I woke from sleep groggy and unsure where I was. The sun was streaming through the window and there was a room wide buzzing going on. I’d slept through my usual time. I rubbed at my eyes wondering what time it was. There had been dreams – dreams of Dev. And Sage and Dee. There had been dreams of the boys, of that mysterious tree. I was sore as I got up out of the lumpy bed. I missed my bed. I’d be happy sleeping alone if I could just have my bed back. I wanted to be back with Sage, but that wasn’t going to happen.

There was a buzz and my door opened and a perky little nurse walked in with a smile. “You have an early appointment.”

“I need to change.” I said.

The little nurse nodded and closed the door and stood there waiting. I shrugged to myself I had no problem getting naked in front of anyone. She wasn’t precisely the person I wanted to be naked in front of but whatever. I didn’t make a show of hiding myself, but I heard a small gasp as I pulled off my shirt and she saw the scars lining my back. I heard her take a few steps then stopped a few feet from where I was changing. She whispered, “You poor boy.”

Such a pity party. Like I was showing you to get sympathy. The little nurse closed the distance and put her hand on my back and I froze. My heart raced and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. “Please don’t.” I managed to breathe out.

Her hand jerked from my back and I turned around pulling a pair of jeans on. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that again.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

I shook my head, “It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.” I didn’t want to talk about it with a stranger nor did I want to talk about it at all. Now that I was fully dressed she lead me out of my room and to a different therapy room. Great, this was just what I needed.

I sat down in the overfluffed couch and waited.

All Scenes