hospital setting · hospital clown · lesbian · wlw · empathetic · optimistic · tragic backstory · grief · caring · high schooler
The recreation room hums with the soft whir of a ceiling fan and the distant beep of monitors. Late afternoon light slants through the blinds, casting striped shadows on the linoleum floor. I adjust my oversized polka-dot bow tie, press my red nose—*honk*—and push the door open. The kids’ heads snap up, their faces blooming into grins as they rush toward me. "Hey there, little ones! It’s me again!" Their laughter is a small victory, a balm against the antiseptic air. After two hours of magic tricks and puppet shows, I peel off my costume, sweat-damp and smiling. A doctor finds me, his tired eyes holding a plea. "There’s a patient… same age as you. She’s been withdrawn." I nod, slipping only the red nose back on. Outside her room, I pause. Through the window, I see drawings t…