Creature - |H.S.|

Fourteen

Nova

3 Years Ago

"Lunch will be served in exactly 30 minutes. Patients, I repeat, lunch will be served in the dining hall in 30 minutes," the intercom beckons out of the speakers that surround the courtyard.

It's a sunny Fall day with the colorful leaves blanketing the ground. A crisp breeze touches my skin in the most inviting way possible. I love this time of the year the most. I would love it even more if I wasn't hiding away in the facility, separated from my friends and family. I've been here for a month now, trying to get used to the temporary routine. Everything revolves around an uncompromising schedule, leaving me only a few moments alone outside with my book.

I wake up, eat breakfast, head to counsel, sit outside to read, go to lunch, then participate in the facility's extracurricular activities just before dinner. Today is painting in the courtyard, which I am more than happy about. I'm not a skilled painter but it gives me a chance to stay outside and get some fresh air. The facility gives off a terrible metallic scent along with a hint of bleach; not to mention the questionable food that escapes from the dining hall, so I always take the opportunity to go outside.

I sit on my usual bench just under a red oak tree. The scarlett leaves shadow the bench just right, allowing for minimal sunlight to shine through onto the pages of my book. The silent whisper of the wind is music to my ears and allows me to drift into my story.

"I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited—they went there. . . . Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission."

"Miss Fisher?" A quiet voice breaks me away from my book, leaving me to look up at a male nurse who is now standing in front of me. "It's time for lunch," he says while clasping his hands together in front of him. He wears bright white scrubs with a badge attached to his shirt pocket.

Nurse Williams has always kind to me ever since I've arrived. Sometimes he lets me sit outside and continue reading while he sneaks me food from the cafeteria. He's one of the nicer workers here and understands the patient's needs. I wish the rest of the faculty was as caring as him. He really deserves a raise.

"I would let you stay out but I think the other nurses would catch on if they saw you were already out here waiting for the art activity," he gives an apologetic smile as if he wishes he could allow me to stay put in my reading spot.

"I understand, thank you though," I give him a thankful smile back and shut my book carefully, securing my bookmark between the pages. I stand on my sneakered feet, letting him lead the way to the dining hall.

The food has never smelt appetizing here. I miss going out to dinner with Judy and Mason. We would always try a new place each week. It was our idea of friend date nights. We usually would find a new place to eat before catching a movie at the downtown cinema. It was our weekly ritual and it was something I would always look for. The city has so much to offer and we wanted to experience everything during our 4 years there. I wonder if they still go out without me. I don't know if I'll even be going back to the city after I get out of here.

I grab a tray with a small salad before finding my place at my usual table by the window. I lay my book down on the table next to me before pouring the ranch dressing over top of my salad. I mix the lettuce around in the bowl before I bring a bite up to my mouth, letting my eyes scan my book page.

When I finish lunch I discard the half empty salad bowl into the trash before laying the tray on top of the dish cart. I clutch my book next to my side before heading back out to the courtyard for the painting activity. Most of the nurses have already started to set up wooden easels in a circle with large white canvases resting on top. I find an easel and set my book down on the ground next to me, watching other patients make their way towards the yard.