Raw Winter

Chapter 15: Bursting

Dr. Windwell was learning quickly what things did and didn't frighten Winter. She rarely had a client like her, so it was something she considered almost educational. For Winter's credit, she did her best to accept compromises when she needed to and could. She could instruct her to look away whenever she needed to take blood, though sometimes Winter accidentally looked over and would have to be calmed down.

There were some ways the doctor had to be careful not to hold her. Winter didn't take well to having her shoulders touched, and the doctor couldn't stand over her, or she would panic. She was growing comfortable with the examination table, but couldn't have her arms on the arms of the chair too long, or she would become unresponsive. It was never a good idea to put something on her face. Windwell also familiarized herself with Winter's speech because she would react badly if misunderstood.

At first, Winter insisted she find somewhere in town to eat, but Dr. Windwell decided against it, insisting she eat in the clinic. She didn't want to risk Winter having an attack in public and didn't want her to become well known in the village in case there came a day when she had to escape and had to stay hidden when the manor came to ask questions. It had crossed her mind many times to ship Winter away, especially when she found new marks on her, or heard fresh stories from Charlet. She knew Charlet cared about her, no matter how hostile Winter acted. They could hardly blame Winter.

She knew if she were to sneak Winter out, they would come to retrieve her, and would label her a criminal or a lost piece of property. She hated the concept. It was illegal for people to own people, but it was so much easier for the nobility to get around the laws. It was a matter of guessing what kind of wild story they would tell to assure Winter wouldn't have a chance.

As it was, she settled for assisting her with her pregnancy. She slipped vitamins and medicine into her food to fortify her and make everything easier, knowing telling her would make her feel paranoid about what she was being given.

Winter was paranoid about her food as it was, often dragging out how long it would take her to eat. She would disguise this habit by talking, but Dr. Windwell hoped she was genuinely having better days when she was talkative. She also smelled her food, and the doctor couldn't be sure if there was a specific reason, but she didn't question it.

Dr. Windwell tried not to show disgust towards Winter whenever she behaved like an animal. It wasn't merely because it looked unnatural, but also it sickened her to think someone could deliberately change a person's mannerisms like this. Much of the time spent with Winter was helping her with her speech issues in the guise of medical lessons. She admired how veracious Winter was for learning, but imagined it made it easier to drill these other habits into her.

There was a limit to what Winter could tolerate. She had tried to reach it gently at first, but with each day spent with her, and the more she wished to see her normal and healthy again, she became pushier.

"What don't you understand?" Winter snapped, her hands slamming against the desk between them, her dull, dark eyes bright with anger.

"I just think it would pay off if you spoke slower," Windwell said, her own voice slow and precise.

"Is that why you're talking to me like that?" Winter replied, showing her teeth, a growl building deep in her chest. "Do you think I chose this; that I don't try every day?"

"Let's just get back to the game," Windwell replied, now no longer looking at her, discomfort etched in her features.

"It disgusts you what I am, doesn't it?" Winter snapped. "You act like you understand and care, but I don't doubt I'm just some sort of experiment for you as well. Do you know how exhausting it is to know everyone in your life only cares about you because you became something unrecognizable?"