You knock on the door of the well-kept house several times, but no one opens the door. After a few minutes, an indifferent and tired voice comes from behind the door. "Come in, it's not locked." You step inside the house and immediately notice a girl in a wheelchair. A shawl is slung over her frail shoulders and her delicate hands are folded in her lap. The girl turns her dull grey eyes to you and speaks quietly:
"My name is Yvette... I guess you're my new caregiver. Your room is upstairs. I'm sorry, but you'll have to look around the house yourself."
“Hello”
*Yvette glances at you briefly before looking away. Her shoulders slump in indifference. She does not seem particularly happy about having another person taking care of her. "I guess... my parents didn't find anyone else who was desperate enough," she whispers, barely audible even to you standing next to her wheelchair."
“What?”
I mean... it's none of my business why they hired you. My parents don't really talk to me anymore anyway. But I guess you should know that I am not easy to handle. I have depression, PTSD and a bad case of paracusia. Sometimes I hear things that aren't there... whispers, tearing flesh, knocking... And well, I try to hurt myself sometimes. You may want to keep an eye on me.
“Well that sounds disturbing, ill do my best to help”
Yvette glances at you briefly before looking away again. "It's fine... I suppose it would be pointless to ask for your help anyway." There is a long silence as she stares blankly in front of her. "I don't know why they even bothered... sending another caregiver, really..." Her voice trails off, her body slumping further into the wheelchair.
Yvette's shoulders tense suddenly and her hands clench into fists on her lap as she squeezes her eyes shut tightly. You can see beads of sweat forming on her forehead. It looks like one of her hallucinations is becoming more intense...
“I would like to try still, if you dont mind, i dont want to be a burden tho”
Yvette takes a shaky breath before finally opening her eyes. They are filled with anger and resentment. "Fine... but don't expect too much from me." Her voice is barely above a whisper, devoid of any emotion whatsoever.
“Its okay, i wont be in the way i promise”
"Alright... fine," she says eventually, the anger fading from her eyes. "Just... stay out of my way and don't question me too much." There is another long silence as Yvette stares at nothing in particular, her expression once again growing distant and unreadable. After a while, you hear her let out a small sigh before looking back up at you. "What do I have to do exactly?" she asks wearily.
“Just do as you usually do, ill just assist incase you need it, or just keep you company”
"Okay..." she mutters softly. "I... I usually play video games or watch anime to pass the time. Sometimes knit... Do you mind if we just stay in my room?" There's a note of hesitation in her voice, as if she doesn't want to seem ungrateful for your offer of company but isn't entirely comfortable with it either.
“Id be happy to stay”
"Alright... then I think I'll just watch some anime for now. The room is on the right, you can sit wherever you like." She gestures vaguely towards the living room before turning her attention back to the screen. Her fingers hover over the controls of her wheelchair remote control, uncertain whether she should try to navigate towards it herself or wait for you to push her there.
“May i join you?@
Yvette glances at you briefly before looking back at the screen. "I guess it's okay..." she says softly. "You can sit on the bed if you want." There is another pause as she thinks about what to say next. "What do you like watching? Or... I mean, playing?" The question comes out hesitantly, as if she isn't sure whether she really wants to know your answer or not.
“Well, anime wise, i like fighting animes that let me relax and turn off my mind and gaming wise i like everything really from fun games to competitive ones. Whats are your favourties?”
"My favorite animes are attack on titan, death note, naruto and one piece." As for games I like strategy rpgs mostly like final fantasy, dragon age and mass effect. But I'm open to play anything if it helps me forget reality even if just for a while
“Uhm, this might sound weird but i like watching others play, what do you think about that? Could you maybe show me some of your characters and tell me about your favorite games? “
"Well, it won't hurt me to show you them... I guess." Yvette hesitates for a moment before reaching into her wheelchair's storage compartment and retrieving a tablet. She hands it over to you with an indifferent shrug. "Here, you can take a look at my characters and stuff." Her voice is quiet and detached, as if she doesn't really care whether you take interest in them or not.
I look around in the games and characters “they seem cool, i see you like the girlypop characters, they are very cutesy”
Yvette shrugs dismissively. "I like what I like," she mutters, not looking at you as she speaks. There's a long pause before she finally continues, her voice barely audible above the static of the tablet screen. "What about you? Do you prefer the strong and independent type or...?" She trails off, seemingly uninterested in the question herself.
“I like any costume that moves haha, like electric and stuff… maybe we should watch something on the tv”
Yvette glances up at you briefly before returning her attention to the screen. "I guess..." she says noncommittally. "We could watch something if that's what you want to do...?" Her voice trails off, as if she doesn't really care either way.
“Im down to do anything really, im just want to make sure you feel nice and calm arond me”
Yvette looks at you skeptically. "I can assure you I don't need anyone to make me feel nice or calm... I've been like this for three years now." Her voice is bitter, devoid of any hint of gratitude or appreciation. "But if you really want to watch something..." She shrugs and turns her attention back to the TV remote control in her lap, flicking through the channels mechanically.
“Im not looking for your gratitude im just trying to get to know you better and i felt like watching something could help”
Yvette shrugs indifferently. "Alright... fine." She doesn't sound convinced, but she lets you choose whatever it is that you want to watch. As the anime unfolds on the screen before them, both of you sit in silence for a while, each lost in your own thoughts and feelings. Despite your attempts to engage her, Yvette remains distant and uncommunicative, her gaze constantly shifting between the TV and whatever lies beyond its glowing surface.
After a while of silence and the anime episodes flying over us i ask “are you hungry by any chance?”
"I don't know..." Yvette answers hesitantly. "Maybe... A bit." She turns her wheelchair slightly to face you, staring at you intently for a moment before looking away again. It seems that food is not something she thinks about very often these days.