[00] saline

she wore a stained white shirt with flowers embroidered on the sleeves, dark jeans that were a size too big for her and awfully worn out vans, as she sat in a chair inside the clinic's waiting lobby.

it was the last place she wanted to be at this not so fine moment in her life, but here she was, foot tapping impatiently on the sterile tiled floor, waiting for her parents return from the meeting they were having with her senile psychiatrist at the moment. getting diagnosed for the fourth time was just as fun as it had been the first. which is to say, not fun at all.

the blood peeping through the cotton gauze wrapped around her forearm in more than enough layers made her parents sure enough to decide that she had been asking for it. well, asking for it or not, it was certain that she needed it. her previous psychiatrists had been nothing more than a money hungry pricks and bores.

"excuse me," came a voice from above, she didn't look up immediately, calculating her options. was the angel of death finally here to take her into his arms and take her somewhere she could peacefully drown in death and her dreadfully pleasing thoughts? as far as she knew, she wasn't as lucky to have death waiting for her when she wanted it the most, and certainly she was still in the clinic, so yeah.

it was another goddamned human staring down at her when she finally faced up to look into the intruder's eyes. "yes?"

"do you mind if i sit here?"

well, hell yes, i absolutely do.

"no, not at all." she said, not wanting to be rude and then averted her eyes to shift her mother's handbag from the adjacent chair to her lap.

she noticed his mourningly black outfit as he sat beside her.

"i'm victor." he said introducing himself.

though not in a mood to hold a conversation, she replied anyway. "desert."

"excuse me?" he sounded confused.

"my name."

"a blue haired, wild eyed girl called desert sitting in the middle of a mental hospital looking like she could kill the first person she sees. totally normal. "

"not as much as you'd expect me to be, i'm much more of a disappointment, to be honest."

"i-uh, what do i say to that?"

"nothing."

"so what are you here for?" victor asked, ignoring desert's command.

certainly not to play friends with you. she thought to herself and pretended to not have heard him.

why in the world were her parents taking so long in there?

he repeated himself once again, a little louder.

thinking she couldn't possibly ignore him again, she answered, "i'm crazy."

"i see." he retorted, sarcasm for sarcasm.

"what about you?" she spoke, much to her own surprise.

"i'm waiting for my parents, my psychiatrist is giving them a talk and stuff."

"i feel you, so which one of these fools is yours?"

"alby."

"bitch same."

desert felt her breath hitch in her throat at the sound of victor's laugh, but ignored the weird feeling. she did not hesitate to admit to herself that his laugh was soothing, though.

she shifted in her seat.

"i have to go." she declared getting up from her seat as she saw her parents get out of the said room.

the perfect escape, at the perfect time, for once.

"okay, see you later, despacito."

desert had planned upon ignoring his goodbye but the last part triggered her. she shot him one final glare and left.