Obsessed • a/p

Chapter 5

"Hello, Miss Edwards" - Dr. Taylor shakes Perrie's hand. "It's good to see you again"

"You too, thank you" - she says, sitting down. 

"So how have you been?" 

"I don't know.. I guess I'm alright.. I miss him more and more every day.." - Perrie looks away from her psychologist. "I know it's normal.. But it still feels fresh.. "

"I understand.. You're allowed to deal with it the way it's easier for you.." - Dr. Taylor says. "Even though it's been a year.. Give yourself time to heal.. Maybe it'll be better for you to take some time away from here. You'll be on your own with your thoughts, it'll help you clear your mind and cope with your emotions better" 

"I don't think that's a good idea.." - Perrie sighs. "I don't wanna leave him alone.." 

Perrie stays at the psychologist's office for another thirty minutes before she makes her way towards her dad's company. The same company that connected him with Mark, now it's all his. Mark's lawyer reached out one day, saying that he wants to sell his shares. Alexander had a good offer and managed to become the only owner. Soon enough Perrie started working with her dad. It was a form of a coping mechanism. 

She couldn't just sit all day and wait for Alex to wake up. His condition is still unpredictable. She couldn't stand being on the edge the whole time. The doctors advised her to do something else instead. She didn't want to at first, but as the time passed, she realised that they were right. It was such a hard time for her, and it still is. Her mum initiated visiting a therapist, as she started sharing her feelings less and less. The days when she wasn't with Alex, she'd sit in her bedroom all day and just not come out. It drained her mentally. 

She walks in the building and the first thing that reminds her of her old life is the secretary's desk. Her dad has a new secretary now, but the original one, Janice, will stay memorable forever. The new secretary, Catherine, was chosen by Perrie. She's a younger, sweeter girl than Janice. When Perrie approaches, she notices that she's talking on the phone, so she just greets her with a smile before walking in her dad's office. 

"..yeah that'll work, tomorrow at 11 sounds alright" - Alexander says to the male employee who's standing next to him, then acknowledges Perrie's presense. "Hi sweetheart" - he smiles at her.

"Hi dad" - she smiles back and sits on one of the chairs in front of him. "What's up?" 

"We're just scheduling a meeting" - he says. "Do you want something to drink?" 

"No, thank you" 

Alexander dismisses the man and turns his full attention to his daughter. 

"I went to Dr. Taylor's office today.." - she states. "She said that I might need to get away from here.. That the pressure is only going to make me feel worse.." 

"And what do you think about it?" 

"I don't know.. I'm scared.." - Perrie sighs. "I have a feeling that if I look away for a second, something bad will happen.. I don't want to leave Alex alone.." 

"He wouldn't be alone.. You know that.. " - Alex says. "His brother is here, his mum.. when she can go and visit him.. And me and your mum, we're his family too" - he smiles slightly. 

Perrie takes a deep breath to get her thoughts straight. She hates having no control over the situation, and this keeps freaking her out. Would she be able to go away, even for a few weeks? How is everyone else going to handle Alex's condition without her? Sometimes she forgets that she's the one who's taking it the hardest, along with Wendy. 

Wendy was admitted into a mental hospital around five months ago. It was obvious that her son's incident made her mental health even worse, but it got out of control. She attacked Perrie once when they were alone, and that was the last time the two of them were in the same room. Christian agreed to take her to Alex when Perrie's not there, accompanied by a psychologist, of course. It affected Perrie badly, she started to feel guilty, she saw herself as the only reason for Alex's condition. But with time and a lot of work, she's trying to overcome it. It took her a lot of effort, but she's getting there.