XI | Something Changed

❦

My name wasn't always
Tammie.

The things that
happened to me
that resulted

in my coming here

before you
were—

An unwanted voice.
'Fiona?
'Are you alright?'

One of the nurses.

Or both.

It's hard to tell
above the sound of

the water falling.

Tammie
covers her mouth
with both hands,

grey eyes
alight

with laughter.

I don't find this very funny.

'What should I do?'
I ask her.

She shrugs,
water dripping through her bedraggled hair

like loose threads.

You'd look pretty
in long hair.

No way.
It'll make my eczema worse.

Our clothes
are soaked.

For the first time,

I realise
she's wearing different clothes already.

Did she bathe
before waking me up?

I must have slept

for
a long time.

You'll need to bathe again.

It's okay.

Her giggling is like music.

Then
the nurse's voice again.

'Fiona!
'What are you doing in there?'

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