Your Desire, My Pain

Chapter 1: Memories

It was a tiny hand clasped at the very hem of his nurse coat, pulling him gently that made San stop in his tracks.

It was just another normal Sunday morning at the hospital cafeteria, uneventful as always. Hospital rooms on the other hand were always eventful. The male was holding a tablet in one hand, heading back in after finishing a round of check-ups at the courtyard. He was just rolling his broad shoulders before the presumed little one pulled on him.

Not many patients were inside, save for a few children finishing up their breakfast and some elders in need.

Upon feeling the tug, he immediately turned, coming face to face with the owner of the hand. It belonged to a small girl—young, rather pale, her frame exceptionally small.
San made a mental note to ask for her name so he could put in a word or two with her nutritionist later.

She had hair that was as dark as night, silky like black jade. Her eyes were wide and round, more or so like boba as they stared straight at him—almost alarmingly big in proportion to the rest of her tiny features.

Her small frame was dressed in a plain white dress with blue cloves on it, fashionably displeasing . But then again, it was a hospital gown.

The child had a ferret plushie in her free hand, possessively clutched to her chest. Her fist was oddly clamped, and only then did he realize there was something else showing through the gap of her tiny fingers.

"Hello there," he flashed her a warm smile, quickly crouching down to meet the child's level. He was rewarded with a shy one in return. "How can I help you?"

"Mister nurse." mumbled the girl, eyes wide with a hint of curiosity in them. They were clear as day as those obsidian orbs blinked at him. Sans, rather (unfortunate) small eyes crinkled. "I... I found something."

"You did? Would you like to show me?" He hummed, eyes gazing at the girl's closed fist, waiting for her to open it . And so she did.

What laid in the girl's palm, however, made his expression shift.

Held in the middle of her small hand was a crinkly paper heart. Neatly folded, but with the edges worn out. It wasn't an uncommon sight, but for whatever reason, his guts told him that he recognised all too well just where this particular one came from.

"Oh? Where did you find this?" He tried to keep the smile plastered on his face, outstretching his own palm to hold the child's.

The girl fidgeted, shifting her weight between her feet; reluctant to answer—like a child afraid of speaking because she was caught doing something she shouldn't be. "It's okay to tell me, I promise." He added, for extra reassurance which he was certain she needed.

This sparked a glint of hope in her eyes. "I found this in the room next to mine! There were so many! It was like a Barbie movie, mister nurse!"

San's heart dropped.

A heartbeat too late, he inquired, his voice wavering just in the slightest. "What's your room number, little one?" He asked

"554!" the child said, and something unreadable flashed across San's usually soft self. Well he had a soft, kind personality but his built up body, veiny arms and jet black hair long hair could convince people otherwise