The Clinic
Ashley drove her car attentively down the street. Her destination would be coming up eventually, in a not so nice part of town. She drove past upscale shoppes and cute little eateries. Past the fancy park with quaint gazebos and beautiful flower arrangements. As she approached a busy intersection the light turned red. She stopped and while she waited her mind began to wander like it often did.
Was this really a good idea? Would it really work? What if I end up with something even worse? And most of all were the things I heard true? Ashley wondered as she glanced at herself in the rearview mirror. Dark circles hung under her pale blue eyes. Her hair now gray was once a head of healthy brunette locks, making her look much older than thirty-six.
“You are so stupid Ashley. You are making a big mistake!” Ashley tried hard to block out the voices, but they were always there, ever since she was a teenager. Her head hurt. She squeezed her eyes shut as tears ran down her cheek. “You are so worthless.” The voices seemed to be getting worse they… Suddenly the driver in the car behind her laid on his horn, snapping her out of it. The driver then swiftly drove around Ashley. “Stupid bitch!” The young man shouted. His friends laughing as they sped down the road. Ashley regained her composure and continued on her way.
The classy neighborhood soon gave way to boarded up and run down houses. Here the streets were lined with pawn shops and liquor stores. Ashley caught sight of a neglected dog limping down the cracked and uneven sidewalk. Hitting another traffic light, she noticed several homeless people hanging out in the back lot of a laundromat. One of them took notice of her and began to approach her car. But the light turned green and Ashley wasted no time driving through the intersection.
Then with a sudden jolt Ashley sat straight up. There was the large, abandoned shopping plaza and just past it was the motel that had been turned into the clinic. Ashley gripped the steering wheel tightly as she turned into the parking lot. There were several cars in the lot, more than she expected. But she parked in a spot further away from the other vehicles and then sat in her car.
So, this was it, it was real. Ashley had first heard about the clinic by word of mouth. Intrigued, she did her own research finding it on the dark web with the help of a friend. The clinic claimed to cure any disease, illness, or disability whether it be physical or mental. There were costs of course and not just monetary ones. The clinic made it very clear that curing you meant that in return you would be afflicted with something else.
Ashley had pondered over this for a long time. There was no way to know what disease or illness you would get in return, for it was forbidden to ask the clinic such a question. But she had been suffering like this for so long. Countless sleepless nights, the delusions, voices in her head, and endless medications that seemed to do more harm than good. But worst of all was the vice like grip the illness had on her mind. It threatened to permanently isolate her in an existence of intense fear and paranoia. Ashley remembered bits and pieces of what her life was like before she became ill, she wanted it back. And she feared that one day her illness would completely overtake her.
Ashley stepped out of her car. She was greeted by a wave of heat and a bright sun that caused her eyes to flutter. She flung her backpack over her shoulders as she boldly walked to the clinic. Yet she was still apprehensive and somewhat skeptical. Reaching the entrance she hesitated. Well, there is only one way to find out. Ashley bravely threw open the doors to the clinic and walked inside.
It was packed. The room was filled with people suffering from a myriad of aliments. An older man with necrotizing fasciitis all over his body agonized over his infections, a woman with stone man syndrome imprisoned in her own body sat passively in a wheelchair, and a young girl plagued with ichthyosis was comforted by her mother. Ashley walked over to reception and signed in. The nurse then handed Ashley paperwork to fill out. Feeling nervous she filled it out while standing at the desk.
Ashley scanned the room, looking for a place to sit. She carefully walked through the crowded room, not wanting to disturb anyone. She found one last seat. A folding metal chair so worn out only a few fragments of yellow cushion remained under its black plastic coating. She sat down gingerly trying her best not to make eye contact with any of the poor souls in the waiting room. The desperation hung heavily in the air. Ashley could feel the weight of anguish and despondency of everyone in the room. Seated directly in front of her was an elderly black man. His large, weathered hands rested squarely on his cane. He looked straight ahead, right through Ashley. It was readily apparent the man was blind.
“Well, hello there.” Spoke the old blind man in a boisterous tone. “Hi.” Ashley responded sheepishly. “I am Carl.” He leaned forward slightly and extended his hand. “I am Ashley.” She answered as they shook hands. “What brings you here child?” Carl asked earnestly, “I am…I am unwell mentally.” Ashley replied with shame in her voice. “Hmmm, the devil has gotten into your head. There is nothing to be ashamed of. We are all here for a reason.” Said Carl. “Why are you here?” Ashley quickly retorted, wanting to change the subject.
“Well, I am 86 years old. I have been blind my entire life. But I would like very much to see my family. My wife, my children, my grandchildren. I don’t know how much time the lord has left for me. I don’t know what I might be stricken with. But I think whatever it might be it will all be worth with if I can finally see my family.” Carl paused before he added, “And the sunrise. I would really like to see the sunrise.” “It is beautiful.” Ashley said with a smile.
“Brewer, Ashley Brewer.” A nurse had stepped out into the waiting area and called for her, ending their conversation. “Well, it was nice talking to you Carl.” Said Ashley. “You too child.” Carl answered wholeheartedly. Ashely walked up to the nurse who was looking over forms. “This way.” Said the nurse curtly. She followed the nurse down a long hallway lined with several doors. She could hear conversations from each doorway while walking past. “Pretty busy here, isn’t it?” Ashley asked in a nervous tone. But the nurse did not respond. She kept thumbing through forms on her clipboard until she finally stopped at a door at the end of the hall. The nurse opened the door and looked inside, peering under her glasses as she did so. “Wait in here. Have a seat on the examination table.” She said sharply. Ashley walked inside and turned to thank the nurse, but she had already walked away and shut the door.
Ashley scooted up onto the examination table, the paper rustled under her as she did so. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a wad of crinkled one-hundred-dollar bills. As she waited for the doctor anxiety began to take hold. She squeezed the money tightly in her hand as her mind raced. Should she be doing this? Will she be sorry afterward? But there was no answer. Ashley continued to wait, with no company save for the incessant buzzing of the fluorescent light directly overhead. Finally overcome with a sense of unease Ashley dropped down from the examination table and was about to leave. But just then the door opened.
“Ashley, I am Dr. Ramchand. I need to give you an examination before we can proceed. Please get up on the examination table.” The doctor seemed to be in a hurry and appeared haggard. “Um, Ok.” Ashley responded anxiously. Dr. Ramchand quickly went through the standard examination process. Ashley became overwhelmed with perturbation. She had so many questions she wanted to ask the doctor. But in her mind, she kept tripping over everything she had to say as he completed the exam. “Now, do you have any questions for me?” Doctor Ramchand asked. Ashley froze and sat upright. Her mouth was dry, her lips trembled. But no words passed through them. She could only shake her head as her mind screamed in protest.
“Very well. You do understand the end result of the procedure, that there are a myriad of diseases and illnesses you could end up with.” Ashley nodded. “Is it… is it worth it?” She asked barely getting the words out. “The answer to that question is highly subjective. Some patients regret the procedure while others are grateful; they went through with it. You are suffering from a severe mental illness so in the end that will be up to you. But there is no going back. Do you understand all of this? Doctor Ramchand asked firmly. Ashley lowered her head and sighed. She tried to hold back but tears leaked from her eyes as she squeezed them shut. “Yes, yes I am just scared.” Said Ashley through a sob. “I understand. But you can still walk away at this point. What do you wish to do?” The doctor asked.
Ashley thought long and hard. She had planned this for so long and couldn’t possibly back out now. “I wish to go through with it.” Ashley replied firmly. The doctor nodded his head. “Do you have the payment?” Ashley opened her hand revealing the now even more crumbled wad of sweaty one-hundred-dollar bills. Somewhat annoyed, Doctor Ramchand took the money and placed it in his jacket pocket. He then made a quick call and less than a moment later several medical staff entered the exam room along with a gurney.
At this point everything around her morphed into a chaotic blur. The doctor spoke but his mouth seemed to move in slow motion. She heard no words, only the sound of her own heartbeat. She was given an injection then placed onto a gurney. In no time at all she was rushed down a long hallway. Ashley’s eyes grew very heavy as they approached grey double doors at the end of the hall. What is in there, she wondered. Ashley struggled to stay conscious. But she went completely under before they even reached the door.
The mild chirping of birds gently awakened her. Ashley’s eyes opened slowly as the gentle morning sun caressed her. Ashley shot up immediately. Finding herself on a bed in a very small room she immediately noticed the large mirror on the wall in front of her. Ashley’s heartbeat at an alarming rate. Looking into the mirror she saw a face that was free of stress. With no dark circles under her eyes.
Her head did not ache, there were no voices, her mind was her own again. She was free. Ashley held her face in her hands and wept. But this time they were tears of joy, of bliss. For the first time in years, she felt fresh and well rested. An intense sensation of energy burned inside her. Ashley threw back the covers as she attempted to leap out of bed.
But her lower body would not cooperate. Confused Ashley looked down at her legs and tried again to move them…nothing. It was then she noticed the wheelchair at the head of the bed.
On the beach Carl stood smiling while surrounded by his family. Ashley was right, the sunrise was beautiful. 29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEo4dXOAEK
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0jQOWp3Ub
and then Add to home screen.