It was midnight on Wednesday, a time when most people were asleep after a long day at work.
However, Priyanka sat staring intently at her notebook, meticulously analyzing a vast array of data.
These were the results from several exams conducted on her peculiar patient compiled into a comprehensive report.
The child stood at 120 centimeters tall and was in overall good health.
No physical issues were detected, but Priyanka fixated on one particular result: a consultation with a gynecologist.
She recalled how uncomfortable the child had been during the examination, clutching her tightly with small hands.
A smile naturally crossed Priyanka's face as she remembered the child's actions.
She was typically inexpressive, but her subtle gestures betrayed her feelings.
The child would touch her coat when afraid or shy. And, when uncomfortable, she would stare at her notebook, avoiding conversation.
However, Priyanka's smile quickly faded when she reviewed the gynecological exam results.
"There is no hymen."
Despite her height, the child's body had already developed bones and a pelvis. It was an early maturity.
Priyanka understood the implications of what the exam revealed but couldn't fathom that such a young child had already gone through this.
'What kind of monster?' Priyanka thought, biting her lip to contain her anger.
It was frustrating to see the child and know she couldn't do anything to change what had happened.
The lack of memories from the past made Priyanka think it might be better if they never returned.
The investigation yielded no results; there was no information about the child, not even from surveillance cameras that could have captured how she arrived at the hospital.
Manipulating surveillance cameras indicated the involvement of someone sophisticated.
The child's natural bodily recovery exceeded normal capabilities. Most wounds had healed without leaving any marks, almost as if by magic.
Priyanka had always thought Harborview was a peaceful place. Apart from occasional conspiracy theories about strange creatures, there were few accidents or serious incidents reported.
'Who would have imagined such a case existed in supposedly secure Harborview?'
An outlandish hypothesis began to form in Priyanka's mind day by day—that the child was a fugitive from a secretive experiment conducted by a powerful organization.
"Sigh... I need to sleep." she muttered, rubbing her temples.
Priyanka was a woman of facts; she detested forming hypotheses without concrete data.
Yet, this time, the data only deepened her doubts rather than providing answers.
"What should I do?"
She always worked for her ideal of justice and responsibility, which is why she became a doctor and worked so hard.
She couldn't just ignore the girl.
'What did I like to do when I was a child?'
She wasn't a child interested in toys or playing; she spent most of her time studying to make her parents proud.
Priyanka was extremely strict with herself, and these habits were reflected in how she raised her child, ensuring a healthy diet and a strict schedule.
Priyanka realized that her habits and childhood couldn't be used as a reference, not even her experience raising a child.
As a doctor, she always produced the best results, but could she say the same as a mother?
Priyanka wasn't sure if the way she took care of her child truly gave her a proper childhood.
As she scrolled through her screen, an image of a pink teddy bear appeared. She quickly clicked on it, revealing a variety of children's items.
Her finances were stable. Both she and her husband had steady jobs and few indulgences.
For the first time, a dangerous consumerist thought entered her mind.
'Should I buy some toys?'
✦
"Good morning, Dr. Priyanka." said Liam with a tender smile.
He didn't keep his smiling face for so long, though. Liam's eyes froze seeing what was in Priyanka's arms.
She was holding a pink teddy bear. He thought the image didn't suit her at all, but professionally hid his inner feelings from his coworker.
"Good morning." she said without any turbulences in her face.
"Are those things gifts?" asked Liam unable to contain his curiosity.
"Ah, yes." she said, not providing much information about her gifts.
Liam tactically noticed her discomfort and didn't ask anything else.
"I'm sure she will like it."
"Thanks."
It was a small chat, but Priyanka felt relieved at her coworker's words.
She walked to the small room where the girl stayed and entered the door. She approached the child checking for her condition as usual.
Her eyes were closed with just small movements in her hands and feet.
'I came in a bad moment?' she bought gifts impulsively and just wanted to see the girl's reaction but didn't want to disturb the girl's sleeping.
'Is she having a nightmare?'
The movements of the girl didn't seem natural, it was like a broken machine.
Her face showed no emotion, but her body always moved during her sleep.
The child had said she couldn't remember anything, but her traumas seemed present at some point.
At her touch, the child's strange movements ceased, as if acknowledging her presence.
She felt a small stir under her coat as the child awoke.
Crystallized eyes looked at her blankly.
Priyanka retrieved a small notebook from her coat pocket and began to write.
[I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.]
The child stared at the words and slowly wrote above them.
[Another exam?]
Priyanka was accustomed to this typical short response. All her visits had been for exams, so it wasn't surprising the girl would think that.
For some reason, her heart ached a little.
[Not this time. I brought a gift.]
Priyanka took out the pink teddy bear she had hidden and handed it to the child.
The child held the teddy bear with both hands, staring blankly.
'Does she like it?' Priyanka wondered, concerned about the child's reaction. The reviews were certainly high, but what did the child think?
After a long silence,
[Thank you.]
The child thanked her, staring directly into her eyes while holding the teddy bear.
"Does she really like it?"
There was no change in her face or body, so Priyanka couldn't tell.
The child continued to stare at the teddy bear as if finding it curious.
The child rarely showed interest in anything. The only thing she reacted to was herself.
Maria, the nurse responsible for the child, often told her how hard it was to catch her attention.
The child didn't care about anything or anyone; she was like a living doll.
The fact that she was looking closely meant she liked it, didn't it?
Obviously, Peridot wasn't looking at the teddy bear out of curiosity but shock. Nevertheless, Priyanka couldn't know that.
A faint smile blossomed on her face.
She would certainly rate this teddy bear five stars tonight.
✦
Noticing that the child liked her gift, Priyanka became bolder in her choices.
It had become a hobby to catch the child's attention with gifts.
She prioritized pink and cute toys.
These gifts were what the child paid the most attention to.
Due to her frequent visits, Priyanka had become more skilled at understanding the child's intentions.
"Her tastes are surprisingly feminine."
Contrary to her stoic and mature vibe, the child's tastes were very childish.
It added a strange cuteness to her.
If there was something Priyanka was sad about, it was the lack of reaction from the child these days.
The child never played with the teddy bear, even leaving it next to her.
It was a shame her attention span was so short.
Priyanka wanted to give the child a gift she could play with without losing focus.
"What does the child like the most?"
Until now, Priyanka had only thought about what a typical child would like.
She needed to be more specific.
The child often carried a notebook and moved her hands.
Sometimes she made small drawings in her notebook.
"What about crayons?"
The child already had the habit of drawing, so it wasn't a bad idea.
As a woman of action, Priyanka quickly put her plan into practice.
The next day, she brought not just crayons but sketchbooks specifically for children.
She was serious this time.
Priyanka showed the gifts to the child, secretly anxious about her reaction.
[Thank you.]
It was the same as always.
Whatever she gave her, the child always thanked her.
Sigh...
"Is it another failure?" she thought only time could say.
Priyanka stared at the child. She was robotically seeing the window while lying on the bed like a broken jewel.
The sight was so pitiful that Priyanka felt her heart breaking in real-time.
Is the child lonely in this monotonous room? She never said anything...
What was passing in her little head?
Priyanka held her hands tightly, the girl's eyes stared at her again.
"I will show you something fun tomorrow."
The girl just stared at her without saying anything.
"Wait and see."
*
The next day, Priyanka was standing behind a door with a wheelchair.
The few people passing stared at her with curious eyes.
After seeing the child yesterday Priyanka decided to take her for a walk. But she couldn't hide the anxiety in her heart.
'Will the child like it?'
She was struggling with these kinds of thoughts.
Priyanka shook her head and determination lit in her eyes.
She only would know if she did something.
Creek
The door opened revealing the small room.
The child was sitting in the bed with her arms standing at the same eye level.
"..."
Priyanka's steps stopped at this sight.
It was the first time she had seen the girl move so much.
Her arm was standing to the window hopelessly. She seemed like a feather about to fall.
Thump! Thump!
Priyanka's heart started to run wildly.
She quickly approached the child and tried to seem as natural as possible.
Noticing her presence the child's hand held her coat instead of the air.
[Do you want to walk a little?]
She wrote, anxious for the child's answer.
The child slowly picked up her pencil and wrote with delicate letters.
[Yes]
Sweat fell on Priyanka's face. She was relieved, but at the same time scared.
What would have happened if she was a little late?
After that, she would directly instruct Maria to come more often and lock the windows out of the presence of an adult.
Priyanka adjusted the wheelchair beside the door with her skilled hands.
The girl was sitting politely in the bed.
A cute face was staring directly at her, her eyes were like a beautiful precious jewel.
Priyanka held the girl in her arms, putting more strength than usual, stimulated by her maternal instincts and anxiety.
Tap.
The girl sat silently in the chair with a calm demeanor.
Priyanka grabbed the wheelchair and walked with the girl.
"Wow..."
There were few people in the hospital this early in the morning, most of them were part of the hospital team.
"So cute!"
Said a nurse while approaching without hesitation.
When her hands approached, the girl's hands started to shake.
Priyanka's eyes emanated a bloodthirsty aura to the woman.
"I'm sorry...! I just-"
Before the woman could explain herself Priyanka just walked with the girl cutting her words coldly.
"What a cutie, can I-"
"Where is your mother-"
The same vision repeated, but Priyanka just passed cutting all of them.
Unfortunately, some people couldn't understand her signs. An old woman approached clingily and walked by her side.
"Can I walk with her too?"
"Get out."
Priyanka's words were like a knife to her words.
"..."
The people around didn't approach anymore.
Finally, she was able to walk peacefully with the girl.
The girl didn't move her head, but sometimes her hands shook as if showing her inner emotions.
Priyanka felt a huge feeling of joy in her heart.
She would show the most beautiful sights of this hospital to the girl and make her never think about jumping out the window again.
Priyanka walked determined.
Before them, a huge and beautiful tree was there. This was her favorite place around this hospital and one of the reasons she chose exactly this hospital to work.
The sun passing over the leaves of the tree warmly touched their bodies.
The girl for the first time moved her head in the direction of the tree.
She was staring fixedly, her face was calm as snow, but her hands were pressing each other tightly.
The girl just stared at the tree like a beautiful portrait, the vision was healing for anyone around.
Crap.
Priyanka discretely took a photo of the girl.
Immediately she replaced the wallpaper of her husband for the image of the girl.
Suddenly, the girl's face stared at her again.
Did she notice her actions?
Unaware of her feelings the girl just picked up her notebook again and wrote with cute letters.
[Thank you]
Thump!
Priyanka's heart beat crazily at her words. The girl's eyes were shining with a peculiar green color.
For a brief moment, she could see a smile on her face, it was so brief that she regretted the fact she had missed the opportunity to record this moment.
However, just being able to see it firsthand was good enough.
A faint smile appeared on Priyanka's face.
Pat. Pat.
She kindly caressed the girl's head. Her body was filled with feelings of happiness and joy.
The girl just stayed there politely staring at the tree.
Priyanka could just think one thing this day.
She had made the girl smile.