"And, say cheese!", said Beth as she took the photo, Chloe and Zoe forcing a smile before checking around the school yard to check if anyone had been watching.

"Let's just go already!", complained Zoe, embarrassed at having her photo taken in her childish school uniform. The three beautiful women left the schoolyard and headed to the car.

"Now girls", said Beth as they drove "I know it's your birthday today, so we're still going to the mall at 5pm like we said. Before that I've booked you in to see Dr. Schiffman for your physical examinations".

Chloe and Zoe groaned in unison at this news as their mother continued to drive.

"Now as you know money has been tight these last six months since your father lost his job, so we're all having to make sacrifices. We simply can't afford what Dr. Schiffman charges at his clinic patients but the doctor has been kind enough to book you in for free at the teaching hospital."

“But mom, I don’t want to be examined by an old man”, moaned Chloe.

“I had my examination there last week and it was perfectly fine. Besides, Dr. Schiffman is very professional and thorough”, said Beth.

“Not fair, first you sell my car and now this!”, argued Zoe in a raised, whingy voice.

“Enough, young lady!” Beth reprimanded her.

Chloe just sat silently playing with her phone as they drove through the busy busy rush hour traffic, arriving five minutes later at the University medical faculty. The girls felt their hearts drop as they took in the view of the crumbling, ancient looking hospital building covered in places by layers of scaffolding. An oppressive air of dereliction clung to the crumbling stone walls of the imposing medical faculty building which was evidently in the middle of a full on refurbishment on account of the array of building work in the vicinity. A modern looking, brightly decorated reception desk with the word “welcome!” spelt out in white neon lights above it greeted Beth, Chloe and Zoe as they walked into the teaching hospital entrance. Various signs were placed on the two two closed doors either side of the reception desk, warning patients and staff to switch off phones and not to smoke, eat or drink upon entering the teaching part of the building.

A constant drilling noise and distant crackle of a badly tuned FM radio hampered the receptionist's communication with staff and students as she tried he best to go about her work, clearly disgruntled at the near-constant interruption. As the middle-aged receptionist checked in another patient, a builder casually walked out of one of he doors behind the reception desk carrying a metal pole. Whistling gleefully, he walked out of he entrance without a care in the world, glancing appreciatively at the new patients including Chloe and Zoe. Chloe crossed her arms nervously over her chest as the queue to the reception went down, realizing how the other patients all also appeared to be in school uniform and her age, and were also all female.

"Names?", the receptionist asked Beth bluntly.

"Chloe and Zoe Harris", said Beth.

"They'll have to surrender their phones here!" said the receptionist, shooting a dirty look at Zoe who was engrossed in her smartphone.

"Not a problem! Girls, hand me your phones please", said Beth. Chloe retrieved hers from her school satchel and handed it over to her mother, who put it in her handbag

"You too, missy!" said Beth to Zoe. Shooting her mother a dirty look, Zoe reluctantly handed over her phone to her mother.

"You're actually a bit early, they'll have to take a seat over in the waiting area. The nurse will come and get them when they're ready for you in the lecture theatre", said the receptionist.

"Lecture theatre?" asked Chloe.

"It's a teaching hospital love, they learn in lecture theatres. Like classrooms but bigger", said Beth.

"Right girls I have some errands to run, be good! Do exactly as you're told by the medical staff or they'll be no birthday treat. Understood?" Beth reminded the girls.

"Yes, mom!" said the girls as they each kissed their mother goodbye, taking a seat in the waiting area across from the reception desk as their mother left the building.

Ten minutes had elapsed by the time a strict looking, middle aged nurse in her mid-30s marched into the reception area and spoke briefly with the receptionist who handed her a clipboard.

"Chloe Harris!" shouted the nurse.

Chloe stood up flashing a weak "see you later" smile at her sister, who smirked as she gave her a sarcastic wave goodbye. Chloe could feel the eyes of some of the other patients on reception on her as she followed the nurse through the door to the right of the reception desk. Large signs warning "strictly no photography, no admittance to unauthorised personnel" were prominently displayed on the frosted glass of the door which led into a large winding corridor. Numerous students in hospital scrubs walked in and out of various rooms alongside the occasional builder in high-viz jackets and hard-hats.

The bright reception area had obviously been the first part of the building to be refurbished, the rest of the building baring all the hallmarks of having not been changed for decades, the old wooden panels, peeling paint and missing bits of plaster giving the place a neglected, depressing feel. The sound of workmen drilling and banging wafted down the corridor, a constant reminder of the ongoing refurbishment work in the building. Chloe was led down the corridor past two lecture theatres, stopping at a room designated "LT Anteroom 3".