Dancing with Shadows ✔

A Familiar Presence

Dancing with Shadows

Chapter 25

A week had passed since Emma was admitted to Ellerslie's Mental Institution, and each day felt like it blurred into the next. The rigid schedule, the monotony of the activities, and the constant surveillance had taken a toll on her, making it difficult to hold on to any sense of normalcy. She spent most of her time in her room, the small window offering a view of nothing but grey skies and a distant fence.

This morning was no different—another day that began with the sound of the heavy door to her room creaking open. Emma was already awake, staring at the ceiling, when two nurses walked in. She recognized them immediately: Catharine, a stern woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanour, and Victor, a younger nurse who was kinder but always seemed tense.

"Good morning, Emma," Catharine said briskly, her voice lacking any warmth as usual. "We're here to do a check-up, make sure everything is progressing well."

Emma nodded wordlessly, sitting up in bed. She had learned quickly that it was best to comply with their requests without question; resistance only led to more questions and notes in her file. Victor set down a small tray of medical instruments while Catharine retrieved a blood pressure cuff.

"Let's start with your vitals," Catharine instructed. Emma extended her arm, feeling the familiar squeeze of the cuff as it tightened around her bicep. The nurse watched the monitor closely, jotting down numbers on her clipboard.

"Blood pressure is normal," Catharine said, her tone neutral. "How have you been feeling, Emma? Any dizziness, nausea?"

"Not really," Emma replied softly, though the truth was that she had felt nauseous for days, her appetite almost nonexistent. The constant stress and fear had weighed on her, making it hard to focus on anything else. But she didn't want to give them more reasons to poke and prod her.

"Alright," Victor said, stepping forward with a Doppler device in hand. "It's been a while since we checked on the baby. This will only take a moment."

Emma nodded again, lying back on the bed and lifting her shirt slightly to expose her growing belly. She felt a pang of anxiety as Victor applied the cold gel to her skin, the sensation jarring in the sterile environment. He moved the device over her stomach, his brow furrowing as he concentrated.

For a moment, there was only silence, and Emma's heart began to race. She stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. But then, the room filled with the sound of a steady, rhythmic heartbeat—a sound that brought both relief and a fresh wave of tears to her eyes.

"There's the heartbeat," Victor said with a small smile, glancing at Catharine. "Strong and regular."

"Good," Catharine said, noting it down. "Emma, everything seems to be progressing as it should. How are you feeling about the pregnancy?"

Emma hesitated, unsure of how to answer. She had spent so much time worrying about how to protect her baby, and now, with Lila's cryptic warning about "babies," she felt more anxious than ever. But she couldn't explain any of that to these nurses—they wouldn't understand.

"I just want to make sure the baby's safe," Emma finally said, her voice trembling slightly. It was the most honest thing she could say without revealing too much.

Catharine studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable. "We're here to make sure both you and the baby are healthy," she said, though the words felt hollow to Emma. She knew their concern was clinical, detached from the personal stakes she felt every day.