Adjusting to life with braces was harder than Sophia had anticipated. Cleaning her teeth, once a meticulous and satisfying ritual, had become a complicated ordeal. The brackets and wires trapped food particles, making it nearly impossible to keep her teeth as spotless as before. Despite her best efforts with special brushes and floss threaders, Sophia felt a constant undercurrent of frustration at the loss of her once-perfect dental hygiene.

The day of her first monthly adjustment with Dr. Patterson arrived too soon. As she walked into the dimly lit office, Sophia's stomach churned with anxiety. The memory of her last visit haunted her, and she dreaded the upcoming appointment.

"Dr. Patterson will see you now," the receptionist said with her usual sternness.

Sophia took a deep breath and followed the nurse to the examination room. Dr. Patterson was already there, her expression even more severe than before.

"Sit," Dr. Patterson ordered, not bothering with a greeting.

Sophia complied, her heart racing. The doctor wasted no time in inspecting her braces, her touch as rough and indifferent as ever.

"Your teeth are a mess," Dr. Patterson said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Clearly, you're not cleaning them properly. This is unacceptable."

Sophia's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I'm trying my best," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

"Clearly, your best isn't good enough," Dr. Patterson snapped. "If you don't take better care of your teeth, you'll end up with cavities or worse."

The reprimand stung, but before Sophia could respond, Dr. Patterson began the adjustment. The tightening of the wires was excruciating. The sharp, relentless pressure sent waves of pain through Sophia's mouth, causing her to grip the arms of the chair in desperation.

"Hold still," Dr. Patterson barked, her irritation palpable.

Sophia tried to steady herself, but the pain was unbearable. Tears welled up in her eyes as Dr. Patterson continued, seemingly unfazed by her discomfort. Each twist of the wire felt like a knife, and Sophia had to fight to keep from crying out.

"You need to learn to tolerate this," Dr. Patterson said coldly. "Braces aren't supposed to be comfortable."

When the adjustment was finally over, Sophia felt a mix of relief and lingering terror. Her mouth throbbed with pain, and she could barely bring herself to look at Dr. Patterson.

"Make sure you clean your teeth better," Dr. Patterson said, handing her a list of additional cleaning tools. "I don't want to see this kind of negligence again."

Sophia nodded, biting back the urge to protest. She just wanted to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the clinic. As she left, she couldn't shake the feeling of humiliation and fear that clung to her.

The journey home was a blur of pain and anxiety. Every slight movement of her mouth sent fresh waves of agony through her teeth. Sophia knew she had to endure this for the sake of her dental health, but the prospect of returning to Dr. Patterson month after month filled her with dread.

Once home, Sophia collapsed onto her bed, exhausted and defeated. The braces felt like a prison, confining her to a cycle of pain and discomfort. Cleaning her teeth that night was a painful struggle, each attempt to navigate around the metalwork adding to her misery.