𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴

Chapter 2

Suddenly I see - KT Tunstall
Nur ein Wort - Wir Sind Helden

Taking quick steps, I hurry over the frozen sidewalk. The bow that was supposed to keep my hair out of my face was doing pretty much nothing, strands of hair being stuck to my lips and smearing the lipgloss everywhere in my face. But I don't really care. Today is a good day. My very first day as a certified therapist at the St. Marielle addiction rehabilitation center in Greenwich.  The thought makes my heart jump a little, butterflies dancing around my stomach and I walk even faster. I look down onto the navigation app on my phone. I decided to use it even though I know the way to the building by heart. Just in case.
I stop on a red light, lightly drumming my fingers on my thighs. I take a sip of my coffe, a warm and cozy feeling rushing through me. I exhale nervously, impatiently looking up at the light again. The cars on the road started to go slower and eventually went to a complete halt and I know that it was my turn now. The next second the light turned bright green and I hurry over the street. Only 3 minutes left. I look down at my watch, noticing that I would be just on time. This thought soothes the tingly feeling in my stomach a little. At least I wouldn't be late. I look up again, but too late to notice the person carrying trash bags in front of me, crushing into them and spilling my coffe all over myself and the sidewalk.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry!", I breathe, the hot liquid leaking down my chest. My skin felt like it was catching fire and I quickly pluck the soaked fabric away from me, shaking it, hoping that it would soothe my burning skin. "Are you out of your mind, goddamn", an annoyed voice cusses in front of me. The tall boy I ran into had lost the grip of his trash bags. They opened up and their contents were spilled all over the ground. He stops a bottle from rolling onto the street with his foot while trying to keep a grip on the last bag he had managed not to loose. I bend down to help and put the trash back in its bag, but he stops me. "I'll just do it myself", he insists grumpily, taking a bottle out of my hands.
I apologize again, standing up. Glancing down at my watch, I noticed that this messy encounter ruined my carefully planned out timing. I was late on my first day. The thought sends an angry shiver down my spine and I decide to just leave the guy be. He doesn't want my help and I don't have the time anyways, so I let go of my dirty blouse, not caring if it would touch my skin, and continue making my way to the hospital.

In the end I was still on time, barely but that didn't matter, having sprinted the rest of my way here. Arriving in the massive entrance hall, I took a quick glance at the map of the building to find out where I had to meet my supervisor I had gotten for the first week. Room B12. I made a mental copy of the giant poster and hurried down the hallway. Standing at the end of the corridor I stared at the little room numbers written next to their doors on the walls, frowning. I should have made a picture of the map with my phone, because the room I was in front of was definitely not room B12. I looked around the hallway, searching for someone to help me get to my wanted destination, when the door in front of me, room O12, flew open. Swiftly, I turned my head around. In the doorway was standing a rather small woman. Her dark hair was tied up in a ponytail, making a curly mess out of her head. Her searching eyes are looking at me from behind massive round glasses, taking up almost her entire face. She beams a teethy smile at me and holds her hand in front of me, waiting for me to shake it.
"You must be Olivia Flynn. I heard so much about you. Only good things of course. I talked to your lovely sister about you. Sadly I never see her anymore since she transferred. Greet her from me when you see her next time, will you?", she started talking immediately, while I still had to process the whole handshaking-thing. Pulling me inside the room, which was actually the wrong one, she reaches behind me and closes the door and starts talking once again. "Do you want something to drink? Maybe a coffe?", her gaze moves down to the giant brownish stain on my white blouse, her forehead crinkling. "Oh, I see you already had one. Would you like to borrow a new blouse? While you change I can make you a new coffe!", she exclaims cheerfully and hurries to one of the several cabinets, pulling out a piece of folded fabric. "Uhm yes! I would really appreciate that. I poured it all over me on the way here because I accidentally ran into some guy on the sidewalk", I mumbled, not really knowing why I even told her in the first place. She was apparently my boss and was currently laying out new clothes and making a coffee for me, so I decided it was what she would expect me to do. I glanced around the room, her office. The walls were fully covered with cabinets and shelves full of books. In the middle of the rather big room stood a wooden desk with a two fitting chairs, one on each side. The room had two large windows, showing the inner courtyard of the building: a giant lawn area with several little seating areas, a permanent fireplace and many flowerbeds. Right now, there was a small group of people following a yoga session, while two older men were throwing a frisbee back and forth.
It didn't look like it took place in a hospital, nor in an addiction center. Which is one of the many reasons I chose this facility. They have a beautiful in- and exterior, many hobbies to choose from, several libraries and five service dogs. However, the main reason why I absolutely had to work here was because of my sister. Until a few months ago, she had worked at here as a doctor, which is well needed in the business of addiction centers. That's why she was transferred to another facility where they had trouble to find a doctor, specialized on addiction. Since we both had the wish to help people of this kind, I followed her here with the thought to work together, not knowing yet that she would leave. But it didn't matter. I was here now. Ready to help some people, which may or not be a pretty naive way of thinking in general, but this is what makes this job.
"I'm going to go get your supervisor. He's late as always of course. You can change in the meantime", she smiles, already halfway through the door, leaving me alone in her office. The door fell shut with a small thud behind her. The fabric was clinging to my skin, making it hard to take it off. Once I had pulled it off of my arms, I crushed it into a ball, rubbing the leftover coffe off of my skin and letting it fall into my backpack. I had just finished buttoning the new blouse when there was a knock on then wooden door. It opened a second later, the woman's face appearing in the doorway. Just now I noticed that I didn't even know who she was. She had known who she was right away, even though I was in the wrong room. Speaking of that, I pulled the crumpled paper out of my jeanpocket. The scribbled letters were a little hard to read. I had just assumed that it must be a B. Looking at it now, it could also be an O. I was pulled out of my train of thought, when a hand appeared in front of me.
"Hi! I'm Alex", the person in front of me smiled. I grabbed his hand, shaking it. "Olivia", I smiled back. He had a boyish look, his auburn hair going down to his neck, his tan skin and light brown eyes perfectly matching. He looked... nice.
I let go of his hand. "Alexander is going to show you around the next few days so you don't get lost. Here's your tags. You gotta wear them visible at all times, alright. Your office is on the second floor, room P19. If you have any questions please ask. My contact information and everything you need is on your desk", she explained, handing me the tags. I clip them onto my clean blouse and nod. "Thank you". "I'll see you around!", she smiled and took a seat behind her desk again, clicking away on her computer before I even reached the door.
"So... what do you wanna see first?", Alex asked, his hands deep in his pockets. I read his name tag. Alexander Quententino, Nurse. He's probably new here as well and has to do all the shitty work, which includes showing me around. "Actually I already know my way around pretty good", I tell him, looking up from his name tag. He stops, turning his body to me. "You're Alice' sister, aren't ya?", he asks, but it doesn't sound pejorative. Not like the typical "blah blah's little sister without any character traits of her own and a nonexistent personality". He's actually interested. So I nod. "Yup. She's the second oldest sibling of mine. Two years older then me actually", I tell him. "We are four in total". We start moving again, steering towards the glass doors of the garden. "I always wanted to have siblings, but sadly I'm an only child", he pouts, opening the doors for us to walk through. I laugh. "Take mine, I'm begging you!". He laughs at that. We reach a marble bench, seated beneath a massive tree. I let the chilly breeze crawl over my face, closing my eyes for a second, once we both sat down. "It's pretty warm for February, isn't it?", he starts talking again. I open my eyes again and turn my head towards him. I nod. Even though the wind is still pretty cold, the sun is getting stronger every day. "I prefer spring a lot more than winter", I answer. He nods. "Me too". We go silent again, but it's not awkward. It's peaceful. I let my gaze wander over the lawn. After a few more seconds he starts speaking again. "A few of my friends and I are planning to go to a bar this evening. Some of them work here. It would be a good opportunity for you to meet them. I'm sure they would love to say hi", he fiddles with his name tag. I smile. "I would love to tag along. Just send me the address", I pull my phone out of my back pocket and hold it in front of him so he can insert his contact info. He looks a little relieved and nods. "Cool!". He looks down at the watch clinging to his left wrist. "Uhm... My break is almost over. I should probably get going. Is there anything I can help you with before I leave?", he already stood up, waiting for me to follow him. I shake my head. "I don't think so. I'll let you know", I point to the phone in my hand. He nods, waves and disappears around the next corner.
I cross my ankles and lean back on the bench, when my phone vibrates.
How's St. Marielle? You have to give me a detailed report when you're home. Xoxo A.
I smile. It's obvious that Alice loves this hospital. Probably even more than me. Or anyone else. And I see why. I haven't even started my work here and I already feel comfortable. I send a thumbs up back to her and get up, sipping the new coffe that... I still don't know her name. Doesn't matter. I make my way back into the building and onto the second floor. P10. P11. P12.
There it is. My own office. I push the door open and peek into the room. The sun is kept out by heavy grey blinds and there is a thick layer of dust on the furniture. Regardless, it's cute. Cozy even. But it needs a lot of work. I push up my sleeves and close the door behind me. After eyeing my schedule for today really quick, I notice that I have a few hours till the first appointment. So I pull out a pair of headphones and get to work.