Page 10 of Interpreter

He doesn’t have to remind me. I know how long it’s been. Four fucking weeks down and a lifetime to go. Just me and this sexy voice in my head.

“I know how long it’s been, Dr. Parker.”

“Anniston said that you’re like a zombie around the foundation.”

“Anniston exaggerates,” I add. “She’s just worried and reading into my behavior too much.” Hence the reason she sent me here.

“You have to move on, Tim.”

His hands sign the words, and I turn away. I’ve never hated sign language as much as I do right now.

“I am moving on,” I correct him, purposely not signing.

His eyebrows arch in a way that annoys the fuck out of me. “Are you?”

Have mercy on my fucking soul. “Yes. I am moving on.” I nod to the door that leads to the waiting room. “Ask Theo, he’s out there.” Actually, I doubt he is. He told me he was parking the car, but fifty bucks says he went home and I’ll have to call Breck to come pick me up.

“I don’t want to ask Theo. I want to ask you.”

Of course he does. Join the fucking club.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m moving on.”

“Are you driving?”

Oh, here we go.

“No. I don’t have an income. Therefore, I don’t own a car to drive.”

“Why aren’t you working? You have a degree in both foreign language and music, am I correct?”

It takes everything I have not to shout that both of those degrees require the ability to fucking hear.

“You know I can’t do anything with those now,” I tell him in a low voice, with barely controlled anger.

“Why can’t you?”

Oh my God.

“Fine!” I snap. “You want me to work? I’ll get a job.”

Dr. Parker contains a smile, and it pisses me off. “Will that make you happy?” I snap, hoping my voice is as loud as I think it is. “Will that show you that I can move on and don’t give two shits that I’ve lost my hearing? Will that make you happy, Dr. Parker?”

I’m winded by the time I finish acting like a toddler.

“It would make me happy to see you get out and enjoy the world, Tim.” I go to cut him off, and he raises those annoying brows again. “It would make me happy to see you realize that you can live a perfectly normal life using the four senses you have left.”

Thisishell. I’ve decided.

“You don’t have to be able to hear to be happy, Tim. You don’t have to punish yourself for her.”

My leg bounces as we enter a territory that I absolutely cannot tolerate. “Time’s up.”

Dr. Parker rises from behind his desk, and I do too. “Next time I see you”—eyebrows again—“I want to know all about your new job.”

I nod. “Fine.” As long as it puts an end to this nightmare.

“And—” Oh, for fuck’s sake. “—I want you to start writing in your journal again.”

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