... I was scratching... It was involuntary... I didnt mean to.. I promise... Please just clean it, I didnt mean to, I promise..." I cried out between sobs. He looked down before standing up, my wrist still in his hand.

"Come with me, Shan. We'll fix it." He said sympathetically. I nodded and sniffed, following him out the door. Walking down the unfamiliar hall, a beautiful blonde girl walked towards my room with an equally pretty brunette girl who's head and eyebrow were half shaved.

They looked at me, and the blonde girl, who I guessed was Jenna, said in an australian accent, "Is that my roomie? Oh my god, no. Please no."

The brunette girl looked shocked, and moved her away from us, then spoke, "Don't say that! Lets go."

I looked down, hoping nobody else was watching us. We turned a corner and walked towards a room with a blue door labeled "PATIENT CARE". Opening the door, I found many patient tables/beds found in a normal doctors office scattered around the large room. Near every bed was a station with supplies and a sink, and most stations were empty right now. There was a boy sitting on a bed against the wall getting his nails clipped reluctantly.

"Stop! They're way too short! Ow!" He screeched

"Oh! Sorry honey. I didn't mean to clip you right there. I'll be more careful. And sorry about the length... It's regulation, sweetie..." The short nurse said with sympathy. Did she really care that much? She sounded like a mother!

Dr. Shomo led me to a sink and washed off the blood. He quickly put on gloves and continued to wash the cut that was scratched open. I watched him, wondering what my punishment was. What if I had to get my nails clipped, like that kid? There was barely anything to cut, though, because of the nervous habit of nail-biting. Dr. Shomo looked at me and smiled. Why was he smiling? At a time like this?

"Shan, were you using... Underwear to cover it up?" He half-laughed. I blushed. Yes, I was. I nodded and saw him smile as he turned the water off and dried my wrist. "Creative." He said. Okay...

At least we weren't on bad terms. He didn't seem that angry, maybe just a bit disappointed. He opened a drawer under the sink and pulled out two tan gauze wraps, one for each wrist, even though only one was wounded. He then wrapped the cut in the wrap, securing it with a velcro patch. He did this to both sides.

"Shan, this wasn't okay. You can't do this to yourself. I know you didn't mean to, and that's a warning, but if you try to hurt yourself again, you will be put in intensive care." He said firmly. I nodded, avoiding eye contact. He opened up another cabinet and pulled out a pair of nail clippers, just as I expected. I didn't mind though. I saw reasoning behind it.

"Is it okay if I cut your nails? For protective reasons?" He asked. I nodded again, giving him my hand. He clipped away at little bits and pieces until I could feel the bare skin where the front of my nails used to be. He switched my hands and did the same.

When he was finished, he looked me in the eyes and asked, "Shan, you won't do this again?"

I shook my head.