Therapy (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 9 - Like a maniac

‘How often does it happen ?’

This room was nothing like Louis or Zayn’s office. The walls were empty, no paintings, no photos, not even a motivational quote. There was a creepy ceramic cat on the desk and a weird plate with sand in it, a miniature rake hanging on the edge.

The man facing Harry was almost frightening. He was old, had a serious expression behind his glasses and kept taping his pen against the desk, breaking the silence with an irritating tick, making Harry frown.

‘Most nights.’

‘Hmm.’ He nodded and wrote something on his sheet of paper. ‘And do you have trouble sleeping ?’ He was speaking slowly with a condescending voice and would raise his brow every time he finished.

‘Yeah, I don’t sleep much. About two or three hours a night but not in one go.’

‘Hmm.’ Dr Romith was starting to get on Harry’s nerves  by humming so much instead of talking, but he was polite and kind so he just sat there and smiled shyly.

They spent about fifty minutes going through every possible thing going wrong in Harry’s head and settled on a severe depression and psychosis that could be the result of a personality disorder or bipolar disorder. Harry had never thought any of those disorders were legitimate. He had been taught growing up that the mentally ill are just weak and need to get it together. So telling him he was mentally ill was like saying he was weak.

Louis had been waiting for him in his car, not wanting to run into someone who might know him and figure he was dating his patient. He wouldn’t think much about it at his office since he had an excuse to see him, but he was terrified right now. It’s well established that therapists and psychiatrist shouldn’t date their patients, exposing themselves to moral issues.

As he was stressing out about it, Harry finally opened the door and joined him, seating in the passenger seat with his head down.

‘So ?’

‘I didn’t learn anything new and he kept playing with his pen. Can we go now ?’ Harry quickly dodged talking about the exchange, not even looking at Louis. The latter didn’t insist and pulled out the parking lot to reach the road.

‘Where do you wanna eat ?’ Louis asked as he rested one hand on the boy’s thigh.

‘I actually have a lot of homework to do, an assignment I need to finish and stuff. Could you just drop me at my house ?’ Harry said with a shy smile.

‘Sure love.’

‘I wish I could stay with you though…’

‘Do you wanna come study at mine ?’ Louis chuckled, knowing why Harry would say that.

‘I mean, if you insist…’ Harry dramatically puffed and rolled his eyes, making Louis laugh and squeeze his thigh.