She

Drawing made by KellyStarrr

Chapter 03 -

5:00am

Saoirse woke up on a bed that smelled strange, pungent... But that's how hospitals beds must smell, right? Then she didn't know whether it was the bed, or the pancakes that insisted on popping into her head that had something to do with her urge to vomit.

Would she make to the bathroom?

But there was a window! She opened and fired away. She vomited her guts out and tried to look dignified, till she noticed...

There was someone staring at her.

And he seemed scared.

And now, so did she.

She tried not to scream. She whimpered, though. It was an odd person.

To say the least.

But anyway, she wouldn't shout. Since her father shot her dog in front of her and then she fed him lead as a payback, she felt numb.

Now she felt...

Still numb. But curious. And ashamed. Yes, shame was on the top of the list. He saw her vulnerable side.

But... She couldn't help but notice his appearance. The measurement of his head, from what she could analyze, was 36 inches or so, there was a large substance of flesh at the back as large as a breakfast cup, the other part, in a manner of speaking, were like hills and valleys, all lumped together, while the face was such a sight that no one could describe it. The right hand was almost the size and shape of and Elephant's foreleg as were the other arm was no larger than that of girl ten years of age!

And he was the source of the "strange" smell. There was unmistakably a faint but peculiarly unpleasant odor hanging in the air. And he was wearing pajamas.

And she was wearing man's clothes. Who could point fingers.

"So..." Saoirse started, tossing her long hair "You're obviously the Elephant Man who has been granted asylum here." Not seeming in any way discomfited. "See? I've heard of you. I swear I'm not stalking you. I was too drunk last night and... Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

He seemed even more nervous when she approached him and demanded his name. He was cornered and saw no way but to reply.

"Jo--Joseph Merrick."

"I'm Saoirse Brennan. I only use my mother's surname and someday will be rich enough to get rid of my father's name."

Now, why on Earth had she told him that? A complete stranger?

But he seemed very interested. Way too much.

"Why?" he asked, now sitting on the chair and Saoirse in his bed.