Sophia's hands trembled as she approached the old orthodontic office once again. The dread she felt had only intensified over the past month. Each day had been a struggle to clean her braces-ridden teeth, and she couldn't shake the memory of Dr. Patterson's cold, unforgiving demeanor.

As she stepped into the waiting room, the familiar smell of antiseptic hit her. The receptionist gave her a curt nod, and within moments, she was led down the narrow hallway to the examination room. Her heart pounded in her chest, the anticipation of pain nearly overwhelming her.

Dr. Patterson was waiting, her expression even more severe than before. "Sit," she ordered, not bothering with a greeting.

Sophia complied, feeling the knot in her stomach tighten. As she settled into the chair, she could see the gleam of the dental tools laid out on the tray. The sight of them filled her with a sense of impending doom.

"Your dental hygiene is still subpar," Dr. Patterson said, her voice sharp. "I don't see any improvement."

Sophia swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. "I've been trying my best," she whispered, but her words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Dr. Patterson picked up a pointed dental probe, her eyes narrowing as she leaned closer to Sophia's mouth. "Let's see just how bad it is," she said, her tone dripping with disdain.

The examination began with Dr. Patterson roughly prodding each tooth with the sharp instrument. Sophia winced with each jab, the sensation far from gentle. The cold metal pressed against her gums, and she fought to keep still, her heart racing.

Suddenly, Dr. Patterson's probe hit a sensitive spot. Sophia's eyes widened in shock as a jolt of sharp pain shot through her. The doctor didn't seem to notice—or care. She continued to press the probe into the spot, her movements deliberate and unyielding.

Sophia couldn't hold back a small cry of pain. "That hurts," she managed to say, her voice trembling.

Dr. Patterson's response was as cold as ever. "If it hurts, it means there's a problem. Clearly, your poor hygiene has led to a cavity."

The relentless probing continued, each press of the instrument causing fresh waves of sharp, unbearable pain. Sophia gripped the arms of the chair, her knuckles white, as tears welled up in her eyes. The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and Dr. Patterson's indifference made it even worse.

After what felt like an eternity, Dr. Patterson finally pulled back. "You have a cavity," she said, almost triumphantly. "And it's deep. This is what happens when you don't take proper care of your teeth."

Sophia was too overwhelmed by pain and fear to respond. She felt utterly defeated, the throbbing ache in her mouth a constant reminder of her ordeal. Dr. Patterson seemed to relish her discomfort, her stern expression never wavering.

"We'll need to fill this cavity now," Dr. Patterson said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She signaled to the nurse to prepare the drill.

As the drill whirred to life, Sophia's heart sank. The high-pitched sound filled the room, amplifying her fear. Dr. Patterson's movements were as brisk and unfeeling as ever. She applied a bit of numbing gel but seemed unconcerned with ensuring Sophia's comfort.

When the drill touched her tooth, Sophia was unprepared for the intensity of the pain. The vibration and pressure were excruciating. Each second felt like an eternity as the drill burrowed deeper into the cavity. Tears streamed down Sophia's face as she gripped the arms of the chair even tighter, her body tense with agony.

Dr. Patterson showed no mercy, her focus solely on the task at hand. "Hold still," she snapped, her voice devoid of sympathy.

Sophia tried to comply, but the pain was overwhelming. She could feel the heat and the harsh, relentless grinding of the drill as it worked its way into her tooth. The process seemed to drag on forever, each moment a fresh wave of torment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dr. Patterson pulled back. The pain was still throbbing in Sophia's mouth, and she could barely catch her breath.

"Now, we'll fill the cavity," Dr. Patterson said, almost as if it were an afterthought. The filling process, though less painful than the drilling, was still far from gentle. The pressure and the rough handling made Sophia wince, each movement sending fresh jolts of discomfort through her.

When the filling was finally done, Sophia felt exhausted and broken. But the ordeal was not over yet.

"Now for the adjustment," Dr. Patterson said, reaching for the tools to tighten Sophia's braces.

Sophia's heart sank even further. The adjustment process had been painful before, but after the drilling, her mouth felt especially sensitive. Dr. Patterson's rough handling only made it worse. Each twist of the wire sent sharp, stabbing pains through her teeth and gums. Sophia's vision blurred with tears as she endured the relentless tightening.

By the time Dr. Patterson finished, Sophia was barely holding herself together. The pain was a constant, throbbing presence, and the thought of returning for another appointment filled her with dread.

"Remember to take better care of your teeth," Dr. Patterson said coldly. "I don't want to see this kind of negligence again."

Sophia nodded numbly, unable to find the strength to respond. As she left the office, the ache in her mouth was a brutal reminder of the ordeal she had just endured. The journey home was a haze of pain and exhaustion. Each step felt like a monumental effort.

That night, as she lay in bed, Sophia tried to find some semblance of comfort. The throbbing pain from the drilling and the tightness of her braces made it hard to sleep. Cleaning her teeth was a painful struggle, and every touch seemed to reignite the agony.