Things To Come | Tag - Open

[jasmine kirk patrick]

Teeth sank deep into her bottom lips as she stood there, in front of the hospital doors. It was cold out and Jas buried her face into the collar of her coat. She didn’t want to go inside of that building, but she didn’t really have a choice. She made the appointment herself – she knew it was necessary – and she had to follow through. Jas wasn’t one to not show up for something she’d agreed to, but standing here now did make her terribly nervous. Obviously, she could still cancel; she had her phone on her. She could simply call and tell a little white lie. How she was stuck in traffic, maybe, or maybe that she had the flu; any doctor would tell her it was better to stay home then and reschedule the appointment.

But that all wouldn’t be helping. She had to go through with this.

A couple of weeks she’d been here now. A couple of weeks away from all the drama, the fear, the pain. Well, not the pain, exactly, because for some strange reason, the bruises on her body hadn’t completely healed yet, and that made Jas worry. It was the exact reason why she was here today, to get them checked. Normally, the bruises caused by a beating would disappear after a week or two, but currently, Jas still had a big one on her back, one on her right arm and a couple on her legs that had only turned colors from blue-purple to red-brownish and faded only a bit.

Back home, she’d rehearsed exactly what she was going to say. She was so used to coming up with excuses, lying to her acquaintances, because she couldn’t really call them friends. Her real friends she’d lost years ago. But she quickly shook her head at that thought. She wasn’t going to be able to change that and that’s why she’d come here. To start a new life, to have things change for the better.

Inhaling deeply, the woman started to move forward. Her steps were unsure and small, but at least, she was moving. The doors opened in front of her, allowing her passage inside. The large, white halls almost gave Jas goose bumps. She hated hospitals. If only the doctor wouldn’t see through her lies.. This would’ve been so much easier if she’d had a friend by her side, who’d confirm her story. But again, she shook her head. That was wishful thinking, and impossible, to say the least.

Anxiously, the raven strolled on until she reached the right section. To top it all, the waiting room was crowded and Jas was early; she had to wait at least have an hour now; she’d left home early, just in case she’d need a while to force herself to go inside. Apparently, she’d underestimated herself, because this was a new record. Another sigh escaped her lips as she walked into the room, bowed her head at everyone who’d lifted their eyes towards her and took a seat in between two people; the only seat left. Her heart pounded. ‘Please, God, let me walk out of here in one piece,’ she thought to herself.