Page 40 of Puck Me

Wait, what?

I stare at Storm, waiting for the words to make more sense, but the more they sink in, the less sense they make. “You… No you didn’t,” I say dumbly. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“I did,” Storm groans. “I did, and I’m paying for it now, as I deserve. Fuck, I screwed up so bad, Chester.”

Maybe I should be angry, but what I actually feel is… guilt.

I know how ethical Storm is. I know that there’s nothing that would convince him to abandon his principles… except his feelings for me. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t gone into a whole mental spiral, Storm wouldn’t have felt the need to act as he did, and none of this would be happening.

“It’s okay.” I reach up and pull Storm into a tight hug. “We can deal with this together.”

“No, we can’t.”

“Yes, we can, Storm. This isn’t just about you. You did what you did for me. We’re in this together, whatever happens.”

“No, I haven’t told you everything. The person who called—they’re willing to keep their mouth shut, on one condition. I have to stay away from you.”

“What the fuck? Who was it?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t give his name, but he mentioned wanting you for himself. You’re going to need to follow up with the police about the stalking issue, but you’ll have to do it without me.”

“Without… What are you talking about?”

“Chester… I’m going to have to do what he says.”

I stare uncomprehendingly at Storm. “B-but there has to be another way. We can hire a good lawyer. We can argue extenuating circumstances. If you made the case that you were worried for my life, which I’m sure you were, given the state I was in, I’m sure a jury wouldn’t judge you harshly.”

“You’re probably right, but even if I don’t go to prison, I’ll still lose my medical license. And probably rightly so.”

“If you do what he says, you’ll lose me.”

Storm grimaces. “I know.”

Things start to click into place. “You’re choosing your job over me.”

“No, Chester, that’s not how it is, not at all.”

“Really? Then tell me how it is.”

“Just think about all the people who are relying on me. About all the people in the future who I will save. How many lives will be lost if I allow myself to lose my medical license?”

“There are other psychiatrists.”

“Not like me, not with my specialty and experience. There are other psychiatrists who far surpass my capabilities in their given specialties, but in my specialty, there isn’t anyone else who can do what I do as well as I do. I know that sounds arrogant, but that’s how it is.”

“So you’re ditching me for your ego trip.”

“No, Chester! Don’t you understand? I’m trying to save lives here. Don’t you think it breaks my heart to do this? I don’t have a choice, though.”

Storm’s tears do not sway me. “You have a choice. You’re choosing to abandon me.”

“Please, Chester—I”

“No, you’ve said everything you need to say. You choose your job over me. I understand, Storm. I see what’s really important to you now. I think I’d like to be alone now.”

“Chester—”

“I said get out! Get out now, before I call Noah and tell him what you’ve done!”

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