Silent Preparations

Charlotte

The following days in the hospital were a whirlwind of silent plans and careful observations. Every detail around me seemed loaded with significance, and I knew I couldn't let anything slip by. The possibility of finding a small gap to escape was the only thing keeping me focused and determined.

After my conversation with Richard, he had finally managed to get the doctors to agree to let me leave the room for brief periods, to walk down the corridor and get some fresh air in the small indoor garden of the hospital. The permission felt like a small miracle, something I hadn't expected to achieve, and I knew I couldn't waste this opportunity.

In the days that followed, I used each outing to memorize the hospital's surroundings. The nurses' schedules, the doctors' routes, the emergency exits—all of it was etched into my mind as essential pieces of a puzzle. I couldn't leave anything to chance.

During these walks, I maintained the posture of a fragile, obedient woman who simply needed a small distraction to keep from going mad in the confinement of the room. The nurses watched me with a mix of sympathy and condescension, never suspecting that behind my weary eyes was a mind working frantically on a plan.

One day, while I was sitting in the garden, enjoying a rare moment of sunlight that escaped through the clouds, I noticed a new nurse. She was young, maybe in her early twenties, and seemed a little inexperienced, still trying to adjust to the hospital's pace. Her presence piqued my interest. A newcomer might be exactly the key I needed to find a breach.

I began observing her more closely, noticing that she always made her rounds late in the afternoon, just before the night shift started. That was when the hospital was at its calmest, with less movement in the corridors and a more tranquil atmosphere. If there was a chance to escape unnoticed, that would be the ideal time.

At the same time, I continued maintaining my submissive and calm demeanor in front of Richard and Marta. Each time they visited, I made an effort to appear more resigned to my situation, almost as if I were accepting the fate they had imposed on me. Richard seemed satisfied with my obedience, and Marta, though still cold and controlling, seemed to have relaxed a bit, believing that I was finally "understanding my place."

But inside, I was burning with the desire to act, to escape from all of it. I knew I had to be patient, that a single mistake could mean the end of any chance at freedom. So I waited, saving my energy and focus for the right moment.

Finally, an opportunity arose. One afternoon, when the hospital was particularly quiet and the young nurse seemed particularly distracted, I realized I could put my plan into action. The timing was right, the routes were clear, and I knew Richard and Marta wouldn't show up until the next day.

When the nurse entered my room to check my vitals, I smiled at her in a friendly manner, trying to appear as harmless as possible. She smiled back, but there was a nervousness in her eyes, as if she were worried about making a mistake. This was perfect for me.

"Could you bring me some water?" I asked softly, pointing to the empty glass beside the bed.

"Of course, ma'am," she replied, hurrying to get the water jug from the other side of the room.

It was at that moment that I acted. While she had her back turned, I opened the drawer of the bedside table, where I had hidden a small object I had managed to pick up during one of my walks in the garden: an old, rusty key, perhaps forgotten by some hospital worker. I wasn't sure if it would unlock anything useful, but it was my only chance.

I quickly slipped the key into the sleeve of my robe before the nurse returned with the water. She handed me the glass with a smile, and I took a sip, trying to appear unconcerned. But my heart was racing, knowing that at that moment, I was closer to freedom than I had ever been.

As soon as she left the room, I got up slowly, feeling the key pressed against my skin. I walked to the door, pretending to do my usual routine of walking down the corridor. The security cameras, which I had noticed earlier, were positioned in such a way that they didn't fully cover the corridor where I planned to escape. If I was quick enough, maybe no one would notice my absence until it was too late.

With my heart pounding, I left the room and started walking down the corridor, keeping a calm and controlled demeanor. When I reached the point where I knew the cameras wouldn't catch me, I veered into an emergency stairwell I had identified days before. I opened the door with the makeshift key, almost unable to believe it would work.

As soon as the door opened, I felt a wave of relief but also panic. There was no turning back now. I was escaping. Adrenaline surged through me as I hurried down the stairs, each step taking me further from the prison that Richard and Marta had created for me.

When I finally reached the ground floor, I found myself in a dark, little-used corridor. It was the path to the back of the hospital, where the emergency exits and service areas were located. I knew that if I could reach the exit, I would have a real chance of getting away.

But time was against me. I didn't know how long I had before my absence was noticed. Every second counted, and I needed to be quick and precise. As I walked toward the exit, my mind raced with possibilities, with what I would do once I was out of there.