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My misery began on what was supposed to be the best day of my life. Monday. April 27th. 

The morning sun woke me up. Shining gently upon my face through my dingy curtains. My bleary eyes blinking and squinting in the morning sun. It was warm, soothing. Like a spotlight from the angels. My eyes darted quickly down to my alarm clock in a moment of panic. But I calmed down as I saw the time. Only 7:20. 10 minutes before I had to get out of bed. 

With a sigh of relief I lowered my head back down onto the pillow. Though I kept my eyes open, just staring towards the sunlight that streamed in. It made my crappy apartment almost look nice. Though the window was cracked, and the walls stained with age old cigarette smoke, those few rays of sunshine did all the work. I always enjoyed the sunshine. It always made me feel better. 

I tried to rest a while longer, but found myself unable to relax. For once I wanted to get out of bed. I wanted to take on the day. 

For today was the first day of the rest of my life. 

I threw back the covers on my worn bed and sat up. My feet dangling down and touching the dirty wooden floor beneath me. I stretched my arms back, feeling the bones in my back pop and crack as I did so. 

A few months ago I had gotten laid off from my job. Not that it was that great of a job anyways. Just a crappy position at the local supermarket. But it had been what was keeping me afloat. Barely.

These last few months had been hell on earth as I scrambled to get a job. My meager savings depleted week after week, month after month as I struggled to pay rent, find food, and keep my car running. It had been a dark time, but like the sunshine through the window this morning, my light had eventually come.

I had been desperate. Applying to any and every job opening I could find. Even ones that sounded awful, even ones that paid like shit, even ones that I knew I wasn’t qualified for. I was throwing anything at the wall to see what would stick.

And to my surprise. One did.

When I woke up on a dreary morning one week ago, and saw a resume response in my email inbox, I had expected it to be one of the shitty positions. Something like the sketchy car wash downtown, or the roach infested gas station of Tiller street.

So imagine my surprise…. When it was a position at a hospital.

And it wasn’t something like a janitor or secretary position either (even though I would’ve readily taken those too). No, it was the position of a medical assistant.

At first I thought it was too good to be true. That it was a mistake. That they had meant to email someone else, or that they had read my resume wrong. I almost scrapped it entirely, but one little voice in the back of my head asked the question. What if?

And so I went with it. I replied, I set up an interview date. And that date was today.

I now stood in my bathroom, staring at myself through the cracked mirror that hung above my dirty sink. I checked my platinum blond hair at least 20 times, brushed my teeth twice, and chose the best outfit I could find…. Which wasn’t exactly much. Just a simple white blouse, with a black skirt and matching jacket. The blouse had a hole in the back, but as long as I kept it tucked in it wasn’t too visible. I didn't own any nice shoes. So I was stuck wearing my dirty old black high tops. They were frayed and the laces were far too long. Since I had stolen them from another pair of shoes long ago.

My confidence was sapping the longer I stared into the mirror. I didn’t look like someone who would work at a hospital. My dull hair with its split ends, my unpainted nails cut at odd angles. Blocky stained teeth with a gap down the middle. My simple, cheap outfit and ugly shoes…. I should be working at a gas station. Not a hospital. Nobody in their right mind would look at me and think “professional”.

“Come on Amanda.” I whispered to the mirror. Staring myself down with a determined appearance. I slapped my face and took a deep breath. “I have to at least try.” I decided with a sharp nod. It would be foolish to not at least show up. Downright stupid to spit in the face of this beautiful opportunity I had been granted.

I decided that was enough dwelling on my appearance. I grabbed my resume, my car keys, my purse and marched out the door. Stopping one last time at the threshold and looking over my shoulder. Looking back to the beautiful sunlight that streamed into my one room apartment.

Fortune had shone upon me today. And I was going to jump at that opportunity with everything I had. 

I sat in my car in the parking lot of Lake Herald General Hospital. Like most things in Lake Herald, the hospital wasn’t all too impressive. A three story building, with ugly beige paint upon its brick walls. And blue tinted windows staring into the cold halls beyond. The large double glass doors that sat at the front were sunken beneath a wide stone awning. One that seemed as imposing as the jaws of a wild beast in that moment.

My eyes darted to the clock on my battered old car. 5 minutes till my interview. 

I had already been there for about fifteen minutes. Waiting and agonizing over whether or not I should go through with this. But I kept my resolve. I owed it to myself to at least try.

As the clock ticked down to four minutes, then three, then two…. I pushed open the door and stepped out. A cold wind blew over me as I exited my car, tossing my already shabby hair into a wild mess.

“Ugh!” I growled, my hands quickly flying up to my head to try and hold my poor attempt at a hairdo in place. I quickly kicked the door of my car closed and ran for the entrance of the hospital. The glass doors, the maw of the beast, yawning open as I stepped inside.

I quickly began attempting to smooth out my hair, wishing I had brought a brush with me. As I was doing this, a shrill voice from behind the receptionist desk called out to me.

“Are you Ms. Amanda Cuttler?” The middle aged woman called out to me, wearing a semi-bored expression on her face. Her dull brown eyes glanced me up and down as I stood in the doorway, fighting with my hair.

“U-Um. Yes ma’am. I am.” I answered. I thought it a bit strange that she knew who I was immediately. But figured they must have looked up a picture of me or something. I mean. Obviously. They probably did a background check, right?

“You’re here for the interview?” She asked, to which I replied with a nod. I walked closer to the desk and cast a glance at the lobby. There were only three other people waiting around. But they looked more like patients than applicants.

“You’re just in time then.” The woman pressed a button beneath her desk, and the double doors to the right of her swung open automatically. “Robert will take you down to The Manager’s office.” The woman nodded to a burly looking security guard who stood on the other side of the doors. Large and muscular with a shaved head and a thick mustache that clung to his upper lip like moss. He looked more like a guard you’d see at a prison than a hospital.

“Thank you.” I nodded to the receptionist. I took a few steps towards the guard, before stopping and turning back. “Um. You’re sure this isn’t some kind of mistake?” I asked nervously. My anxiety got the better of me, convincing me once more that they surely meant to contact someone else.

“The doctor is very trustworthy, dear.” The lady gave a tired smile. “I can guarantee you're not making a mistake. It will all be worth it.”

My brow furrowed in confusion. I opened my mouth to not only clarify what I meant. But to ask what she meant. She didn’t think I was supposed to be a patient here or something, right? But before I could get the words out, Robert spoke up from beyond the doors. His deep voice practically echoing in my bones.

“Come on. You’re wasting time. We don’t have all day.” He turned and started to walk down the hall, my eyes briefly bounced between him and the receptionist. I buried my questions for now, and strode down the hall after Robert. Taking large strides to catch up with him.

I followed along with him, nervously clutching my purse as we passed by rooms upon rooms of patients and doctors. Robert took me all the way to the end of the hall, to the elevator that sat tucked away. I watched as Robert removed a keycard from his pocket and inserted it into a slot above the panel. Then pressed the call button to summon it.

The awkward silence as we waited for the elevator to arrive was palpable. I hated silence. It always bugged me. Rubbed me the wrong way. It felt unnatural, especially when I was with other people. It was a nervous habit of mine. I always had to fill dead air with something. Even if it was just with my own annoying chattering. 

“S-So. Um. How long have you worked here?” I asked, glancing up to meet Robert’s steely blue eyes.

“Ten years.” Came his response. Short and simple.

“Wow. A whole decade. I was still a kid when you started working here.” I gave a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before though. I’ve lived in this town my whole life, so I’ve obviously had to come here once or twice.”

“Must’ve just missed each other.”

Robert wasn’t giving me much in the way of conversation to work with. What in God’s name was taking this damn elevator so long?

“Y-Yeah. Must’ve. Um…. What’s it like working here? Is it exciting? Do you have to get physical with people a lot?” I was genuinely curious. Lake Herald wasn’t exactly an exciting place. It was mostly filled with old people getting away from the winter cold. Snow birds, we called them.

“Depends on the patient.” His flat words killed the conversation this time. It was clear he wasn’t the talkative type, but thankfully I didn’t have to endure the awkwardness much longer. The elevator finally dinged and the doors slid open, revealing an equally sterile interior to the rest of the building. I stepped in alongside Robert, and he pressed the “F4” button.

As the doors slid closed, I felt that sense of unease return to me. Four floors? I thought there were only three…. I tried to search my memories of the few times I had been here in the past, trying to remember if I’d ever been to, or even heard of a fourth floor. But I came up empty handed.

“I didn’t know there were four floors.” I said aloud, mainly to alleviate the pressing silence that had returned to haunt me once more. “From outside it only looks like there’s three.”

“It's easy to miss.”

“What’s on the fourth floor?” I tilted my head, my curiosity getting the better of me. It actually made me forget about my nervousness for just a moment.

“Its where the doctor is.”

“The… Doctor? Which one? Don’t you have multiple?”

“He’s our best. Dr. Afterthought.”

For just a split second, I thought I saw Robert’s hands clench against his arms. As though the very name of this doctor sent a spike of anxiety through him. But I dismissed it as just being in my head.

“I’ve never heard of him. Is he new?”

“No. He’s been here longer than me.” Before the conversation could continue any further, the elevator finally jolted to a halt. The electronic display over the doors finally read “F4”. I had been so preoccupied with keeping a conversation that I hadn’t noticed just how long that ride felt. Far longer than I had anticipated it would be for climbing only four floors. It must’ve been slow. Probably old. I shivered as I imagined it breaking and trapping me in there with scary Robert.

The doors slid open and brought into view the enigmatic fourth floor. It was…. Small. Much smaller than I had anticipated considering the size of the rest of the hospital. It was just a single L shaped hallway. Straight ahead from the elevator there were six doors on either side, with a final 13th door at the very end of the hall. And to the left of the elevator was a much smaller hallway. With two doors on one side, and two on the other.

The halls themselves looked far different than the ones down below. The floors were made from polished black tile. And there were absolutely no windows in the hall. Giving the place a very claustrophobic feel. Made even worse by the flickering of every other light on the ceiling.

I felt something in that moment…. Something I would later come to wish I had listened to. A tightness in my chest, and an outbreak of sweat on my palms. At that moment I chalked it up to nervousness…. But later I would come to realize what it truly was.

Instinctual fear.

Robert led me to the left, taking me down the hall until we stood outside one of the four doors. This one bore a black metal plaque upon its wooden, lacquered surface. In red text it read simply “MANAGER”.

“Go on in.” Robert ordered, standing off to the side with his hands clasped in front of himself.

“Thanks.” I whispered automatically, not even really listening to the words that were coming out of my mouth. My brief reprise from anxiety had long since expired and I was back to dreading every moment of this interview. And the horrid vibe this floor was giving off didn’t help. It felt almost…. Wrong. Like I was doing something illegal.

It's just a hospital. I told myself. Hospitals are trustworthy. It's just because it has no windows. But I mean, how can it? There’s rooms on all sides. I reasoned. Choosing to believe it rather than accept the fact that something was strange about this place.

I could feel Robert’s eyes drilling into the back of my head as I placed my hand on the cold knob of the door. It was as if it were made of solid ice. I gave it a twist and entered the room.

The manager’s office made the hallway feel like a warm meadow by comparison.

It was even more oppressive. Something I had thought impossible mere moments before. The floors, walls, and even the ceiling were all painted a dark black. And the only window in the room, which sat behind the manager’s messy desk, was covered by a bright red curtain.

Sitting in front of said curtain, was a man. I presume the one I was looking for. The Manager. He was a small, almost mouse-like man. The chair he sat in looked too big for him, like it was trying to swallow him up. His stubby arms reached out over the desk, his fingers tapping away viciously at the keyboard in front of him.

He wore a black suit, with a bright red tie. And matching red gloves. His hair was slicked back in a greasy mess, his face no better. His nose stuck out from his face like the beak of some kind of creepy bird. And his eyes squinted behind glasses that looked too small for him. A pencil thin mustache glistened with sweat above his twitching upper lip.

“Are you…. The Mana-” I began to ask, but was cut off by the small man holding up a pudgy finger. Silencing me.

“I will be with you in a moment.” He spoke in an accent that was unfamiliar to me. Without looking up from his computer, he pointed at the chair opposite his desk. “Sit. And wait.” He commanded.

Being in no position to decline, I took my seat on the red chair and crossed my legs. Awkwardly waiting as The Manager typed away at his computer furiously. He was working so intently that I thought the keyboard beneath him might catch fire. The poor thing was so abused and old, that every single symbol upon its key caps had long since worn off. Leaving them as nothing more than shiny black nodules.

The manager suddenly slammed his index finger into the enter button with a sigh of finality. He leaned back in his over-sized chair and laced his fingers together over his stomach. For a few minutes more we sat in silence. Something I was beginning to realize was commonplace among this hospital staff.

Finally, The Manager sat forward in his chair and locked eyes with me.

“Welcome to Lake Herald Hospital, Miss…?”

“Cuttler.” I finished for him, holding out my hand. “A-Amanda Cuttler.” I added nervously as he took my hand in his. Even with the gloves he wore, I could still feel just how cold his hands were beneath the soft fabric. It soaked through it and sent a shiver down my own spine in return. How could someone so cold, be so sweaty?

“Yes. I remember now…. You’re the one the doctor picked out.” The Manager turned back to his computer and clicked a few things with his mouse. Due to the angle of the monitor I couldn’t see what though.

This at least assuaged my fears that I had been chosen by mistake. Though it only opened the door to about a thousand more questions in return.

“The doctor chose me specifically?”

“Yes.” The Manager nodded, turning his squinted eyes back to me. Peering over the rims of his glasses. “He instructed me to reach out to you regarding your application.”

“Any…. Idea why?” I asked with a nervous chuckle. “I-I mean. Not that I’m ungrateful or anything. I just feel like…. There are probably other people that would be more qualified than me? People that have actually…. You know. Gone to medical school?”

The Manager gave a low chuckle. He reached a sweaty hand to his face and slipped his glasses off, folding them and placing them into his breast pocket. “Have no worries, Miss Cuttler. The position we’re hiring for isn’t one that requires intensive medical experience…. All that is required is, at most, basic high school knowledge. And as per your resume…. You have that.”

“I-I do.” I nodded. My high school diploma was about the only thing I had accomplished in my entire 24 years of living. And with how long ago it felt, I doubted I even remembered much more than the basics. “So…. What exactly would I be doing here then?”

“Simply put. You’ll be aiding Dr. Afterthought in his day to day tasks. He’ll be handling the patients, so all you have to do is follow along and do anything else that he hasn’t the time for…. Fetching his charts, filing paperwork, making phone calls…. The like.” The Manager gestured with his hands and struck a sly grin.

I felt my heart sink a little. So the work I’d be doing wasn’t quite as glamorous as I had thought. I don’t know what I expected with my low prospects. But to hear I would basically be doing busy work…. It was a little disheartening.

My disappointment must’ve shown on my face. Because The Manager’s own smile slipped from his. Replaced by a frown of concern.

“Of course…. You don’t have to take the job if you don’t want to.” He gave a shrug and reached slowly for a telephone on his desk. “I’ll just call the doctor and inform him of your decision….”

“NO!” I yelled, a little too suddenly. I quickly retracted and placed my hand over my mouth, embarrassed by my outburst. “I-I mean. No sir. I’ll take it. I’m more than happy to work as the doctor’s assistant. I promise. I’ll do anything he needs me to do.”

The Manager’s hand crept away from his phone as he flashed his gross smile once more.

“Very good. Miss Cuttler.” He gave a slow and deliberate nod. “Very good indeed…. Then in that case, I’m more than happy to oblige the doctor’s wishes and hire you.” He held out his hand. Though I was reluctant to feel that bite of cold once again, I reciprocated his handshake.

“Are you willing to start today, Miss Cuttler?” The Manager asked as he withdrew his hand from mine.

“T-Today?” I was shocked. I didn’t think I’d be starting immediately. Was the doctor that desperate for an assistant?

“Yes. Today.” The Manager repeated with a nod. “Though today will be more of an… Initiation than anything. Introducing you to the doctor and his staff, showing you your duties, and of course, updating your vaccinations.”

I raised an eyebrow at that last part. “My vaccinations? What’s wrong with my vaccinations?”

“Oh, it's nothing, Miss Cuttler. It's just that it's been sometime since you had some of them renewed…. You’re working in a hospital, Miss Cuttler. A state of the art one at that. We encounter many, many different diseases and conditions here. These vaccines are not only for your sake, but the patients too.”

I supposed that made sense. I didn’t have any health insurance, so I hadn’t exactly been to a doctor’s in ages. I had been lucky enough to be naturally healthy most of my adult life.

As if reading my mind, the manager spoke up again. “And of course, these vaccinations will be paid for by the hospital…. Free of charge. Consider them to be part of your employee benefits.” He smiled, before standing up from behind his desk.

“Come now, Miss Cuttler…. I think its time you met our dear Dr. Afterthought.”

The Manager led me from his office and back down the hall I had just come from. Robert was gone by now, so I was left in the oppressive atmosphere with this man alone. While Robert had been silent and stony like a statue, The Manager made too much noise as he walked. He huffed and wheezed as he waddled along. It sounded like he would keel over and stop breathing at any moment. It certainly didn’t help my uneasiness. I couldn’t believe I was actually missing that living statue Robert.

The walk to the doctor’s office took ages. Due entirely to how slow the manager walked. But eventually, we came to another wooden door. This time at the end of the hall opposite from the manager’s office. This one bore an identical plaque. But the name upon it read simply

Dr. Afterthought

No first name or field of medicine. Just his name. And what a strange name it was. I’d never met anyone with a last name like that. But who was I to judge? Cuttler wasn’t exactly common either.

“He’s right in here.” The Manager wheezed out, removing a red handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping his greasy brow.

“You’re not coming in?”

“Heavens no. I’m much too busy. Besides, the doctor will handle everything from here. Just do as he says and you’ll do just fine.” The Manager tucked his handkerchief back into his pocket and started to slowly amble away, but not before stopping and turning around.

“For you, Miss Cuttler.” He grinned and held out his hand. There, cupped in his sweaty palm, was a small name tag. Amanda Cuttler.

I took it, though was unable to keep the sheer confusion off my face. “When did you have time to print this?” 

“We had a feeling you’d agree to the job.” The Manager chuckled. “Who would turn down such an offer anyways? Wear the badge. And welcome to the Lake Herald Hospital staff, Miss Cuttler…. We look forward to working with you.” The Manager gave one last nod, before waddling back the way he came.

I stood and watched him for a few moments. Till my eyes were drawn back down to the badge in my hands. It felt odd that they would make the badge in advance. What if I had said no? It would’ve been such a waste. It wasn’t some cheap thing either. Sturdy red metal, with my name engraved in black letters. Like an invert of the door plates. It looked far too fancy for something to be wasted on what was basically an errand girl…. But I guess that’s the perk of working at such a fancy hospital.

I turned my attention back to the door behind me. I wondered just who exactly I would meet on the other side of this door. Dr. Afterthought. My new boss, basically. What would he be like? I sincerely hoped he wasn’t as creepy and gross as The Manager was.

The doorknob was just as icy as the one that led to The Manager’s office. But I twisted it nonetheless. Coming face to face on the other side of the door-

With bones.

Lots. And lots. Of bones.

The room was dominated by skeleton models. They sat upon every table, stood against the walls, and hung from the ceiling. There were animals and humans alike. I saw more animals than I could count, and about four humans lined up against the back walls. Even though I was in a hospital, where one might expect these sorts of things, it still caught me off guard…. I was at least relieved to see that there was at least a window in this room. Though the glass seemed tinted to let in less light, it was at least a glimpse of the outside world.

I was so preoccupied by the sheer magnitude of skeletons in the room that I almost missed him at first. That lanky, gaunt figure that poured over a microscope on a table in the far corner of the room. It wasn’t until he stood up that I properly registered his existence.

The man, whom I presumed to be the doctor, was tall. Easily 6 foot. With a thin, wiry build beneath his clothes. As he turned away from his microscope, I caught my first look at his face. His cheeks sunken in, and eyes with bags so deep that it almost looked like makeup. His hair was a pinkish color, with graying edges and his eyes sat hidden behind a pair of round, red lens glasses. They matched nicely with his black scrubs and red lab coat.

As he spotted me, a small smile spread across his face. He gestured me in and stepped away from his microscope. I did as I was told and entered the room, the door softly clicking shut behind me. 

“You must be Amanda Cuttler.” The doctor spoke to me as he approached. His voice was warm and smooth. It soothed some of the discomfort I had felt since arriving on this floor. It was a good voice for a doctor. A voice that exuded confidence.

“That’s me, yep. You’re Dr. Afterthought?” I asked, holding out my hand to shake his. Though he merely stared at it. Before bringing his eyes back up to mine. I awkwardly let it lower back to my side.

“I am. It's good to meet you. My apologies for not shaking your hand…. I merely don’t like to touch people unless it's necessary for the practice.” He tilted his head slightly.

“Oh, its no problem. I understand.”

“Well, I certainly am glad to have you here Miss Cuttler.” Dr. Afterthought smiled as he slowly turned around, and began walking to a desk in the corner. One that I hadn’t even seen at first since it was covered from end to end in books, papers, and bones.

I followed him, carefully stepping around the model skeletons that littered the room. The doctor noticed and gave a low laugh.

“I apologize again. I’m not used to having other people in here. You must excuse my models…. They are a favorite hobby of mine.” Dr. Afterthought took a seat behind the desk, folding his hands and leaning forward as I took mine across from him. 

“It's certainly…. Unique.” I gave a polite smile as I stared into the eyes of a skeleton squirrel a few feet away. “Are they…?”

“Real? Yes. Very. Even the humans.” He added with a sly glint in his eyes. When I failed to contain my horrified expression, he broke into another laugh and waved me off. “Relax, Miss Cuttler. They’re very legal. I assure you. Many doctors keep real skeletons around…. They’re good for cross reference.”

“I-I see.” Even though I still thought they were creepy as hell. “S-So…. The Manager said I would basically be your assistant?” I questioned, in an attempt to steer the conversation away from the legally creepy skeletons.

“Yes, indeed. I need someone that I can trust to aid me in my examinations, studies, and any other tasks that I encounter throughout the day.” Dr. Afterthought tapped his fingers together. Due to the glasses hiding his eyes, it was difficult for me to tell where he was looking.

“It is a very demanding job, Miss Cuttler.” He added after a brief pause. “Most do not last in this line of work. You will be working many late nights here with me. And be taking on tedious, and sometimes grueling work. I need to know you are up to the task before officially signing you on.”

For just a moment, my shoulders sagged. I didn’t exactly like the idea of working late nights handling whatever menial tasks this guy didn’t want to handle himself…. But the briefest thought of sleeping on a park bench or begging for food from strangers snapped me back into place.

I sat up straight in my chair and looked the doctor in the eyes. “I’m up to the task sir. Anything you need I will provide. I promise you, I won’t disappoint. I’ll work as late as needed and handle whatever is necessary.” I gave a sharp nod.

“Good! Now of course, I assume you want to hear about your pay?” The doctor’s warm smile returned. And I responded with one of bashful embarrassment. 

“It…. Would be nice.” I giggled. “I didn’t want to ask and sound rude…. B-But I would like to ensure I’m getting paid an appropriate amount. I need at least a livable wage.”

“Of course. Don’t we all? I would never underpay an employee. Especially not someone as important as you, my assistant.” The doctor rifled through his stacks of papers until he finally found a scrap he could use. He withdrew a pen from his pocket and quickly scribbled a few numbers onto the page.

“Do you feel this is an appropriate pay?” He asked, sliding the paper across the desk in my direction.

As my eyes skimmed the paper, I felt my voice catch in my throat. I read it again, and then twice more. Even counting the number of zeroes that were written. Just to ensure myself that I wasn’t misunderstanding the amount of money I’d be making.

I looked up to the doctor with sheer and utter shock upon my face. Trying to find words to even structure my next sentence.

“A-Are you serious?” I finally managed to get out.

The doctor’s face crumpled. His brow furrowing and deep lines of concern etching themselves onto his face. “Is it too low?” He asked simply.

“N-No! No! Not at all!” I shook my head emphatically. “I-Its actually much bigger than I was expecting! I-I wanted to make sure you were really certain about paying me so much!”

“Yes, of course. Like I said, this job is demanding. And I want to ensure that my employees get paid fairly for the work they do.”

“I-I don’t know what to say. Yes. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much. This would be more than a fine salary. I promise you won’t be disappointed with my work!” I clutched the scrap paper to my chest as though it were my own child. Struggling to keep the tears from flowing out of my eyes. I didn’t want to cry like a baby in front of my new boss. But it was hard to control myself! I could never even have imagined making so much money. I wasn’t even sure what I’d do with all that cash.

Dr. Afterthought’s face returned to its happy expression as he reciprocated my excited nod.

“Splendid.” He said with a grin. “Then I’ll just need you to sign this contract here.” The doctor reached into his upper right hand drawer and withdrew a piece of paper. Planting it down in front of me, alongside the pen he used moments prior.

I’d never signed a contract before. It might as well have been written in gibberish. The large, confusing words, coupled with the nearly microscopic font size, made it impossible for me to tell exactly what I was agreeing to.

“Um….” I bit my lip as I looked up at the doctor.

“Problem?”

“Y-Yeah. I mean. No. But uh…. What exactly am I agreeing to here?” I asked at the risk of sounding like a moron.

“Nothing too extreme. Simply that you’ll be my assistant and preserve confidentiality. Nothing you see within these walls is to be repeated elsewhere…. This is a hospital after all. We have privacy to uphold.”

“I understand.” I nodded as my eyes scanned the contract. I wished I had a lawyer to read this. But even if I had the money, I didn’t want to waste any time out of fear they might find someone else to take this job.

“That’s it?” I asked him.

“That’s it. You’re not selling your soul or anything.” He chuckled.

I looked back at him nervously, before picking up the pen before me. But right as I was about to lower the tip to the page, he spoke up once again.

“Oh. And that you’ll keep your vaccinations and medications up to date. Of course.” He added suddenly.

“Right. The Manager mentioned that.” I paused before signing my name. “He said the hospital will cover it. Is that true?”

“Yes. We’ll handle your medication and vaccines. There is nothing to fear in that regard.”

Enough stalling, I figured. With that much money, any tasks they had me do would be worth it. Even if I had to file papers all day for the rest of my life. I scribbled my name onto the page in bright red ink. Before I could even put the pen down, Dr. Afterthought reached out and snatched the contract up in his hand.

“Thank you very much, Miss Cuttler.” He slipped the paper back into the desk drawer from whence it came. And smiled in my direction once again. “Are you willing to start today, Miss Cuttler?”

I took a steady breath. Now that I had signed it, now that all this pre-work was through. I was feeling a lot better. A lot more confident in my decision. This was going to change my life for the better. I would never need to worry about money ever again.

I returned the doctor’s warm smile and nodded.

“I can begin right away sir.”

Dr. Afterthought stood up from his desk and I stood along with him.

“Very well…. First things first.” He started to walk towards the door, gesturing for me to follow him.

“Let us begin with your vaccination.”