Lighting Up Your Heart

Expected Consequences pt. 1

-(Y/N)'s POV-
        I woke up slowly, the first thing I became aware of was the dull, throbbing pain in my nose. I groaned softly, lifting a hand to gingerly touch the bridge of my nose, feeling the dried blood and tender flesh. The next thing I noticed was the layer of grit and dirt that clung to my skin, making me grimace in discomfort.
           As I opened my eyes, fully awakening, I became aware of the bodies sleeping around me. Stone on my right, Vinnie and Skipp on my left.
            For a moment, I was disoriented, my tired mind struggling to piece together the events of the night before. I took a shaky breath, each inhale sending a slight pang of pain through my nose. The memories began to surface, the party, the drugged drink, the fight. I shivered, the realization that I had no clue what time it was or what had happened after I blacked out adding to my uneasiness.
I shifted slightly, my body feeling stiff and sore from being in the same position for hours. The movement caused the three bodies to stir, their sleep-heavy bodies adjusting to the disturbance. Stone was the first one to open his eyes, glancing at me as he stretched his limbs and yawned.
"You finally awake, sleepyhead?" His voice was husky with sleep, but there was a hint of teasing in his tone. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, his body brushing against mine, as he studied me. I grimaced, reaching up to gingerly touch my nose once more. "Yeah, I'm awake," I muttered, my voice groggy. "God, I feel like crap."
"Yeah, looks like ya took a bit of a beating." Stone replied, his gaze traveling over my disheveled appearance. "How's the nose feeling?"
"Hurts," I grumbled, "like I got punched in the face or something. Oh wait, that's exactly what happened." I tried to sit up straighter, but my muscles protested, making me wince.
"Easy there," Stone said, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Take it slow." He helped me adjust my position, propping me up against the wall. Vinnie and Skipp, who had been woken up by our conversation, sat up groggily, rubbing their eyes.
"I think I'm gonna need to visit a doctor or something," I groaned, closing my eyes for a moment as a brief wave of dizziness hit me. "My nose feels like it's been through a blender."
"You think so?" Stone said, a hint of concern in his voice. "Can't say I know much about broken noses, but it looks a bit crooked from where I'm sitting."
"Yeah, I can kinda feel that it's not straight," I muttered, my voice still rough from sleep. I touched the bridge of my nose gingerly again, wincing as I confirmed Stone's observation. "I definitely need to get this checked out. And maybe get cleaned up."
"Yeah, you do look like you crawled out of a dumpster," Vinnie chimed in, her voice still thick with sleep. "No offense, of course."
I shot Vinnie a half-hearted glare. "Thanks for the compliment, Vinnie," I said sarcastically. "Really feeling the love there."
Skipp, who had been silently observing the conversation, finally spoke up in his soft, quiet voice. "There's a clinic a couple of blocks away. I think they take walk-ins."
I glanced at Skipp, the mention of a clinic catching my attention. "Really? That could work. My regular doctor is out of town and I don't have the money to go to urgent care." I paused for a moment, looking at Vinnie and Stone. "But I need a change of clothes at least, and a shower. I seriously smell like a trash can and look even worse."
Stone nodded, looking me over. "Yeah, you probably wanna get cleaned up and into some fresh clothes. I think we might have some stuff that'll fit you." I raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at the corner of my lips. "You guys have women's clothes just lying around?"
Vinnie, overhearing my question, chimed in, "Hey, you can borrow my clothes from last night. I mean, it's better than nothing, right?"
I glanced over at Vinnie, taking in her slightly disheveled but still somewhat presentable attire. "Well, it's definitely something," I admitted. "I'd appreciate it. At least it'll cover up a bit more of my current disaster look."
Stone and Vinnie both chuckled at my self-deprecating comment, but there was no malice in their laughter. "Trust me, no matter what you wear, it'll be an improvement over looking like you just crawled out of a trash can," Stone teased.
I accepted the dress from Vinnie, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers, the remnants of a party I had no memory of clung to the material. I managed to stand on shaky legs, still feeling the fatigue from the drug and the night's events weighing on me. I made my way behind some crates for a semblance of privacy and reluctantly began to change.
The process was slow and tedious. My muscles ached and protested each movement, my fingers feeling clumsy and uncoordinated as I tried to strip out of my sweaty, dirt-stained clothes and get into Vinnie's dress. Eventually, I managed to get it on, the fabric feeling cold and unfamiliar on my skin.
I stepped out from behind the crates, the dress hanging loosely on my frame, feeling more like armor than clothing. I looked down at myself, the once-vibrant colors of the dress looking dull and faded, a stark contrast to the reality of my situation. The hem was slightly tattered, a small tear near the collar betrayed the frantic night I couldn't remember.
"Well, I feel moderately less disgusting now," I said, running a hand through my messy hair. I glanced over at the three, hoping they didn't think I looked too ridiculous.
"You don't look half bad, all things considered," Stone commented, a hint of humor in his voice. "Definitely a step up from dumpster material."
I left the alleyway, Vinnie's dress swaying around me as I walked, and made my way to the nearest public restroom. My nose was in constant pain, and I could still feel the grittiness of the dirt and dried blood on my skin. I entered the restroom and went straight to the sink, turning on the water and splashing my face with cold water.
Feeling slightly invigorated by the shock of the cold water, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The sight was not pleasant. My features were still pale and drawn, my left eye was bruised heavily, my skin was littered with small cuts and abrasions, and my nose was still crooked and swollen. I winced, gently touching the bridge of my nose, feeling the tenderness of the inflamed tissue.
Using a slightly damp paper towel, I began to gently try to clean up the dried blood that remained around my nostrils. The process was painful and slow, the effort causing waves of pain to radiate out from my nose. Eventually, most of the dried blood was gone, but the bridge of my nose still resembled a rainbow of deep purples, blues, and blacks.
With a sigh, I stepped back, looking at the results of my efforts. I was as cleaned up as I would get without professional medical help. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to comb out some of the tangles and straighten the mess that was my appearance. It was far from perfect, but it was better than looking like a vagrant.
Still clutching my paper towel, I turned and left the restroom. The fresh air felt bracing against my skin, and I took a deep breath, wincing slightly as the air hit the sensitive tissue in my nose. The clinic was just a couple of blocks away, and I knew I had to face the reality of my situation sooner rather than later.
With a determined set to my jaw, I set off, each step sending a jolt of pain through my body and my heart. I focused on the rhythmic sound of my footsteps to drown out the constant throb of my nose, each step taking me closer to the clinic and hopefully some answers.
~~•~~
The clinic stood out against the backdrop of the surrounding neighborhood like a polished pebble in a bed of dirt. The exterior was clean and well-maintained, the white paint on the walls freshly applied and the windows free of any smudges or streaks of dirt. The sidewalk in front of the building was meticulously swept, and a few potted plants sat near the entrance.
I paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the clinic. Despite the pain in my nose and the lingering fatigue, a wave of relief washed over me. It was a stark contrast to the dingy alley and the makeshift bedroom I had woken up in. I approached the entrance, swallowing my nerves and pushing open the heavy glass door.
The interior was just as clean and bright as the exterior, the walls a neutral beige color, and the floor a polished linoleum. A few patients sat in the waiting area, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and worry. I made my way to the front desk, where a young woman with a name tag reading 'Carmen' looked up as I approached.
"Can I help you?" Carmen asked, her voice pleasant and professional. She took in my appearance, her eyes flickering across my bruised face and disheveled attire. I could see a flicker of concern in her gaze.
          "Yes, I, um..." I stumbled over my words, suddenly feeling self-conscious about my state. "I think I may have broken my nose," I continued, gesturing at my face. "I was hoping to get it checked out."
         Carmen nodded, her expression sympathetic. "Of course, we can get you looked at right away. Just fill out this form," she said, handing me a clipboard with a form attached, "and then have a seat in the waiting room. The doctor should be able to see you shortly."
            I took the form and the pen she handed to me, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I made my way over to one of the chairs in the waiting area, taking a deep breath as I sat down. I filled out the form as best I could, trying to focus on the simple questions rather than the pain in my nose and the anxiety coursing through my veins.
         The room was silent save for the occasional cough or the rustling of papers as other patients waited. I could feel their gazes on me, their curious glances at my battered appearance. I looked down at the form in my hands, the questions swimming on the page as my mind started to drift.
         The events of the night, the drugs, the fighting, the broken nose, all of it swirled through my mind, creating a confusing and chaotic mess of memories. I tried to piece it together, but it felt like trying to put together a puzzle without the majority of the pieces. There were flashes and glimpses of recognition, but the full picture was elusive.
         "Ms. L/n?" A voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see a balding man holding my file, standing in the doorway of a nearby room. "The doctor is ready to see you now."
         I stood up, my legs still shaky, and made my way over to the doctor. I followed him through the door, into a small but comfortable-looking examination room. The doctor gestured to the exam table, and I perched awkwardly on the edge, my heart in my throat.
            "Can you tell me what happened?" The doctor asked as he began to examine my nose. His fingers were gentle but firm, and each touch sent a jolt of pain through my injured face.
         I tried to gather my thoughts, focusing on the details I could actually recall. "I was at a party," I said, my voice steady despite the pain. "I remember having a few drinks, and then...it's all kind of fuzzy after that. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in an alley with a broken nose and no clue how I got there."
          The doctor hummed in acknowledgment, his hands still carefully examining my face. "It looks like you do have a broken nose," he confirmed. "The bone has been displaced, which is why your nose is crooked. We'll need to set it properly to allow for proper healing."
       I winced, the thought of having my nose forcibly reset not something I was looking forward to. "Will it hurt?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly.
         The doctor nodded, his face gentle but serious. "Unfortunately, yes. It won't be pleasant, but it's necessary. We'll give you some local anesthetic to help with the pain, but there will still be some discomfort."
         "Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart was racing, my mind bracing for the pain I knew was coming. "Do what you need to do."
~~•~~
          The pain of having my nose reset was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the sound of cartilage crunching under the doctor's touch, or the feeling of my bones being pushed back into place. The anesthetic helped, but only slightly. By the time it was done, I was shaking, sweat beading on my forehead, and my nose was so tender that even the soft touch of the doctor's hand made me wince.
      I left the clinic, my nose now reset and properly packed, but tender and swollen. A small white strip of medical tape was across the bridge, holding the gauze in place. The pain was dull but constant, a reminder of the night that I couldn't remember. I started the long, slow walk back home, knowing damn well that I was done for.