Page 12 of Haunted Prey

“Is the medication affecting you badly?” he asked.

“No. It’s actually working a little too well.”

“No one wants to be in pain and no amount of therapy can make it all go away.”

“Now that’s a genuine statement.”

“I have a few more if you're willing to hear me out.”

I started walking again. “Maybe.”

“You might be able to leave the premises with permission from Jackie. If there was somewhere you wanted to go, say with your friends. But for now, we would like you to stay, just in case…” he reiterated.

I wrapped my arms, covering myself, feeling cold again despite the heat of the garden. “Don’t have my car to leave with anyway. And I think I’d be worse off just sitting in my apartment.”

“You certainly have more advantages here in focusing on your mental health.”

“If you say so.”

“Can I see you again? Maybe this time in my office? Nothing serious if you don’t want to.”

I gave him a funny look. “Sounds almost like you're asking me on a date.”

“More like two friends getting together for a chat.”

“I have real friends for that.”

“Colleagues then.”

What harm would it do talking to him? And who was I to suddenly fight the idea of therapy when I tried to give it toothers? It would be like calling it a sham. But I knew that wasn’t true. I knew it helped because I’d seen it work before.

Well, until everything went to shit. But that was a unique circumstance.

Maybe I didn’t want therapy because I didn’t want to believe I needed it. But really, I knew that was a lie. If anything, I needed it the most.

I was just angry at my situation. I didn’t want to be fixed. I just wanted Emery back.

But everything we fought for was gone. I didn’t need to be fixed like they wanted. All I had to do was talk and all Leo had to do was listen. Simple.

“Tomorrow,” I said.

He nodded. “Sounds perfect.”

We finished our walk in a comfortable silence. When we reached the door, he opened it for me and we stepped out into the cooler hallway.

“I’ll be around if you ever need to talk on a whim,” he said. “But I’ll put you in for tomorrow afternoon. Jackie will get the details.” His eyes locked onto me, searching for some clue about how I felt, but I gave nothing away. “Enjoy the day, Eve. Or don’t, that’s okay too.”

I only wandered a little while longer before I headed back to my room. I tried to eat again but could only keep down a few bites. Feeling drained, I took a small nap. Sometime later, I woke up to Jackie touching my arm.

“Your friends are here,” she said softly. “Would you like them to come in or would you like to meet them in one of the lounges?”

I licked my lips, my throat dry. “I don’t know. Here, I guess?”

She nodded, patting my arm. “I’ll bring in some chairs.”

I sat up, rubbing my face. Unease ate at me, not the feeling I wanted when reuniting with people I cared about. I hardly had time to compose myself when Jackie strolled back in with two chairs and set them beside the bed. She slipped out of the room and I heard her speaking softly to someone just outside. Lena and Jamie appeared with Jamie pushing Lena’s wheelchair from behind.

When they saw me, the look on their faces made me want to hide in a corner. I rose from the bed, unable to move as they came toward me.

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