The rooms here are conjoined. There were two of us in one room, one on the left and one on the right. 

Our sides were split by a white wall that juts out. If we each sat on our beds, we wouldn't be able to see each other. But there's only one door to our room, which must always remain open. We had one bathroom as well, it was just inside the door, on the left side. The far wall had two windows that don't open. One for each of us. And we each had our own desk, and dresser with three drawers. 

When the nurse first showed me my room, I was the only one in here. I was ushered to the left side of the room, so that must be my side. Once I got my clothes back, I could put them in the dresser. It was evening, so I was instructed to go to bed. 

I tried. I certainly laid there, but I don't think I actually slept. I think I was still in shock of it all. Late into the night - or what I assume was late - I heard the nurses by the door, so I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. Their voices were muffled as they mumbled. I could hear crying. I squinted, trying to open my eyes just enough to see, but not enough to get caught for being awake.

Their forms were silhouetted by the light from the sitting area outside the room. They were talking to another ward. She must have been new, because she was crying as they gave her the same "this is your room, you'll be given your clothes back after they're washed" speech. 

When they finally left her on her bed, I could hear her sniffling. After a while, her sniffling stopped and I heard a faint "hey." I opened my eyes, but she must not have been able to see me well, because she whispered "are you asleep?"

"No."

There was another sniff, "I'm Fatima."

I didn't respond right away, but after another sniff, I told her my name and then "I'm new here too."

She didn't respond to that, but I heard her shift on her bed and then all was quiet again.

I watched nurses walk by the open door. Every so often, they would poke their head in and watch Fatima and I for a while, before moving on to the next room. At one point, my intake nurse came in and quietly rustled my bed with a soft "hey." He must have thought I was asleep, but his rustling caused me to jolt back in surprise, and my head thunked against the wall. 

"Easy," it was more of a caution than soothing. "I need your wrist." 

I stuck my arm out from under the thin and scratchy blanket. He slapped a hospital bracelet on it, and tightened it just enough that I couldn't slip it off. 

"I'll get you another blanket. You're like ice."

I didn't say anything, just pulled my arm back under the scratchy blanket as he retreated back to the light outside the doorway. He returned sometime later and draped another scratchy blanket on me. I let him think I was asleep.

A girl keeps walking past the door and mumbles to the closest nurse about needing something or another. They just send her back to her room empty handed. It must be a routine. 

Fatima snores.

Outside the window the bricks on the building across are dark. It must still be night.