Single Beauty

Chapter 2

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~Ivy's point of view:~

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Drip. Drip. Drip. What is dripping?

My head feels extremely heavy, and I can feel a throbbing pain in my left arm. My eyes refuse to cooperate with me, but I put in all my strength and manage to flutter them open. I move to the side and realize I'm lying on a bed. "What?"

Even more confused, I lift my arm to remove the comforter, but it feels oddly weak. I look at it and realize that a drip is attached to it, injecting glucose or whatever it is. The sound of the drip is what I keep hearing.

I push myself upright on the bed, but my head feels like it would explode any minute. I stretch my neck and press the sides of my head with my palms.

"Hell, why am I here again?"

I groan and swing my legs off the edge of the bed. My feet brush against the cold, tiled floor. I look around. It looks like I'm in a clinic. Hearing a few people walking towards me, I jump back into my comforter.

After I do it, I feel stupid.

"Wait. Why am I pretending to be asleep?" I hiss to myself.

Maybe it's a reflex thing, or because I feel like I shouldn't be awake, but I decide to stay put.

"Yes, there isn't anything to worry about. She's fine. It's just a result of severe panic. It happens to some people sometimes. She just needs some rest."

I strain to listen to the soft voice and groan. It's a panic attack. AGAIN. I roll over to my side to listen to the conversation further.

"Okay, thank you, Doctor. When will she be able to retake her classes? Do we need to inform her parents-"

At the mention of my parents, I push the curtain aside and yell, cutting the teacher off.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T TELL MY PARENTS! THEY'LL BE WORRIED AGAIN!" The doctor, startled, looks at me for a second, but quickly regains her composure and briskly walks towards me.

"MY DEAR! YOU NEED TO REST! Please lie down.." She grabs my arm and makes me sit on the edge of the mattress.

"I'm sorry, Doctor. I didn't mean to scare you. But this happens to me when I get anxious. Please don't tell this to my parents. I'm their only daughter and they will get really worried. I'll be fine in a few hours, so I beg you not to call up my parents. I would really REALLY appreciate it..."

The teacher looks at the doctor and then at me. She eventually sighs.

"Okay, but only this time. If it happens again, I'll have to let them know."

I smile gratefully at the teacher. "Thank you so much, Ms!"

After a while of them talking, I look at the teacher who the doctor ushered out. She had said her name was Elise. When the doctor steps out the door, I notice the surprise on her face.

She seems to be talking to someone. Curious, I lean a bit to see who it is, but too much activity drained me. I give up and sigh.

I stare out of the window.

I stare.

And I stare.

A cloudy memory forms in my head. I remember someone calling out my name, desperate, as if they'd never see me again.

I gasp and close my eyes, trying to think harder. Who was it? A face forms in my head. Slowly, it becomes clearer and clearer until I can finally recognize it.