Adrien Agreste had been in a mental hospital all of his life. Nolan Hospital to be exact. When the hospital becomes desperate to let him out and help with his behavior, they hire a girl his age, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, in hopes to help him.
However...
Her pain wasn't evident on her skin, but rather it left invisible scars, which were only visible to none other than herself. The emotional pain pierced through her heart and mind, breaking her with each and passing day. And with the pain that twisted her heart into a knot, she couldn't find a cure for the unbearable agony that ceased to accumulate. However, she was able to find the perfect distraction, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, her knight in shining armor.
The thought of his bright red hair, which resembled a raging fire, and his aquamarine eyes that resembled the color of the infinite ocean, stretching across the horizon, warmed her wounded heart. She had to admit, she missed him while he was away on business trips.
Nathaniel worked for a big art company that produced art for Parisians while she worked at home, creating outfits for people within the safe place she called her home.
Her thoughts on Nathaniel were interrupted as the doorbell rang, followed by 4 unique knocks, which could only be from one person: Alya, her best friend since the tragic accident that took place several years before. Ever since then, they were always inseparable.
Setting down her beloved needle and thread, Marinette pulled her hair back out of her face with a hair tie and a bobby pin before weaving her way around the living room to answer the door.
"Alya? Is that you?" She called out as she opened the door. However, the smile that consumed her face didn't last long due to the familiar doctor, Adeline Segura, who was at the door, her long dark hair pulled back into a neat pony tail. She flashed Marinette a wide smile, while her olive colored eyes, which reminded her of the familiar green irises that belonged to Adrien, seemed dull and dark.
Something's wrong...
"Sorry to disturb you, Ms. Dupain-Cheng. Are you busy?" Dr. Segura's voice rang out through Marinette's apartment, reminding her that this wasn't a dream. Reluctantly, she opened the door wider for the doctor, who visits her every week. The Nolan Hospital doctor was started to get on her nerves with the amount of frequent visits.
"Before you start, is it about Adrien again?" She already knew the answer, but it was polite to ask anyway.
"I'm sorry, Marinette, but Mr. Agreste really needs you right now. I can't count the number of times he refers to you. As the head of the department, I have no other option but to come to you in hopes it will help this situation." Adeline explained as she took a step inside the dark apartment. After she entered, Marinette closed the door behind her.
"I told you I'm not going back there, Doctor." At this point in time, Marinette really missed Nathaniel. He'd take care of these types of situations, which she tried desperately to ignore. "I just- I can't do it."
"I'm not trying to force you, but I fear that his condition might get worse." Adeline attempted to reason as she found herself admiring Nathaniel and Marinette's engagement photos. "We will hire you as a volunteer. All you have to do is be a friend to him and ease his mind." She looked back up at Marinette, who was trying to busy herself with her latest design.
Marinette felt trapped like a small mouse being cornered by a hungry cat. Helpless. Were the walls closing in on her? She didn't know. If she stayed here within the safety of her thin apartment walls, she will feel guilty. However if she goes, she will risk reliving her dreadful childhood memories, which she loathed with a passion.
"Goodbye, Ms. Segura." Marinette opened the door, indicating that she wanted the woman to leave. Adeline only sighed in response, nodding her head in understanding.
"Good day, Ms. Dupain-Cheng." Adeline nodded her head in Marinette's general direction before opening the door herself and slipping outside, leaving Marinette to do the rest of her work in deafening silence.
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A D E L I N E
She sat at her desk for hours, clutching a red pen in her hand, tapping on a paper stained with tears and mascara. She wanted to write down exactly what she knew but somehow the paper stayed empty; stained. And somehow, she had nothing to write about. With Adrien not getting any better, It was nearly impossible to log his progress, which was unnerving for Adeline Segura.
She swiveled behind her, rummaging through her drawers to find more information on the boy. "Beth? Beth! I need his files!" She called out towards the front desk. Addie had never been in a such a dilemma like this one, which stressed her out more than she realized.
While attempting to help Adrien though his illness, she is losing sleep as well as time to spend on her life.
Adeline Segura was the head of the department at Asante Hospital. She was also in charge of monitoring others at their work, making sure everyone was was working effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, when it came to Adrien, no one could help him nor did they want to deal with him.
"What did Marinette say?" Beth asked as she set Adrien Agreste's files on her desk. She tucked a strand of her graying hair behind her ear.
"Same response as always." Adeline sighed as she tapped her pen on the wooden desk repeatedly. "She wants nothing to do with him."
"It's not just Adrien you know, Doctor. She doesn't exactly like this place. It reminds her too much of Bridgette." Beth informed her as she leaned against the doorframe. Beth was known to be one of the oldest staff members to work in this hospital. She'd grown close to Marinette in the past. "I haven't seen her since she was about ten." She whispered, reliving the memory.
Before Adeline could say that she never had Marinette as a patient, the phone rung, interrupting their conversation. "I have to take this." Adeline gave her an apologetic smile before she reached towards her phone. "Hello?" She said unto the phone as she pressed it to her ear.
"It's Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning."
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