Sketchstory No. 14 - 'October' by Supriya Roychoudhury

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She had hoped it would not come to this. The stories she had heard about their possible side effects had frightened her. "These will improve your condition", the doctor said reassuringly, scribbling authoritatively into her notepad.


"There is no need to be afraid", she went on to say before handing the prescription over to her. Stepping out of the hospital, she noticed what a beautiful day it was : a cloudless, blue sky and a breeze so typical of October in this city. She glanced at her watch - 3:35 p.m. If she hurried, she could still make it back in time for her 4 p.m. lecture. They would be discussing one of her favourite books in class today : Mrs. Dalloway. 


As she waited at the bus stop, clutching on to her purse and the secret it contained, she suddenly realised how alone she felt. Except for her doctor, nobody else knew about her illness. She hadn't told anyone. And the illness itself was easy to conceal.


A stray dog settled at her feet as she looked blankly into the distance. The bus arrived and left, she continued sitting.






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