[center][h1][color=FFEFD5]Jessamyn[/color][/h1][/center]

There was a window some four feet from Jessamyn’s bed.  Being on one of the upper floors of the hospital meant she couldn’t see much else than the overcast grey sky that hadn’t stopped her from staring at it nearly every waking hour.  There wasn’t anyone to visit her but nurses and doctors and nothing on the T.V. held her attention.  She was moping, but knowing it didn’t seem to make a difference. 

[color=FFEFD5]“Ms. Colmer”[/color] Jessa did her best to ignore the voice, but couldn’t hide the involuntary flinch at the sound of the man’s voice.  Dr. Holmen, the in-house shrink.  It took them all about three minutes after finding out her history to conclude she must have tried to kill herself or at least come totally unhinged, despite having found her car (a total write-off now) two days ago. The doctor knew better than to say anything, but she could feel him staring at her.  It made her angry, which he took improvement from the monotonous numb cloud she’d wrapped herself in. She lasted a whole thirty seconds before turning around.  Apparently that was enough invitation for him to come and lean on her cot.

[color=FFEFD5]“How are we today my dear?”[/color] Jessa’s scowl reflected back on his glasses. God she looked horrible, she’d done almost nothing but sleep for three days and yet dark circles had formed blue and sunken under her eyes.

[color=FFEFD5]“They’re planning to move you today. With some other patients.”[/color] He waited her out again, and won, again.
[color=FFEFD5]“I don’t want group therapy”[/color] The smile she received told he’d been expecting her to say that.

[color=FFEFD5]“No that’s not what this is.  In fact the papers are all set up for your release this after-noon, so long as I see a bit of positive attitude.[/color] Jessa squeezed her eyes shut and did her best to block out the constant image of a small cold hand grasping her own.  It didn’t feel like a smile, and judging from the ill-controlled shaking of the doctor’s shoulders, didn’t much resemble on either. [color=FFEFD5]“You’re going to have to do a bit better than that I’m afraid Ms. Colmer. You can start by walking with me.”[/color]

Her legs hadn’t been hurt.  In fact aside from a mild fever, dehydration, and being totally unconscious nothing was wrong with Jessamyn when she was checked into the hospital. ‘A true miracle, with the storm and all’.  Still, lying in bed for three days left her slightly off balance. Dr. Holmen took hold of her arm as the room swayed. After a few seconds, he tried persuading her to continue.
[color=FFEFD5]“There’s a nurse with coffee waiting right on the other side of that door.”[/color] After three steps she could manage on her own, and shrugged the hand away.
Sure enough a nurse was waiting with two styrofoam cups just behind the door, a pitifully proud smile plastered to her face. Jessa grabbed the cup and kept walking before the woman could make a comment.
[color=FFEFD5]“Second door on your left”[/color] The doctor pointed to the right as they reach the hallway’s end. Jessa hesitated.
[color=FFEFD5] “Who was I meeting again?”[/color] His response was only to grin and turn around.  She sipped her coffee. Cold, again. Two coffee’s a day for three days and only one of them had been even luke-warm. The door was already open and she could hear voices inside. She checked once more to make sure her gown hadn’t come undone before stepping into the room.

It was unsettling, being around so many strangers, even the air felt different past the door, and her first impulse was to sit near the wall and avoid eye contact. Of course, that wouldn’t really be a positive attitude.
[color=FFEFD5]“Hello, I’m Jessa.”[/color] She spoke quickly enough for the words to be near unintelligible, then quickly found a seat where she nursed her horrible, cold, coffee.  But it was hard not to notice the severe injuries of two of the others in the room. One still in a bed, she craned her neck to look closer, and winced as the sight of IV’s running from the girls arm, and the nasty bruise around her neck. It was hard to tell anyone's age when injured and hooked up to machines, but she looked young. [color=FFEFD5]“Shouldn’t there be a nurse in here…?”[/color]