rush//5SOS

5

The white button seemed to be the girl's best friend.

Again, she hit it.

A man came through, immediately coming to her side. He couldn't help but notice how awful she looked, then again, most people had.

"I need some medicine or water or perhaps you could slip me something... you know?"

"I can get you water and painkillers,"

"I'll just take the water. Tell Ashton to go fuck himself,"

She felt so much anger towards him, unreasonably she knew, but it was there.

"You shouldn't speak to staff like that, he didn't choose to take care of you just like you didn't choose to be here,"

"Do I sound like I care? He's ruined my life,"

"I think he's saved it, actually,"

**
Ashton walked into her room, the familiar pang of sick filling it. For some reason, no one had thought to turn the air con on so he did that, hoping it did something.

She laid down, looking at him for a second then letting her eyes drift away again.

"Go fuck myself huh? No patient has said that to me before,"

"I'm not a patient,"

"Okay, but I don't think you want to be called my friend,"

"I want to not exist but here we are,"

"Why don't you want to exist?" Ashton asked, more than concerned about the comment. It couldn't be taken lightly in places like this, after what she had been through.

"Because I'm here. And you guys are giving me less medicine,"

"We have to get you off it eventually, how about me and you go for a quick walk while the others eat lunch?"

It hurt him to know this place made her feel that way, but it always did with new patients and it would until she accepted it.

"I look a mess,"

"We all do,"

He walked next to her down the long, empty corridor. To him, it was a pleasant walk but to her it was eerie and made her room seem comforting.

"So how often did you go out?"

"Why does that matter?"

"I just wanted to know,"

"Sometimes people came to mine, other times I went out. I really don't see why it's any of your business,"

"Because I'm here to help,"

"I don't need help,"

"You do. You have fresh cuts on your arm. Your breath stinks, your hair is greasy and your skin is almost yellow,"

"I look that bad?"

"Again, we all do," he said, turning back round.

"Did you always dream of locking people away so they felt like their entire body was on fire?"

"No, I dreamt of helping people re built their life,"

"Well then you're in the wrong place,"

She was starting to test his patience, but he kept it cool. Meanwhile, Freya couldn't get over quite how calm he was. She knew he was riling him up but as he let her do it, it wasn't fun.

She actually kinda respected him.

"When it's time to leave you'll be sad,"

"No, I'll get to leave you,"

That was it for him.

He was trying to help her, being as kind and calm as possible when he had every right to shout at her. Not that he would do that, but he wasn't letting it slide either.

"I get that you don't wanna be here, but it's nothing to do with me. Your dad is paying good money for this, and I'm trying to give you the best care but you're shouting abuse at me. It doesn't change the face that you're here so why don't you try and be nice for a change," he snapped, opening her door again.

"Don't tell me what to do,"

"That's what I'm here for,"

"I need the toilet,"

"Then go,"

She walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Stupid place, it had no locks.

She'd also lied to Ashton. He knew that too. Her front was simply that, a front.

Her legs gave way and she suck down to the ground, her back against the bathtub as she started to sob.

She couldn't help but think 'Why has my dad left me here?'

"Freya? I'm coming in,"

"Leave me alone,"

"What do you usually do if you're upset?"

"Cut or get drunk,"

"So it's an escaping mechanism,"

"No,"

"I think you'll find it is sweetheart, as with lots of people. You go and have a nap, I think we will talk later,"