Fragile Bones

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The drive to the clinic was relatively long, so I had about an hour to sit in the backseat and contemplate every little thing that had happened for me to end up here. My parents were conversing in the front seats, every once in a while turning around to ask me a question or give me a reassuring smile. As much as I wanted Asher here with me, I told him not to come. It would be embarrassing enough as it is with my parents there to see me go, I didn't need the knowledge that Asher was watching too. So, when my dad pulled me out of my room this morning, I told Asher to go home. I wouldn't be surprised if he took the time I was gone to rethink his thoughts about being with me, but I selfishly hoped that that wouldn't be the case.

I hugged the bag that I had brought with me closer to my chest as the GPS told us we were two miles away from our destination. I hadn't brought much really, just things my mom said the website allowed me to bring. My phone, a charger, a few toiletries, clothes, and a couple of other miscellaneous items. It seemed to me that my parents had a small clue about how long I would have to remain here, but they didn't tell me. They wouldn't even tell me the name of the place, or where it was located, lest I search it up on my own.

When my dad pulled into a parking lot, I immediately knew that we were here. If the sign stating it was an eating disorder clinic wasn't enough, the building itself said it. It was awfully white, leaving no room to be put at ease at all at its sight. It may as well have been a hospital if not for it's modest size.

The unbuckling of my parents seatbelts rocketed me back to reality. They looked back at me expectedly, my dad opening his door. I sunk into the backseat, shaking my head at the two of them.

"Come on. It'll all be fine, I promise," my father said, stepping out of the car and opening my door up for me. I looked at him warily, not trusting the words, but knowing I didn't have another option. If I tried to run, they'd probably send me somewhere worse.

I slowly stepped out of the car, slinging my bag on one of my shoulders, and used my leg to nudge the door shut. My phone shifted between my hands nervously as I stared at the daunting building in front of me. Both of my parents came on either side of me to walk me in. Each step I took felt filled with lead, and it took all my effort just to drag one foot after the other. I checked my phone to see if I received any messages but found none.

The doors to the building were automatic, and slid open smoothly when we approached it. The temperature inside felt as cold as it was outside, which was pretty freaking cold. Then again, it could be due to the fact that I was wearing pretty thin clothes despite the wintry weather. It was also completely devoid of life, no one sitting in the reception area. I couldn't hear anything either, besides the small fan that sat on the counter. If I was the only person checked in here, I was absolutely going to jump off the roof.

We walked up to the desk where a zaftig woman sat, which I found to be ironic considering where we were. She looked clean and pristine, something I could only ever hope to be, instead of how I looked now. Her cheeks were full, and rosy, and her hair was shiny. I lifted up a piece of hair that rested on my shoulder with a pale hand, noting the split ends and dullness. I also noticed the way my nails had seemed to become more brittle lately, something I had never really payed much mind for before. I used to enjoy painting my nails, but it seemed like a waste of time to me recently. Holding up a hand, I peered at them, wondering when they had gotten like this.

"Hello, we called you last night about our daughter, Madeline Winters?" I heard my mothers voice from a couple feet ahead of me, talking to the woman. She glanced up from her computer, looked at both of them, and then back at me.

"Oh, hello! Right, I do remember that. I see that she seems all ready to get checked in," she said, eyeing the bag that was in my hands. "I assume you've already told her about the clinic, and how long she'll be staying?"