Page 25 of Shadowman
“Trevel, good to see you.” Callahan smiles, gesturing for me to take a seat.
I look at the seat and frown, opting to pace around his office instead.
“Um… how are you feeling?” he asks, already sounding like he’s out of his element. It’s accurate.
He is, and he has been since hiscolleaguedumped me into his lap.
“Fucktastic,” I grumble.
Callahan is quiet for a moment before continuing, “Are you… sure you’re alright? You seem on edge…”
“Why would I beon edge, Doctor?” I glare down at him. “Because I’m a ticking time-bomb, walking around waiting to gokaboom??”
“What…” He pauses to clear his throat. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, nothing…” I mumble, poking at things on his bookshelf.
“Have you been taking your medication?” he asks.
“Yes,” I lie.
“Are you… sure?”
My face slopes in his direction. He’s staring at me. “Do I seem like an idiot?”
His face freezes in perplexity. “No…”
“Good. Because I’m not,” I grunt. “I know the difference between taking medication and not taking it.”
“Right…” He sounds nervous.I kind of like it.He clears his throat again. “How’s work?”
Turning away from him, I pick up a book, flipping through the pages. “I got fired.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Are you?” I peer at him.
He nods. “Yes… I know you enjoyed that job. Would you like to tell me what—”
“You know what?” I slap the book shut. “Maybe Iamon edge. I’ve been on edge since I was handed off to you, like something inconsequential. Like a pen, or a shopping bag… or a goddamn biscuit that’s been in your backpack for two years!”
“I’m not sure I—”
“Itoldthat self-righteous robot what would happen if he tossed me aside,” I growl, storming around with my fists in my hair. My emotions are skyrocketing, and I’m still not entirely surewhy. It’s like my thoughts are going haywire, bouncing back and forth so fast I can’t keep track of which way I’m going. “I matter, do you understand that?? I’m a bloodyhumanfuckingbeingwith feelings and problems and deep, festering emotional wounds—Iwill notbeignored!”
Callahan looks like he’s about to shit himself. He has no earthly clue how to deal with me right now, and truth be told, neither do I. I don’t know if anything he or anyone else could say or do to me right now would help how I’m feeling. I’m angry and stressed. I’m keyed-up and confused, and… tired.
So tired.
I’m sleep-deprived and depressed and pissed the fuck off at the world. So many things are happening inside me, I want either to explode or lie down. Or explode,thenlie down.
Maybe you should take your fucking meds, wanker.
No. I don’t need those things. I need more drugs. I need…
Alice.
Stomping toward the door, I’m reaching for the handle when Dr. Callahan jumps up. “Trevel! Wait… Where are you going??”
