I sat in the breakfast lounge at the clinic, a brioche and coffee by my side. I stared into the coffee blankly, my brain was mush from the lack of sleep last night.

It wasn’t the dream, no not the strangely familiar dream.

It was the way I woke up.

The voice that was next to me, in the room with me. The knocking outside of my door.

The sick feeling inside of me that knew I was forgetting something important.

“Hey there,” A voice spoke into my ear, startling me and causing me to yelp.

I looked up to find a soldier, I glanced at his ranks, a doctor. He had short black hair and a sly pair of hazel eyes.

“Hi.” I gave a faint smiled.

“Are you Adele?”

“Yeah. That’s me.” I nodded.

“My name is Frank Iero, I’ll be your supervisor, and I’m here to show you the ropes today. While you’ve become infamous within the walls of the US Army Medical Corps, you must remember where you stand. You will be treated as every other nurse of your rank, no worse treatment. However, there will be people here who will try to intimidate you, haze you, but do not react harshly. Stay out of trouble. You can come to me with any issues you have. No one else. Is that clear?” He gave me a hard look.

“Yes, Yes sir.” I gulped.

“Good. Now relax. I’ve got your back. All you’ve got to worry about is completing the tasks assigned to you.” He gave me a pat on the shoulder.

“Thank you sir.” I saluted him.

“Shh, no need for that. No formalities, just between you and me. Call me Frank.” He smiled.

“Thank you, really.” I smiled back. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. Just knowing someone had my back, it was all I needed. Even though I knew I shouldn’t trust him blindly right off the back, It was still comforting.

“So first up today, I’ll show you where you’ll be working for these next few months. You’ve been assigned to the recovery ward, where you will look after patients coming in and out of surgery. If you do well here for the first month you can be promoted to the surgical ward, to assist the other doctor’s and I. It’s a significantly larger pay raise, you might find it worth your while.”

I nodded, the sound of a pay raise making my head swirl. I hadn’t received a raise in 2 years.

“You are however, prohibited from entering the pharmacy. Just while you’re here. Any medication that needs to be handled will be distributed strictly by the pharmacists themselves.” He added.

“Fair enough.” I smiled.

“I personally think it’s not a big deal but, you know how it is. Gotta follow protocol.” He laughed.

“I know.” I nodded.

-

The evening went fairly well. None of the other nurses in my ward would talk to me, and the dirty looks were endless, but it went fairly well.

I met all my new patients, one of which is in a coma, and I knew I had my work cut out for me.

I was meeting Frank for dinner at the mess hall now, he was going to answer any other questions I had.

I sat by myself at a small table, a sketchy looking plate of spaghetti in front of me. I lost my appetite the moment I saw it, but everyone around me seemed to enjoy it.

Frank came by within a few minutes, taking the seat in front of me.

“Hey kid,” He said.

“Hey.” I chuckled.

“How was your first day?”

“Pretty good. Better than I expected. All the people here are hard workers.”

“True, but they’re not known for their fantastic personalities.” He smiled.

“I know… But beggars can’t be choosers right? Better here than Bodem.” I said.

“Amen to that,” He frowned.

I looked over his face, more so than I had before. There was something so familiar, as if I knew him. It had been bothering me all day but I didn't know why.

“Have we… met before?” I squinted my eyes.

“I uh, I don’t believe so. Why?” He blinked.

“You just… You look so familiar.”

“I get that a lot.” He chuckled.

“No I mean really… Like I’ve seen you before.” I thought harder trying to remember a moment where I ever saw him.

“Do you play an instrument?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Mmm. I’ve always been pretty skilled at the guitar, but never pursued anything with it. Why? Fell in love with some musician that looked like me?” He grinned.

“Hardly. Must be my imagination then.” I laughed.

“Right.” He rolled his eyes.

“Sir,”

“Hm?”

“Shut up.”

-

I’d made my way back to the barracks and was getting ready for bed.

Just a quick bath? I thought to myself.

Yeah. I’ll do that.

I stripped down and walked into the bathroom, turning on the water to my preferred temperature. Not scorching hot but hot enough to make my skin burn, those were the best baths. As you settle into them, every muscle in your body relaxes.

I pinned my hair up and opened the mirror cabinet above the sink to retrieve some make up remover. When I closed the cabinet I nearly screamed. There was a man standing behind me, seemingly naked. I looked closer at his face, it was the boy from my dream. The honey brown hair, the hazel eyes. It was definitely him. Mikey was his name? Was I hallucinating?

“Who are you..?” I whispered.

His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. I looked down to see that nothing was there, but I could physically feel it? I looked back up at the mirror, the full body apparition still there as clear as day. His hands traveled up my sides, cupping my breasts and kissing my neck. I could feel his hot breath against my skin. I was paralyzed.

“Come back to me…” He whispered back.

It was that voice, that same voice that startled me awake last night.

“Go away, plea-“ My breath hitched as his hands traveled down my navel. My eyes bore into the mirror, looking into his eyes, watching him touch me.

“Shhh… I missed you my love.” His hot kisses traveled up and down my collarbone.

“I… I don’t know you.”

He stopped and looked at me, through the mirror, with hurt eyes. He began to back away, eventually fading into the wall. Like some sort of spiritual being.

I fell to my knees, my bones were throbbing. The only noise in the room was that of the bath water running and the loud thumping of my heart.

Notes

YAAY two updates one day enjoy my loves
Please do comment what you think! Motivates me to write like you have no idea!