ONLY THE LONELY

Max walks casually into the Staff Room, where he is greeted by a delighted Lofty who is preparing to make himself a cup of coffee.

"What's twiddled your curls?" Asks Max.

"What if I told you I had a girlfriend?" Lofty replies merrily. 

"Dressing up a broomstick in clothes and putting a famous actress's cut-out face mask on it doesn't count, Lofty. How many times?" Max replies in a teasing manner.

"Wait, how did you know I did that? Anyway, you'll never guess who it is... Robyn!" Lofty shouts delightfully, hoping he gains some attention from a few of the nurses who are also present in the room at the time. 

"Robyn, my step-sister?" Asks Max, before winking at Lofty, as Lofty's eyes widen upon the remembrance that they're related.  He swiftly introduces a new topic.

"Yeah. Anyway, how's Zoe? You know of course with Sharice being admitted into the department, must be tough to have seen her again, don't you think?" Lofty says quite timidly, trying his hardest to not sound too nosy. 

"I don't know Lofty. She doesn't seem affected by the situation, but there's something changed about her. We had a laugh this morning, and it feels like nothing ever happened to her, but I know deep down she's a bit upset. I want to talk to her about it, but I don't know what I'm meant to say. You get me?" Max replies, worried and fearfully. 

"You just need to console her, Max, that's the best advice I can give. Ask her if she's okay, if she says yes, you just have to leave it. If she says no, then ask her what's affecting her. Yeah?" Lofty advises Max. As he finishes his sentence, he places a teaspoon in the kitchen sink. He picks up his coffee mug which has hot coffee in it. He cups it in his hands and goes to take a sip, but the heat of the coffee overwhelms his mouth, and he immediately returns the boiling water back into the cup. 

"Did you just backwash?" Max asks, before laughing. "Anyway I've gotta go, if you're up for it we can go for a drink after work?" 

"I'm seeing Robyn when I've finished my shift, but if I have time I'll meet you there, okay?" Lofty answers. Max returns a smile before leaving the Staff Room.

 As Max exits, he bumps into Zoe, who appears to be juggling a mountain of paperwork in her arms. "Hello you, can I help with any of that?" Max asks. Zoe continues to progress down the corridor and pushes the doors open into reception. 

"Here, take the top two files and deposit them to Noel please. I can do the rest." Zoe replies politely. Max removes the top two files and dumps them on the desk in front of Noel. Afterwards, Max quickly catches back up with Zoe, before hesitating for a second.

"Can it wait until later, Max? You see I'm kind of busy at the moment." Zoe explains, as Max opens Zoe's office door. "Thank you, now, what do you want? Make it quick, I need to get back to work." Zoe finishes. 

Max closes the office door. "Look, I know you don't want to talk about it, but are you okay? You know with Sharice returning and then leaving just like that. If you want to talk I'm here, but only if you want to, of course." Max speaks quickly and hesitantly, convinced what he's saying will only cause tension between their relationship. 

"Not here, Max. I don't want to talk about it, just forget it ever happened, please?" Zoe replies quite sternly. She then opens the office door again and begins to walk out and through to Resus. Max runs through and follows, trying to keep up with her. 

"Can we meet up for a drink later? I can't not let my lovely girlfriend not have a drink after a hard day's work can I?" Max replies, he then winks at her, hoping he's won her back again. 

"Yeah, sure." Zoe replies immediately, before turning her head round, giving him a quick kiss and then walking through and into Resus. The doors whip back and forth, and Max just stand there, watching Zoe as she returns to her working state.

********************   

Back at Maya's house, Maya sits in an office chair with an oak-polished desk and computer in front of her. She is in her bedroom, which is very small and untidy with the floor swamped in worn clothing. There is one big window, blanketed in dust, which allows plenty of light to complete the room. Her schoolbag is by the chair. She digs into it and picks out her pencil case. She puts her pencil case on the desk and turns her attention to the computer. She wiggles the mouse a little and the screen awakes from sleep mode. As the screen returns to what was there before it turned itself off - Maya's eyes widen further. There's a message there from Chantelle, and it is the topless image which she sent to her boyfriend. 

Maya feels her face burn with embarrassment, and reaches out for her pencil case. She unzips it and picks out a maths compass. She lifts the sleeve of her left arm and presses the sharp part of the compass against her skin. She presses harder and harder until the skin is pierced. Blood begins to trickle from the fresh, open wound. A tear falls from her face, but she continues to self-harm.