WATCHED : CAMGIRL (EN)

CHAPTER 1 | LUCY

I groan as I stretch my sore muscles and watch my black coffee drip into the cup. The last drop falls, I grab my mug, and light a cigarette after sitting down at the table.

I exhale a swirl of gray smoke, and my eyes are naturally drawn to the pile of "Urgent" mail stacking up in the corner, growing larger by the day.

It brings me down, like a dark cloud suddenly formed over my head, ready to pour rain until the end of the day.

I sigh into my cup as I bring it to my lips, feeling the weight in my chest, and force myself to look away.

It's early, and it's still dark when I head to Royal Papworth Hospital. I already dread the puddles of vomit and the smears of shit on the walls waiting for me to clean.

I puff as I pedal along the sidewalk, heading to the hospital parking lot. Dense steam escapes from my frozen lips, and I can barely feel my face or the tips of my fingers wrapped around the handlebars.

But I don't take long to get there.

I sigh in relief as the warmth of the lobby hits my face when I walk through the reception, heading to the staff locker room.

In front of my locker, Meryl scrolls through her phone, a cup of coffee in hand. She lifts her head from the screen when she hears me enter, and smiles when she recognizes me. I smile back and close the door behind me.

"You don't look so good," she notes, feigning a pout.

I let out an amused breath through my nose as I shuffle to my locker. She moves aside to give me space.

"Let's just say... the night was short," I sigh, unlocking my locker.

Meryl catches the hint and winces.

In the entire department, Meryl is the only one who knows about my nighttime activities. She's the one I really like talking to. The other nurses aren't as friendly as they seem. The doctors are even worse; they barely notice us. As for the care assistants, they're always at war with the rest of the staff.

"So... how did it go?" she asks hesitantly.

I raise an eyebrow as I remove my things.

"I mean... your guys, they don't get too handsy? Or disrespectful?"

I smile, plugging my headphones into my phone and hanging them around my neck.

"It's fine. There are a few pushy ones, but not as bad as you'd think," I chuckle.

Meryl nods, looking thoughtful.

Even though she respects my life choices, she's not a fan of how I expose myself online.

She often avoids the topic—and so do I. Or she brings it up rarely, like today.

She's only a few years older than me, but sometimes I feel like she worries about me, like a mother or an older sister would.

"I like it!" I add. "That's the most important thing, right?"

Meryl snaps out of her daze and smiles, rolling her eyes before taking a sip of her coffee. She's still in her work uniform.

I frown.

"Are you finished?" I ask.

She shakes her head, mouth full, and then swallows.

"No, I'm on a little break. I finish in..." she glances at her phone screen, then looks back up, smiling. "Two hours!"

I laugh softly at her enthusiasm and put on my janitor's coat.