Fly High | ✅

35 | Truce

◈A D R I A N◈

Tick tick tick.

The sense of dread grew heavier as my eyes followed the minute hand on the white face of a plain clock ticking closer to the number twelve.

Ten more minutes and I would be out in the wild for Damon to hunt. There would be no reason for me to remain in the hospital.

No.

I would probably be back here sooner than expected. Except, this time, my body would lay on a cold steel bed in the morgue rather than a ward.

I burrowed my face in the cradle of my chilled, sweaty palms. An almost hysterical laugh escaped my dry lips at the thought of that. The irony in this was as laughable as a dead man's joke.

"Thinking about something funny? I bet you're itching to get out from this depressing room, huh?" Helga asked, having misunderstood my laughter for something jovial. I looked up to see her placing a stack of freshly washed clothes on the table on my side.

I recognized the clothes to be mine. The threadbare sweater with familiar loose strands circling the sleeves was hard to be missed.

"Thanks," I muttered absentmindedly.

She gave a sad smile. "Is there really no one to pick you up? I can give your mom a call if you want."

I shook my head vigorously. "It's fine, really. She's really busy. I'll be fine on my own."

Helga didn't look convinced but I got up immediately and grabbed the clothes before she could say anything.

"I need to get changed," I said and held up the clothes, hoping she would get the drift and leave me alone to mull things over.

"Right. I'll leave you to that," she relented and left the room.

Sighing, I dropped the clothes on the bed and started to unbutton the shirt. My exposed skin pebbled in the chill air and I hurriedly pulled the sweater down my head. The faint throb on my chest forced me to slow down and be careful as I shrugged my arms through the sleeves.

Helga knocked on the door when I was zipping up my jeans. "Are you decent yet?" A hint of humour was evident in her tone.

I jumped and my fingers fumbled with the loop, fearing she would barge in any time soon.

"Just a minute," I yelled and breathed out in relief when the button obediently fastened in its loop. "I'm decent now."

The door pushed open and a head with salt and pepper hair popped in. Helga smiled and held up a notable white box with green polka dots.

"No way," I breathed out excitedly.

Her smile grew wider at my excitement. "I thought a little sugar might give you a boost of positivity."

I took the box and quickly opened the lid. Six glistening doughnuts nestled enticingly within the box. Peanuts, chocolate glazing and sprinkles! My stomach growled eagerly at such a delicious sight.

Helga looked at me expectantly so I pushed my shyness aside and picked up my favourite, a chocolate glazed doughnut with rainbow sprinkles on it.