It was the smell that hit her first. It was a sterile, antiseptic and very distinctive medical smell, a smell with an underlying metallic reek of blood beneath it. Disturbing as this was, Selena wasn't necessarily shocked. It was a hospital, after all. Just like schools had a tendency to smell like chalk dust and sweat and cafeteria mystery meat, just like auto shops stank of gasoline and rust, hospitals had an odour reflecting their whole purpose, and it was sort of redundant to try and hide it.
The protagonist, Selena, is immediately struck by the distinct smell of a hospital, characterized by a sterile and antiseptic fragrance mixed with a metallic scent reminiscent of blood. While unsettling, she doesn't find the odor surprising, as it’s expected in such an environment. Just as schools and auto shops have their own unique smells, hospitals emit scents that reflect their primary function, making attempts to conceal them unnecessary.
This observation highlights Selena's understanding of the associative nature of smells as markers of different spaces. The hospital's odor serves as a reminder of its purpose in healing and treating illness, much like how other environments evoke specific experiences and memories through their scents. Selena's acceptance of this smell suggests a deeper familiarity with the hospital setting.
