Page 327 of Rage

“Tara?” she called out from the other room. “Can you come here, hun? We need to talk.”

“Tara? Dr. Halloway is ready for you, my dear.”

A petite, brunette medical assistant stood in front of me with my file tucked in her arm. Megan and Adam were quick to stand while I remained sitting, observing.

The medical assistant tucked a strand of her shoulder-length black hair behind her ear, giving Adam a strange look as Megan dug through her purse for her vibrating cell phone. Adam looked her up and down like he was starving and she was his next meal, but shifting back to a stoic expression once Megan looked back up. Turning her back, the assistant began walking, and Megan motioned for me to come.

I don’t understand why people act like this…

We walked down the sterile hallway towards Dr. Halloway’s office, and I shoved my hands in my pockets, not wanting to be here. My fingertips brushed the handle of the small paring knife I still had in my pocket, and I felt something… Comfort? It was a foreign feeling, since most of the time I feel nothing.

The assistant swished her hips back and forth, probably to keep Adam’s attention, and opened the door to the doctor’s office.

“Please, sit. Dr. Halloway will be in shortly,” she said in a professional tone, but gave Adam a subtle wink.

“She must really like attention,” I said monotone, as Megan and Adam sat on the beige couch in the center of the room. I opted for a matching armchair so I could sit alone.

“I’m sure she’s just being friendly, hun,” Megan said, forcing a smile.

“It’s her job to be friendly and professional, Tara,” Adam said, leaning back into the couch.

“Uh huh…” I yawned. “So, it’sfriendlyto shake her ass when she walks and wink at Adam?”

“Tara! Language!” Megan scolded. All I could do was stare at her, still baffled by why she seemed so… different.

“I’m so sorry for my delay. Good afternoon,” Dr. Halloway said, entering the room and sitting in an armchair across from me.

“Good afternoon, Doctor,” Adam said with a nod.

“Hello, Doctor,” Megan replied with a sigh.

“Hello, Tara. How are you feeling today?” Dr. Halloway asked, shifting attention to me.

“I’m fine. Just a normal day.”

“Normal day? I hear you’ve been busy today,” he said, clicking his pen, and opening his portfolio notepad.

“I already told Megan. We’re learning about organs in school. I just wanted to see real ones and not fake model ones.”

Why is this such a big deal to everyone? It’s just a bird… It’s not like it was a dead person or anything…

“Why a bird, Tara?” Dr. Halloway asked, looking up from his notes.

“Because it was there? I don’t understand why everyone is upset. It’s just a bird.” I crossed my arm, a tightness in my chest building. Before Dr. Holloway could speak, a gentle knock interrupted him.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but Miss Gemma is here to speak with Adam and Megan,” the same assistant from earlier said, standing halfway inside the room.

“Thank you Lila,” Dr. Halloway replied, and she closed the door gently behind her. “If you are okay with it, I can continue speaking with Tara. But, I understand if you wish to be present. We can pause while you speak with Gemma.”

“N-No, please…” Megan shot up from her seat in a rush. “Please continue; Adam and I will return shortly.”

Megan and Adam left the room, and Dr. Halloway pulled out a packet of papers, flipping to the first page. I could see “PCL-R” printed on the cover page.

“Alright, Tara. I’m going to ask you some questions, and just answer honestly.” He flipped the page again, and his elbow knocked his portfolio binder to the floor, and photographs scattered across the floor.

“Shoot, I’m sorry. Let me get those…”

My eyes found one photo in particular; a man laying in a pool of blood with his throat cut from ear to ear. Someone tied him to a four-post bed, and he was naked.

---