Death Wish

Chapter 4: White Walls

I'm woken up by the sound of shuffling papers. I open one eye and see a sterile white.

The clinic? What? Who brought me here?

The memories of yesterday come flooding back. I close my eye and feel tears coming back.

I was supposed to die yesterday! Who brought me here?

The anger threatening to consume me eventually wins and takes over. I hate emergency medical places. They're filled with death. They're also the reason I'm still alive. I hate them. Why do doctors have to be so good at their jobs? I can't deal with being in a clinic. It's terrible. I'm almost asleep again until I feel a shadow loom over me.

"Linnea?"

The second to last voice I want to hear right now echoes in my ears. Lorenzo. What is he doing here? I quickly sit up.

"Linnea? Oh thank goodness you're okay."

"What are you doing here? I thought I lost you in the forest. Can you stop following me like a lost puppy for once in your life?"

"Linnea," Dr. Vasdrik, one of the three doctors in town, says sharply. "That's no way to treat the person who saved you from starvation and/or bleeding out in the forest."

It was him? He's the reason I'm living?

I glare at Lorenzo and his smile fades quickly.

Under Dr. Vasdrik's watchful eye, I mumble, "Thank you, Lorenzo, for saving me today."

He looks worried when I say today. How long was I out?

"Linnea, what day is today?"

"Um... Monday, August 21, 2015."

"Linnea, it's Thursday, the 24th."

"What? Oh my goodness. I have to go home. Thibault is going to kill me," I say, mumbling the last part.

Dr. Vasdrik and Lorenzo look at me weirdly but choose to ignore it. Yeah, they probably think I'm the helpless little girl who can't do anything and wants to go home. I fume and cross my arms.

"When can I be discharged?" I ask, trying not to lace bitterness in my voice.

"Well, you're healing very well so you'll be able to leave on Friday," Dr. Vasdrik responds.

"What? I need to go now. My hand is fine. I can barely see the place where I scratched myself."

"What are you talking about? Linnea, I found you with a knife in your hand. You sliced your hand open on a rusty knife," Lorenzo says, looking at me quizzically.

Hmm... so I didn't dig my nails in. Interesting. I'm trying to kill myself even without my sub-conscious. This is great news! Maybe I'll sleepwalk off a cliff or impale myself with a knife!

I grin smugly.

"Linnea, this is no laughing matter! You could've died." Lorenzo protests.

And what a shame that would've been.

I open my mouth to say something back, but Dr. Vasdrik clears his throat and stops a potential argument.

"Because of the rusty knife, we'll need to keep you here for an extra day to rest and check for infections. Your knife would was extremely deep. Since you have been resting since Monday, after tomorrow, you may leave."

Dr. Vasdrik exits, forcing me alone with Lorenzo.

"How long have you been here?" I question.

"I've been visiting every day before and after school. I brought your books and homework."

I smile at the thought of all the schoolwork. Although I hate school and homework, it serves as a nice distraction from the pain and loneliness.

A cough snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Why do you care so much? Let's face it, I've made it known I really don't like you. Why'd you visit so much?" I immediately interrogate.

"I thought how you acted at schools and it didn't seem you had any friends, so I thought you'd want one."

"So I'm your charity case? Nice to know you pity me. You can leave," I say, pointing at the door.

He looks at me with those emerald green eyes and I almost surrender, then catch myself.

What in the world? He's a jerk who'll eventually leave you. Why? Because you murdered your family. It's your fault you're alone and it's your fault everyone left you. Make him leave. If you make him leave, he doesn't leave because of his own accord. He leaves because you made him. So he didn't leave you. That technically means not everyone leaves. Right? So make him leave.

I regain my composure and say sternly, "Leave."

He gives me a lingering look, but obeys and exits the room. I sigh in relief. Seeing the books on my desk, I give myself up to another night of studying and distraction.

___
A/N
I tried to make the little medical talk as accurate as possible. Sorry if it isn't.

Pictured: Linnea's room in the clinic

Remember: constructive criticism is always appreciated!