Nevertheless

This was the biggest waste of time ever, and it was keeping Sandy from her escape plans. It was hard to be patient in the face of such absolute rubbish.

Sandy had had to explain, yet again, where the elf came from, and what it had got up to.

The nurse said, "Is the elf in the room with us now?"

Sunday wanted to snap. Longed to cut through the layers of condescension and suggestion. Roll her eyes and say, "of course not!", or better yet, "fuck off".

Instead she schooled her voice to calmness, and smoothed the scowl off her face. A deep, cleansing breath...

"No," she said, her tone dull and flat. "I tore it up into little bits and tried to set it on fire. That's why I'm here, isn't it? So Ji... the elf couldn't possibly be here."

The nurse watched her with eyes like beetles, staring out of a doughy, powdered face.

"Nevertheless."

Her foundation is too light and she uses too much, and her hair is too dark. Makes her look washed out. Not to mention, it looks ridiculous. No way that's her natural colour at her age. Looks like a cheap box colour, too.

The nurse cleared her throat. "The thing is, you know that is the logical answer, but do you really believe it?"

Sandy stared back, thoroughly bored now, and eager to get back to her gaming buddy in the common room.

"This was left for you," the nurse continued, holding out a red and white striped package.

Sandy took it, wary, and tore off the paper.

When she saw the bright red tunic and stupid, staring eyes, she dropped it like a rattlesnake and swallowed a scream. She didn't hear what the nurse said next. Too busy backing away, revulsion stamped on her face.


"I said," the nurse repeated, smugness accumulating like gunk in the corners of her thin lips, "Now do you see? You don't really believe the elf was burned. On some level you feared that could be him, didn't you?"

Sandy wanted to say no, no, you're wrong, that's not how it works at all... " but the nurse was on a roll.

"Do you understand?" she was saying, "Do you believe me that you're in the best place?"

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