Emilia Knaggs stares at the psychologist silently as she goes over the 27-year old's records. Her left arm heavily bandaged from her latest suicide attempt. The mental health facility she had been sent to a week ago allows patients to wear clothes from home, so she's wearing a pair of torn up jeans and a band shirt. In another life, Emilia had been a top rugby player at West Point. Now she is just another washout working a dead-end job at one of the half a dozen hotels in Geneva, NY. Her life had fallen apart, and after three suicide attempts since washing out of West Point at 20 she finds herself trying to see what she has left.

"How are you feeling," the doctor finally asks Emilia, his smile soft. Emilia looks at the man's eyes and can't help thinking that his smile is nothing more than a façade.

"My arm still hurts," she admits. "And my roommate snores so I'm not getting much sleep."

"How about emotionally," the doctor presses gently, his hand moving slowly as he writes something. "Any more thoughts of hurting yourself?"

Emilia considers her words before answering. "Only after the fifth night of not being able to sleep. Do you know how long the night is when you're lying in bed and unable to do anything?" She lets the doctor write more and then adds, "If there was something worth thinking about in the outside world, it might not be as bad. As it is, it's just work, work, and more work."

"How about your family? Have you talked to them since arriving?"

Emilie just shakes her head and then looks at the clock sitting behind the facility psychologist. Her lips twitch as she realizes she'd been up for 24 hours and the shower she took an hour ago wasn't helping much. Instead of saying anything, she just shakes her head and yawns. Talking to her family wasn't something she had done in some years.

"Do they even know where you're living, Emilia?"

"They have some idea I'm in New York," she admits. "But they probably think I'm in the City." She looks at the clock again before asking, "Are we done? I'm sure one of the attendants is waiting to see me off to some boring group activity."

The doctor's smile turns to a frown and it's his turn to sigh. He writes a few things in his notes. "Actually, I have another idea. You can go get a few hours of sleep and I'm going to make a few calls. How do you feel about tabletop games?"

Emilia looks at the psychologist bewildered. "Why would I play children's games," she asks, obviously insulted.

"I'm not thinking about children's games," she replies while composing herself. "I have an acquaintance at the colleges who plays a D&D game. All the players are professionals and have been playing this campaign for years. He and two others are original players, but people come and go all the time. He'll teach you everything you need to know." She pauses for a moment. "And it'll give you a few hours away from the attendants here."

The look of bewilderment increases, but Emilia no longer feels insulted. Just confused. "You'd let me leave unsupervised?"

"Only for a few hours a week until you leave," the psychologist replies, knowing that Emilia's stay is longer than usual. Most patients stay for a week or two. Emilia, however, is at the facility for a month. It was a decision she and a few other doctors had made based on Emilia's medical history. "Their typical session is about three hours, but Alan has regaled me with tales of sessions lasting up to six hours. And they have far better food than you'll get here."

Emilia considers the offer. It would mean getting away from some of the uptight, overly serious attendants, and away from some of the creeps. But she'd be around other people, people she has never met and who are far more successful than she could ever dream of being. She also isn't being fair about the food here. It isn't THAT bad, she thinks to herself. But it would be nice to get some real snacks.

"And how much of what happens in this group activity comes back to you," Emilia final asks, her voice full of suspicion.

The doctor shakes her head. "Nothing you don't want to share. As long as you don't try to run or do anything like that. I won't even ask any questions about your time until after next week's session."

Her eyes stare into the doctor's, trying to read his mind. "Fine. I'll do it. But I'm only promising one session," she says before getting up. The doctor just smiles and watches as Emilia walks out of his office and ignores the waiting attendant.

Emilia only slightly hears the doctor tell the attendant to let her go as she turns down the hall and passes the common area. Twenty to thirty seats are set up in four rows in front of a large TV, currently off while everyone is in groups. Walking to the end of the hall, she walks into the doorless room that acts as her current bedroom. Two beds are set up on the right side of the room with dressers across from both, so she and her roommate have their own. A smaller room in the far-left corner acts as a private bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower head hidden by a curtain. The water is kept out of the rest of the room by a two-inch lip. The sole window in the room, facing the backyard, is currently covered by thin shades.

Without changing, Emilia flops onto the soft bed and she is asleep before she feels the pillow under her head.

Emilia groans softly as she wakes up to her roommate telling her that they're being called for lunch. Her initial thought is to flip the younger woman off, but Emilia finds herself refreshed despite only getting four hours of sleep. She sits up on her bed and thanks her roommate who is already walking away. "Whatever," Emilia whispers softly before her stomach growls. As soon as a room opens up, she had planned to ask for a new room so not getting along with Nessa isn't an issue.

The usual line for the cafeteria is already completely full as it seems Emilia is the last to know about lunch. It doesn't bother her, except that she probably won't be alone at a table. She can usually claim a table and keep others away by glaring at them. But being at the back of the line ensures that will be unlikely. One of the attendants leads the group through the hallways to the cafeteria.

It takes about ten minutes for Emilia to get her lunch, two turkey hotdogs and sweet potato fries, and manages to find a small, two-person table to sit alone at. She smothers the hotdogs and fries with ketchup before eating quickly. Just as she's finishing her food, her psychologist sits across from her and smiles.

"I see you enjoyed lunch," the woman says, a bright smile across her face as she notices everyone else is still eating. "I just got off the phone with Alan. He said they'd be happy to teach a new player the ropes and he'll pick you up at five."

"You really think this is a good idea?" Emilia wipes her lips clean and stares at the doctor, whose name she has intentionally not learned.

"I've met everyone there and I've known Alan for years." She stops for a moment and looks around. "He and I went to school together. We did our gen ed together, as well as a little partying. I think the two of you will get along well. And if he doesn't behave," the doctor adds with a slight smirk. "There's another friend who will correct his behavior for him."

Emilia can't help but let her lips curl slightly with her own smile. She still isn't sure about the group, or playing some tabletop game, but maybe it won't be so bad. The only thing that worries her now is the bandages on her arm.

"And they won't ask any questions about why you're here or about your arm," the doctor reassures Emilia, who has turned her attention to her left arm. "I have been told that the only thing you need to bring is a pencil and notebook. They will provide you with other the other material and the attendants know that you will be coming back with a few books."

"Books?"

"Yeah. They'll go over the rules and gameplay with you, but there are books that will be beneficial for you to read over." The doctor looks at her watch. "I've got to get going. I'll walk you to the front door tonight."

Emilia watches the doctor walk off without a word, realizing that she misjudged the woman. She still isn't sure how she feels about getting into a car with a complete stranger, or possibly being in a strange place with multiple strangers, but maybe this will be a good experience. She gets up and puts her tray in the dishes window before walking back to the common area. Grabbing the remote, she turns the TV on and waits for the next group activity.

At two, the TV is turned off and she's led with ten others to a room with chairs set in a circle. Groaning internally, Emilia shrugs and picks a random chair. She knows what's about to happen, but also that she'll be able to decline to speak. As if I'd want to share anything to begin with, she thinks as the group leader starts the hour of sharing. Zoning out, Emilia starts daydreaming about the upcoming game. When the group gets to her, she simply passes, not really caring about the disapproving look the group leader is giving her. She's too interested in trying to figure out what kind of people this group is composed of. And why professionals would even want to have anything to do with her.

Emilia walks to the doctor's office at three, ignoring the group leader and attendants trying to get her attention. Knocking on the door, she waits a second to let the doctor call her in before entering and sitting in the chair.

"Is this really a good idea," Emilia starts. "You said they were professionals. Why would they want anything to do with me? I'm just some random nobody with a dead-end job at hotel. I'm so far below these people that they'd normally just look past me on the street."

"Seriously, I'm a nobody with no one who cares about me. And why would they? I can't do anything right and haven't been able to do anything right since washing out of the academy! My parents don't even want anything to do with me!" Emilia continues until her words can't be overheard over her sobbing, tears running down her face. She cries for about ten minutes while the doctor sits quietly, a small smile on her lips. She hadn't been expecting Emilia to open up like this, but she finds it a good start.

"Just because they have degrees and jobs society thinks are more important than front desk jobs at a hotel doesn't mean they're better than you. Nor does it mean they think they're better than you. They're just people. At their table, everyone is an equal. If I thought they would treat you as anything less than a person, I wouldn't have even brought the idea up."

Taking the box of tissues, Emilia begins wiping her face dry and then apologizes. The doctor just shakes her head and gives Emilia a few minutes to clean up and calm down. "I'll see you in a bit," the doctor says as Emilia walks away, fully embarrassed at her outburst.