Page 14 of In Death, Love Survives
I’m reminded that this woman and I are in two different places.
I’m not meeting Dr. Fletcher out somewhere in the great state of Montana. It’s not like she just stumbled into the local dive bar I own, lost and needing help from a stranger.
If that were the case, I would offer to buy her a drink and then go out and fix whatever car trouble she was having. She’d look at me hesitantly until she decided she was going to give in to the temptation.
“Mr. Walker?” she calls out, as if she’s been saying it for a while. I must have stopped walking on my way in.
As my eyes fix on the woman in question, I know I have to focus on leaving instead of running through different scenarios in my mind of how I wish we could have been meeting for the first time.
Gathering my composure, I straighten and keep walking.
“Wolfe.”
“Wolfe. I’m Dr. Fletcher.” I reach the chair opposite her. She appears uncomfortable that I haven’t taken a seat.
“Please, why don’t you have a seat?”
She smiles with hope swirling in her eyes that I might not be as bad as they say I am. Truthfully, right now, I want to tell her I’m not.
“Alright,” I answer.
As I look at the chair, I’m reminded that I’m in a jumpsuit, and she’s in a different kind of suit. My jaw clenches at the reminder that I’m not here voluntarily.
I plop down in the chair and spread my legs wide, letting my hands fall between them.
There’s a table between us, and we’re a world apart.
Taking in my surroundings, I notice there’s a cup on the table, closer to my side. Nothing else is on my end.
“What’s that for?”
She clears her throat.
“Water.”
“For who?”
“You.”
We’re staring at one another strangely.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Of course. Would you like any?”
I give her a small wave no.
“I’m good.”
“In that case, I’d like to get started if that’s alright.”
Not a question. A familiar tactic I’m used to using myself on the outside.
“Be my guest.”
She looks back down at the file.
“I start every session somewhat the same. To kick things off, can I please have your consent to record this session? It’ll be kept in the privacy of the medical unit.”
