Fawn

A Doe's Spots

She was eerily beautiful.

The way her eyes flickered when she was thinking always reminded her of a shooting star against the nighttime sky. The way she stared at her was mildly embarrassing, yet somehow tranquil. There were many times that Ms. Rodgers felt scared to be in the room. She was told that Winter's outbursts were the worst of all of the adolescent patients in the ward. She had yet to experience that, and even if she had high hopes for Winter, she also had her many cautions.

This was their first meeting. For Winter, not for Ms. Rodgers. She had been observing the girl's sessions through the glass for some time now. She almost felt nervous, wondering what Winter would think of her as she entered the small white room.

"Hello, Winter," She began softly, taking a seat at the table separating them. "I'm Ms. Rodgers. I'm your new psychiatrist. It's nice to meet you."

A silence fell over them. Ms. Rodgers felt goosebumps on her arms and elbows, watching the thin girl look her up and down.

"My psychiartists have always told me their first names..." Winter explained after the long period of silence, appearing shy and embarrassed.

"Really, now?" Rodgers felt bad now. She extended her arm for a handshake. "Alright, well, my first name is Miracolina."

"Nice to meet you, Miracolina. That's a weird name." The girl said quietly. She spoke as if something sinister was eavesdropping, never breaking above a whisper.

"Well, most of my family are Hispanic. Just not my father's side. What about you?" Miracolina explained, hoping the tone of her normal voice would coax Winter out of her quiet one.

It did nothing. The little girl did not follow suit at all. She looked up at Miracolina, finally, with her twinkling grey eyes. She looked tired. Deep, dark circles lined those eyes, a sure sign that Winter hadn't been getting the sleep that she needed.

"I don't know. They didn't want me." Winter explained.

"I'm sorry, dear. We'll work on that. For now, I just need you to tell me a little bit about yourself." Miracolina smiled in an attempt to get Winter to perk up. This fell flat as well.

"I'm not married. I have no kids. I am 26 years old. I have blue eyes and blonde hair. My mom is Hispanic and my dad is caucasian. My family is from Costa Rico on my mother's side. My father's side is German and Irish. My favourite color is blue. Who am I?" Winter began laughing.

She leaned over the table, laughing and laughing and laughing.

Miracolina didn't find this very amusing. She raised a brow, confusion grasping her throat and yanking the voice from her stomach. She stammered, the embarrassing feeling returning as she watched Winter shriek with laughter.

"Y-you're me. I understand. Very funny, Winter. Very clever. I must say, you got most of those right." The psychiatrist said over Winter's laughter.

The patient became silent. Grey eyes found blue and sparked with a sense of challenge. "I got all of them right." Winter asserted.

"Alright. It's good to be confident in yourself, but I'm afraid I'll have to excuse myself for today. You're getting too unprofessional and riled up, Winter. I'll check back in tomorrow." She stood, walking calmly towards the door. Winter watched as she turned the handle and left the room.

Once in the hallway, Miracolina felt her stomach drop. Not only had Winter gotten all of those correct, but she had inferred and guessed the strangest and most specific things.. how did she know they were Costa Rican? How did she know her favourite color? She made sure, quickly, that she wasn't wearing any blue.

She wasnt.

Goosebumps crawled back onto her skin. This patient was worse than the observations and rumors.. she truly was terrifying. She was scary, Miracolina thought as she briskly walked down the hall.

Scary, yet.. eerily beautiful.