Page 44 of Rather: The Therapist

“I know you, Rather.”

“Then, today is the day you started lying to me.”

“I didn’t. I’m aware of your preference. It has little to do with mine. That’s not dishonesty. That’s opposing views, desires.”

“Hmph.” I frowned, dropping my hands by my side.

He started for the door, stopping at the threshold to continue his antics.

“Fix your face, kid and come down when you’re ready. We’re waiting.”

“Just make sure my niece never forgets me and how much I love her while I’m gone.”

He turned with saddened eyes. His epiphany was in progress.

“That’s it, huh?”

I nodded. “It’s not my obligations that I’m struggling with. It’s the separation. I don’t want to leave you all. In my twenty-six years of life, I’ve never been alone. I’ve always had nine people by my side. One left me for good. I’m not ready to leave the others.”

“You have four men waiting for you to touch down, Rather. They’ll take good care of you. They’ll make sure you’re straight. They are me. I’m them. I trust them with my life and with yours.”

“They’re hours away, Chem.”

“Minutes, baby. They’re minutes away and should you ever need them it will feel like seconds.”

“Malachi is in no shape to come running to my rescue.”

“Malachi will shake himself off and come full speed ahead if you need him. Don’t dirty his name or smear his character because he’s hurting. He remains the same somewhere deep inside even if we can’t see it right now. He’s hurting but he’s not useless.”

“Sorry.”

I dipped my head, remembering the beautiful life we’d all lost.

“Head up, Rather. Don’t let me see it fall again.”

I lifted my chin.

“Tell me something I want to hear,” he deflected.

“I love you.”

The words mounted my emotions. They threatened to spill from my eyes but I held it together.

“Like a normal kind of love or?” He smiled.

“Don’t make me strap you to a chair and peel back your eyelids. Turn on the lawn mower and let the blades of grass kiss your orbs. The–”

“Rather, I’m not a client. I won’t ever be. Before I sit down in your chair, I’d end your life and mine. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you and I wouldn’t rest under the dirt knowing you’d lost me.”

“You’re sick,” I sniggered, pulling the handle of my suitcase up.

“In this lifetime and next, baby.”

“Come and find me?”

“Make sure you’re waiting.”

I laid a hand on my chest. My heart was raging. I’d love Chemistry in the next lifetime. It was written in stone.

---