By noon Lisa was all but ready to collapse, her feet throbbing painfully in the too-small pumps. She'd asked for a larger pair, but so far nothing had come of her request.
Draping her uniform over an arm, the teen closed her locker with a forceful slam, trying to keep it shut despite the damaged latch.
When she became a full-time nurse, she felt sure they'd place her on the night-shift. That's where all the newbies went, or so she'd heard. Less sleep, more work. It made her wonder why she even bothered.
I'm so proud of you.
Her mother's words hit her like a slap in the face, and despite being nothing more than a passing memory, they burrowed deep inside her heart. Suddenly sad, the nurse lowered her gaze and skulked out of the changing room.
Muffled chatter echoed through the now bustling hall. Many were leaving, whilst others had only just arrived. They all seemed happy and content with their lives, discussing topics which Lisa held no interest in.
She signed out at the reception desk, her signature a lazy, half-hearted scribble. Another unexceptional day had passed. And tomorrow, another unexceptional day would begin.
The heavy doors slammed behind her as she made her way onto the street. By now the thick fog had cleared, though an icy chill still remained. With her uniform slung under an arm, Lisa tugged at the scarf around her neck, blowing out a puff of warm air.
The paving stones were littered with ugly cracks, tiny roots beginning to sprout from the soil below. Though it's status as a mining town had long since passed, Silent Hill had become a hot spot for tourists, with the number of hotels increasing rapidly.
Magazines described the town as the perfect place to take a vacation, leading to the subsequent construction of an amusement park, and later a bowling alley, in hopes of appealing to a more family friendly crowd.
The nurse herself could not fathom why such a humdrum place had grown so popular. It's history was littered with bloodshed and torment, a dark past now firmly locked away behind a glass case, abandoned to the cruelty of time.
Lisa's grand-father would tell stories of the helmet-clad executioners, elusive cults and strange rituals related to the town, and though they entertained the girl, her mother considered it all nonsense, informing her daughter not to listen.
Silly hocus pocus. She would say. Complete garbage.
Lisa missed her grand-father.
Pausing on the edge of Koontz Street, the nurse let her gaze linger on Artaud Theatre, a sharp stab of nostalgia making her sigh. It still hurt.
She'd wanted to be a star, more than anything in the world. Back when she was still a student at Midwhich Elelmentary School, the girl had joined a drama club, landing roles in a selection of school plays.
She was never more happy than when she was on stage, performing in front of a spellbound audience. It made her feel powerful, as though she could touch the sky, as though she could achieve anything simply by wishing for it.
Lisa's teacher encouraged her to pursue an acting career, igniting a passion within the child, yet pushing her farther and farther away from the prospect of becoming a nurse.
Upon beginning high school, the teen enrolled in a singing class, hoping to improve her acceptable yet somewhat mediocre vocal talents.
Knowing her parents would never pay the excessive fee, Lisa got two part-time jobs to help her get by. On week nights she was a waitress at Annie's bar, whilst her weekends were spent at Andy's Books. They didn't pay well, but she managed.
At first secretive about her motives, the girl finally garnered enough courage to tell her parents what she was doing, desperate to be accepted by the two people she worked so hard to appease.
An actress? Her mother mocked, laughing at the notion. Don't be ridiculous, it's a waste of time and money. A frivolous idea.
Her father remained silent, as he always did. Despite being the breadwinner, it was quite clear that her mother held dominance over him. Afraid to speak up, he never opposed of anything she said, and certainly never stood up for his daughter.
He was the sort of man to hide behind a newspaper, a man who left the room when things got ugly, choosing to listen to the radio or watch TV rather than engage in conflict.
Your dream? The woman continued, brow arching high. Let me tell you something about dreams. They're not real, and nothing ever comes of them.
You don't think I'm good enough? Lisa sobbed, distraught.
Of course I do, which is why I want you to give up this foolish charade. I wasted the best years of my life chasing after a hopeless dream, I don't want that happening to you.
The girl had always considered her mother a thoughtful person, trying her best to provide Lisa with a happy childhood. Her attempts at parenting may have been unsophisticated, but her efforts were always acknowledged.
Only when the teen began her internship did she finally realize how cruel and manipulative the woman could be. Playing with her daughter's emotions, twisting the knife into her soft gut, was the only way she could force Lisa into doing as she was told.
Her father was weak, and her mother domineering. The girl felt as though she should hate her parents, but she didn't. Despite everything, they loved her, and she loved them right back.
Sliding her key into the lock, Lisa used her free hand to twist the handle, stepping inside her empty house. Hanging her uniform on the coat rack, she made her way to the kitchen, heading straight for the refrigerator.
She wasn't particularly hungry, but felt the need to eat simply out of necessity. She'd surely collapse if she didn't feed her body.
Grabbing a slice of ham, she made herself a sandwich and sat down at the table to eat it. As she chewed, her eyes roved the many family pictures nailed to the wall.
There were several of her parents in their younger days, one depicting her father, back when he still worked in Brahms. Another showed her mother wearing a nurse outfit, smiling cheerfully outside Alchemilla.
For as long as she could remember, the Garland women had followed the common tradition of becoming nurses. Most of them attended Achemilla, though a few had migrated to South Vale, choosing Brookhaven instead.
Her grand-mother had worked at Cedar Grove Sanitarium for a short time. It had been an unpleasant experience for the woman, who struggled to sleep at night. By the time her second term arrived, she had already transferred to Alchemilla.
As expected, Lisa had succumbed to her mother's emotional blackmail, agreeing to throw away her aspirations of stardom in order to keep her satisfied. And she had been incredibly satisfied with her daughter's submission. A little too satisfied.
Whatever reason her mother had for derailing Lisa's life remained a mystery. The woman never told her, and she never asked. It was a touchy subject, and she knew how angry her mother could get.
Swallowing the last bite of her meal, she rinsed her dish and placed it back in the cupboard, removing her jacket as she climbed the stairs to her room.
Running a hand through her auburn-blonde hair, the girl began to run a bath, watching as the suds began to rise. Lying on her bed, she listened to the soft trickle of running water. It was soothing, if not hypnotic, almost lulling the girl into a deep sleep.
A collection of envelopes sat atop her desk, most of which belonged to friends she hadn't seen in a while. After graduating, many of them had migrated to their respective colleges. She'd replied to a few, but most went ignored.
She hated to admit it, even to herself, but Lisa was embarrassed by how uneventful her life was. She felt as though it was going nowhere.
Slipping off her clothes, the teen cautiously poked the water with a hesitant toe, slowly sliding into the steaming depths. Resting her head against the wall, she allowed her entire body to be engulfed by the warm liquid, gazing up at the circle of light above her head.
When was the last time she had fun?