Poisonous Pleasure

Chapter Nine

Clèmence wished to open her eyes but she could not. She felt it was closed so tightly, likely glued shut. She was aware of her surrounding and could easily comprehend everything occuring but her body seemed not to cooperate with her wishes. At least this time, she could remember how she got to the hospital.

She could feel the movement around her and hear the voices, but her throat thickened as she wished to call out to someone. This was the second time it had happened during her stay in the hospital. She had thought it was sleep paralysis, but the doctor had confirmed it was not. The doctor also said that it was probably due to stress or otherwise because of her past trauma which had something to do with the hospital. She was being kept under observation That man was the reason for this.

She remembered the strange man who had appeared like a starking ghost. The audacious gift he had wanted to bestow her. His inconspicuous smiles that sparked with mirth; as if having an inner joke which she was privy to. It had vehemently triggered an unusual reaction out of her. She didn't want to have anything to do with him. He looked at her as if she was supposed to know him, almost as if they were friends and that she feared most out of all.

Carla's presence was as constant as ever. Her perfume lingered in the room, even after she had left to tend to the shop. Clémence wished to tell her; that she will get better. The doctor diagnosis was she was suffering from malnutrition. Although, Clémence knew that she hadn't been taking her health into consideration since the incident occured, but she didn't believe it could pertain to being malnourished. Understandably, she could not remember the last time she had actually had a full meal. This realization left her feeling perturbed, she readily assumed it won't be long before Carla or even Gianna's informed her parents of her lackluster state, which will inadvertently lead to a plethora of issues. She couldn't leave Italy without having established herself in the artistic world. It hadn't yet began and it seemed so dead on arrival.

Clémence was never one to dwell on the negatives, nothing ever came easy in life. This was just a phase, one which she will face head on. She just needed to be more cautious and focus on her ambitions. Ambitions, which she had held onto for so long. She wanted to make something of herself without her parents influence and the only way to do that was to gain the much needed independence, and the weekly hospital visits weren't going to aid her.

She needed to re-evaluate things and make best of the situation. Clèmence knew her time in Italy, albeit short, it hadn't really been progressive. It all came down to strategy and meeting the right people; and the florist shop wasn't going to lead anywhere but back home to France.

Decisiveness was what she needed, and she needed it quick.

But first, she needed to scream.

                    
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Clémence blinked at the sharp, blinding light that were pointed at her dilated pupils. Tears began pooling at the corner of her eyes, dripping slowly down her cheeks. She felt uncomfortable but she could not voice this assertions because the examination was being done for her welfare.

"You will need to steady your eyes, Signora".

She nodded. It seemed easier said than done. She willed herself to conform, so the exam could be done with. Clémence was tired even all she had done for the past few hours was to lay in the hospital bed. She felt completely exhausted.

The doctor had presumed that she was experiencing the effects of malnutrition. Her mouth was always dry and bitter, her tongue like a mold in her own body. She hadn't felt this way in her life. The hospital seems like her permanent residence. Clémence hated the hospital. It seemed that she had the affinity for them these days. It was almost laughable about her situation, almost pitiful. Her mother would shrivel at the look of her now.