The Visiting Room

“You took your medications without a fuss?”

“Yes.”

“And you ate all of your breakfast?”

“Not the spinach.”

Nurse Redheart let out a sigh as a smile crossed her face. “Of course, never the spinach.”

Screwball nodded and beamed at her. “So, do I get to go to visiting hours now?”

The white mare could tell the filly was almost at the point of jumping out of her bed with excitement. Of course, Redheart couldn’t just let her leave, not that she wanted to, either. Screwball had a tendency to ignore rules and hurt herself, both tendencies that were normally amplified when around other ponies. Then there was the last problem. “When was the last time Spit said anything?”

Screwball’s eyes drooped and left Redheart’s gaze as the filly rubbed one hoof over the other. “She hasn’t said anything.” She looked back up with the widest eyes she could manage. “Promise.”

How I wish you didn’t have to lie. “I’m still not certain. You haven’t been to visiting hours in almost two years and this stallion is very important to the hospital.”

The dark pink filly pouted. “You just don’t want to let me do anything, like always.”

The glare from Screwball almost caused a tear to come down Redheart’s face. She knew the filly tried to like her, but being the warden to her cage had long ago made the trust they shared very fragile. “No Screwball, I just–“

“Then let me go. Please!”

Screwball’s quivering eyes were too much for her and Redheart finally repented. She put a hoof below Screwball’s muzzle and forced their eyes to meet while her expression masked her sadness at the little one’s desperation and the shame she felt for allowing this. “Alright, but if you misbehave during the visit or anytime before the next one, you don’t go next time, okay?”

Screwball flung herself over Redheart and stood at the door with her tail frantically swinging side to side. “Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!”

A small chuckle escaped Redheart and she opened the door to the hallway. Screwball immediately started to race down the clean, white corridors that she knew so well. A left would take her to radiology, a place she hoped to never have to go to, straight took her to group therapy, an activity she hated because every other pony seemed scared of her except for Barking, and then there was the path to the right. The path to the lobby. To more of the hospital. To ponies who didn’t think she was a freak. She skidded to a halt and crouched, ready to pounce right through the doors. A firm hoof on her tail stopped her. “Ow!”

“Calm down. Like I said, you need to be on your best behavior. Besides, he has asked for a private room to see you in without surveillance. That room is back towards group therapy.”

Screwball turned around, her eyes opened wide in astonishment. “N-no guards? Just, just me and him?”

Redheart felt a stab of pain in her chest and forced the lump in her throat out in a pained voice. “That is a privilege someone such as your father may have.” For a moment she thought the filly was about to pass out with how still she stood, but then she wobbled and nodded, trotting over to Redheart and staying close to her legs. There she stayed in silence while they walked down to the room.

Redheart only spoke again once they were at the door. “Remember, your best behavior. And… and good luck.”

Screwball glanced up, her eyes the size of dinner plates. “Can I know something before I go in?”

“Anything.”

“Why is he only coming now? Why didn’t he come to see me before?”

Redheart shut her eyes, forcing the tears back. It was so much easier when I didn’t have to lie. When it was just a visitor and… and. She shook her head and stamped a hoof down. The hospital can’t lose him. The other patients need his money or else… She looked down at the filly who now had her tail wrapped around her body.

“Sorry, just had to clear my head. From what I was told, keeping you here as we have costs a great deal, so he has had to work hard to make sure you’re safe for a long time, forcing him away, despite his desire to be with you. However, now that he has a stable income and doesn’t need to work as much, he should be able see you at least weekly, if not more.” Every inch of the smile she forced upon her face hurt.

Screwball stroked her tail and for a moment as she ground her teeth. It’s your fault you were never loved. Your fault that he had to suffer. She shook Spitball away and looked up at Redheart. “Thank you. I… I think I’m ready now.” She stepped forward and wrapped a fore hoof around one of her legs. “I’ll be good; promise.”

Redheart nodded and opened the door and watched as the little filly disappeared within. The sound of hooves came up from behind her once the door clicked shut. She looked back at the approaching pony and sighed. “Am I a bad mare?”

The medical director shook his head. “The equipment we were promised will help a lot of ponies. I don’t like having to sacrifice her, but he has done so much for us already. It is about time we had to pay for it.”

She glanced at him, the flat monotone of his voice making it hard for her to be convinced. “But is it worth possibly destroying a filly?”

The director looked at her and then glanced away. “I have a meeting to go to.”

Redheart nodded. She knew she couldn’t stop him. Stop this. Her hooves slowly slid along the tiles as she made her way back to the nurse’s station. She started the pot of coffee as she sat, wanting nothing more to go to sleep and forget about this. Instead, she watched the security system for when it told her the door opened so she could get Screwball out of there the moment they were done.