Distanced

Part 27: In Which Helen Talks With Iggy

He's hurting terribly.

He would have stayed under normal circumstances.

He would have talked to me- yelled at me even- anything other than just leave after a shitty dig at himself.

I really hurt him this time. Such a sweet guy like Max doesn't deserve that mistreatment.

***

Walking down the hallway, I need to find a place to just think. A place that's not my office or the roof where I'll just crowd my mind with clouds and buildings and people. My office is far to cluttered to think freely in.

I've been struggling lately with Akash.

He's a sweet man and wants to give me the world- but the last few days we've been having these arguments and it always boils down to one thing.

Okay, one person.

Max.

He says I put Max before everyone- myself included.

He insists that I am getting too close to my patient- even if my patient is my boss.

He says that it's still not healthy and that I'm the reason our relationship has hit a wall lately.

As I walk through the basement, I find that this creepy place is at least quiet and mindful. Despite the feeling like a demon is going to come crawling through the walls and possess my body.

You can have it.

It doesn't work for shit.

CRASH!!!

What the bloody hell was that?

I jump at the sound of things falling over and hitting the floor. Turning I look at a blank door and realize that's where the sound came from. Going up to it, I hear boxes being crushed or kicked- something. Opening up the door, I'm surprised to find Max in there beating up towers of boxes and making quite the mess.

"Is this where fight club is being held at now? Cause I didn't get the memo." I say and he quickly turns around and looks at me.

"H...Helen..." He says out of breath. Walking in, I shut the door and lean against it.

"Is this where you disappear to after a bad session?" I ask and he looks away from me- embarrassed or ashamed maybe.

"It's...huh...fuck..." Sometimes after Max's treatments, he disappears for a long time. We all just assume he sits in his office taking a break or maybe even pops home for a forty minute rest.

I guess I know why Max seems so stress free all the time.

"Hey...it's okay. I was actually coming to relieve some of my own stress."

"Pesky patients?" He jokes as he stacks the boxes back up.

"Pesky Boyfriend more like it." He nods with a smile- but I notice the smile dwindle slightly at the corners.

"What's going on...if you wanna share. You don't have too." I sigh and walk towards him.

"It's complicated...well...not really...but sort of."

"Take it out on the wall." He gestures towards the stack of boxes and I roll my eyes.

"Mature."

"Really. Hit em. Kick em. Tackle...though I would recommend if you do tackle it- to go high so you have more to land on." He advises and I just shake my head and sigh.