Doppelganger

"Hah," the girl breathed out, prying her eyes open to the artificial lights of the clinic. A place she was so familiar with, she couldn't think of a week she hadn't wake up lying on the white springy mattress.

 "How are you feeling?" asked the nurse, giving her a warm motherly smile, like the one she used to see at the telly. She hated her though, the nurse, she asks too many questions.

Her mouth tasted like chlorine and her chest hurt like someone pounced something hard to it. She winced when she tried breathing deep. The nurse saw her reaction and asked her most dreaded question. "Where's your dad, dear?" She couldn't let them know about her dad, she didn't want to go under the system. It would be harder in there.

"Work," she simply said, averting her eyes down to her feet. "He wouldn't come...he needs to finish something, his boss would get mad..don't call him please." Of course, she was lying, her dad wouldn't go looking for a job unless his booze money is all spent. That could go for days and even weeks. She fidgeted her toes, waiting for the reaction of the nurse.

"Okay then, I'll drive you home." The nurse offered her. She shook her head nervously, not wanting to take the generosity. She didn't want her to see her house. She was ashamed, yes. "If you don't want, then I have to call your dad, dear. You can't go home like that. Do you know that you almost drowned there?" Yes, she does, the memory, engraved well in her head. It was frightening yet satisfying. "Why hadn't you tell anyone that you don't know how to swim?" She refused to talk though she could tell her the truth, of the hand pushing her. But it wouldn't erase all the hurt and the pain. The silence was more like it.

"Okay, I'll go with you." The girl didn't wait for the nurse, she grabbed her bag and went out.

The drive was dead silent. The nurse would ask a thing or two and she would answer a single word, cutting off the conversation midway. Until the nurse got tired and give in to the timid nature of the girl.

An hour has passed and finally, they arrived at the girl's house. Neglect was evident, from the dead plants, the bottle-covered lawn to the unfixed shutters and windows. The nurse had heard several rumors, but she didn't quite believe any of them. A ghastly wind blew as she opened the door of her car, alone piece of paper flew in her face to the direction of the house. A flatter in one of the top windows caught her eye.

A girl with the very same image as the one who just got out of her car was staring at them. Long brown hair, pale skin but the eyes, something was different with the eyes. Though she could be mistaken through the darkening surrounding. She snapped her head to the girl with her and back to the window, as if on cue it vanished. "Do you have a twin? Or a sister?" She asked.

The girl got confused with the question of the nurse. There was only her and her father. "Nope. It was just me and my da ...thank you for taking me home." With a cheapish smile, the girl started to walk down to her house.

It must have been my imagination, the nurse thought climbing inside her car. With one more glance, she looked at the window and saw a retreating hand making the curtains sway.

Author's Note: thank you so much for appreciating my works. Love you all guys