I sit down in the waiting room, watching as other patients hustle throughout the hospital. An elderly man getting taken into a blood drawing room, a little girl probably aged 4 asking her mum when they'd be going home repeatedly as her mum would shush her and say "soon" and then there was a pregnant woman and her husband, probably, sitting beside her. I sigh and tap my foot nervously on the tiled floor.
A door opens and a CNR scans the sheet on her clipboard before calling "Stephanie?"
I nod and collect my things on the chair beside me before following her back down the hall.
"Can you stand on the scale please?" She says, not looking up from her clipboard.
"Sure"
I take off my shoes and light jacket, setting it beside the scale. I step on and close my eyes, hoping that maybe my weight has gone back up since I'd changed my diet and had a new treatment plan.
"Hmm" I can tell she shakes her head without even looking back at her.
**
"Mum, I really don't want to go nor do I need to. The Doc says It's not quite necessary yet"
"But Stephh, I just want to do what's best for you. I know this could help you."
"I refuse to go"
"Just try it. Just once. If you hate it, you won't have to go again."
I consider it, while I play with the bracelet around my small, frail wrist.
"Fine" I mutter.
"Good I'll take you at 6"
I sigh softly and lay back on my bed and pull the duvet up. Within minutes, I fall asleep.
**
Later on, I am awaken by my mum calling me from downstairs. "Stephh!" I groan and pull the pillow over my head to muffle her voice. Not even a minute later she calls my name, her tone is filled with more annoyance than the previous time. I sit up in bed and glance at the clock. It's 5:45.
**
I bite my lip as we pull up to the front of the local therapy building in town. "Mum.." I sigh and give her a saddened expression. She rolls her eyes and swats my arm softly.
"Stephh, this will help you. Do this for me at least?" She looks at me with a similar expression. I look out towards the building again, watching as a boy, probably 2 years younger than me walks inside.
"Alright" I mumble, jumping out of the car. I slam the door, but not too hard and my mum rolls the window down.
"I'll be back to get you in an hour" I barely hear her say as I walk up to the front doors.
I nod and give her a small wave then turn back around. "It can't be so bad.." I tell myself as I reach the doors. A middle aged man holds the door open for me. I quietly thank him and look around the spacious room. There's a group of teens huddling in a corner talking about some sporting event that happened last week, a girl sitting in the circle of chairs reading of Mice and Men, and two boys standing near the water fountains. I sigh and sit in the chair on the right of the girl reading the book.
"One of the classics" I say to her and she looks over giving me a small nod. I swear she glared but I ignore it. I pull my phone out of pocket and check the time. 6:15. It should be starting any minute. As if the instructor has read my mind, he announces that therapy for today is beginning.
"Everyone, please sit down." He specifically looks at the group of people I noticed in the corner before. They all slowly make their way to a seat and look up to the instructor.
