one

                                    

                                          
It was dark when she finally pulled the blankets off of her legs. She stared at them in the moonlight, looking at them like they were somebody else's that just happened to be beneath her torso. It wasn't a very convincing argument but there wasn't much else to do until her movement finally alerted the healer that she was awake. 
She didn't have long because the three locks on the door clicked and Healer Smythe knocked gently before opening the door. "Sleep well, Shyla?" 
She stared Healer Smythe in the eyes dully. "I dunno, you're the one staring my vitals all the time," Shyla replied dryly. There was no point in sitting in the bed now, even though it was dark outside. She always slept during the day, it seemed normal to her after nine years in the hospital. 
Healer Smythe smiled fondly at the teen, who's bare feet touched the floor lightly as she slid out of bed. Shyla had managed to scare most of the other Healers away from her, even as an eight year old. But try as she might, Healer Smythe genuinely seemed to care for her. At some point, Shyla had given up and just let the healer do her job in peace. She would hesitate to use the word friend, though she was sure Healer Smythe wouldn't, but there was certainly no animosity between the two. 
"Fancy a shower?" Healer Smythe said, still smiling, making the bed with the wave of her wand. "I've gotten Healer Briggs to lend me some more of that sugar scrub you said you liked." Shyla nodded, her eyes lingering only a moment longer on the made bed, a slight jealousy twisting her stomach. 
Healer Smythe led the way out of the room and waited in the equally sterile-white corridor, though the corridor lacked the personality Shyla had given her room, however slight. 
"Let's see- this week's news," Healer Smythe began, as cheerful as always. "There's not much to be honest. Everyone's just waiting for Christmas to finally come. Are you excited."
"Not really," Shyla scowled. The holiday cheer of St. Mungo's had gotten on her nerves after the first few years. Healer Smythe gasped, pausing for a brief step before falling back in line. 
"I forgot to tell you! Healer Thale has said that you can have some practice today! How exciting is that?" Healer Smythe almost bounced with excitement as she unlocked the door to the showers. It was empty- it always was when it was Shyla's turn. 
The corners of her mouth twitched at the good news- she had been itching to let her magic out for weeks now. Of course, it wouldn't be anything fun, like shooting lightning out of her fingertips, just summoning and repairing things, though Healer Smythe had been teaching her healing spells the last time she had been able to use her magic. "Are you going to..." Shyla trailed off as she stood in the doorway. The little pot of sugar scrub was already in the shower, along with the standard, hospital issued soap. 
"I'll wait outside," Healer Smythe said. Shyla smiled gratefully at the healer, a rare sight, but the woman seemed thankful nonetheless. 
The lock clicked shut as the door opened. It didn't mean much, because any wizard with a first-year's education could still get in, but it made her feel better. 
The water was always cold. Once, when she had been younger, she had tried to heat it herself by summoning flames to her hand and heating the pipes. It hadn't worked out well for her- the pipes hadn't been built to be heated with a live flame to the outside. Shyla was already supposed to be under constant surveillance at that point, but after that point, the healer on duty had to be in the room with her at all times, including when she was showering and sleeping. It had taken years for Shyla to rebuild the trust of the healers. 
The cold water rushed over her body and she sucked in a deep breath. She liked being alone in the shower, it was the only place she could be herself, which certainly had its downsides. Namely the visions.