Thursday

Chapter Four : Hoping For Freedom

On Thursday morning, Sophie woke up to the warm sunlight streaming through the window. She stretched and smiled, remembering the laughter and connection she had shared with Ethan the day before. The rooftop adventure still lingered in her mind, and she felt more alive than she had in days. 

Feeling adventurous, Sophie decided to shake off the hospital routine. She slipped out of bed and into a comfortable outfit—something that made her feel more like herself than a patient. After a quick breakfast, she took a moment to jot down some ideas for her next "mission" with Ethan. 

Just as she was putting the finishing touches on her plans, the door swung open, and in walked Mrs. Cleene, her personal assistant. The middle-aged woman had always been a steady presence in Sophie's life, managing her schedules and ensuring she stayed on track, even when Sophie felt rebellious.

"Good morning, Sophie! How are we feeling today?" Mrs. Cleene asked, her warm smile fading as she noticed Sophie's energy.

"Great! I'm feeling fantastic, actually," Sophie replied, trying to contain her excitement. "I think I'm ready to plan my escape!"

Mrs. Cleene chuckled lightly but quickly adopted a more serious tone. "I hope you're not planning anything too adventurous. Remember, you're still recovering, and we need to make sure you're fit for discharge."

Sophie waved her hand dismissively. "I promise, I'll be good! But I have some ideas for when I get out. Just you wait!"

"Let's hope so," Mrs. Cleene said, her tone hinting at gentle concern. "Speaking of which, I need to check in on your discharge paperwork and make sure everything's in order."

As Sophie chatted animatedly about her plans, Mrs. Cleene noticed the room's stillness. "Have you seen your father? I thought he would be here by now."

"No, I haven't seen him yet today," Sophie said, trying to recall if he had mentioned any early meetings. 

"Alright then, let me check on the discharge status," Mrs. Cleene replied, glancing around the room before heading toward the door. "I'll be back in a moment."

---

A short while later, Mrs. Cleene returned, her expression a bit more serious than before. "Sophie, we need to talk."

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked, sensing the shift in tone.

"I just checked with the staff, and it seems you're not in your room. They haven't seen you for a while," Mrs. Cleene said, concern etching her features.

Sophie's heart sank. "Oh no! I must have lost track of time. I was just… out exploring a bit." 

"Exploring? Where?" Mrs. Cleene asked, trying to remain calm.

"Just… around the hospital. I went to the playroom again and maybe back to the rooftop," Sophie admitted, her voice faltering a little.

Mrs. Cleene sighed. "I'm going to have to inform your father. He's been worried about your recovery, and this isn't going to help matters."

Before Sophie could protest, Mrs. Cleene left the room to contact her father. Feeling a knot in her stomach, Sophie paced back and forth. She hadn't meant to cause worry, but she was tired of being treated like a patient. 

Just then, she thought about Ethan. Would he get in trouble for her adventures too? The thought made her anxious. She didn't want to drag him into her mischief; he had enough on his plate.

Moments later, her father stormed into the room, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Sophie! Where have you been?"

"I was just… exploring, Dad," she said, trying to sound casual. "I'm fine!"

"Fine? You think wandering around a hospital is fine? You're supposed to be resting and recovering," he scolded, his voice firm.

Sophie felt her heart race. "I just wanted to feel normal! I've been cooped up for too long."

Her father took a deep breath, softening a little. "I understand that, but you have to be responsible. You can't just disappear like that, especially with everything going on."

"I know, I know," she said, her tone dropping. "But I feel like I'm missing out on life. I just wanted a little adventure."

"I get it, but you need to work with the staff here. They're looking out for you," he replied, his voice more even now.

Mrs. Cleene re-entered the room. "I spoke with the doctors. They are concerned about you being too active before you're fully healed. It might delay your discharge."

Sophie's heart sank further. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."

Her father's expression softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you didn't. But you have to let us take care of you. You'll have plenty of adventures once you're out of here."

As Sophie looked into her father's eyes, she felt a mix of frustration and understanding. She wanted her freedom, but she also didn't want to worry him or anyone else. 

"Alright, I'll try to be more careful," she conceded, knowing she had to find a way to balance her spirit of adventure with the realities of her recovery.

Mrs. Cleene smiled gently. "That's all we ask, Sophie. We're here to help you, even if it means keeping you grounded for a little while longer."

As they all settled into a more comfortable conversation, Sophie began to plan her next moves—this time, a bit more thoughtfully. She might be confined to the hospital for now, but she was determined to make the most of her time there, with or without a little mischief.