The Boy Out Of The Graphite Picture

Chapter 5

[Louis]:(in his office, reading an article on WebMD, his phone screen lights up, he looks at it, away, then back at it, he picks on his mother's call, hears nothing but silence, rustle, and background noise, hangs up, then a lady patient comes in, a leather bag on her shoulder, an artificial smile on her face)"Alicia, right?"(Simple)"have a seat."

[Alicia]:(obliges, her bag on her lap)"That is me."(breathy)"How are you?"

[Louis]:(eyes her)"I am the one to say that, usually."(pauses)"I'm alright, however. I appreciate your asking."

[Alicia]:(smiles briskly)"Good. So am I."

[Louis]:(writes down, nods)"Alright."(puts the pen away, ready for the typical all thing)"So what's it that brought you here today."

[Alicia]:"Well,"(swallows)"Consulting an analyst became not too recently a choice to debate. My mother thought of it a good decision, as well."

[Louis]:"That is something to-"

[Alicia]:(cuts in, Louis holds back)"She said;"
(waves her hand in half a circle)"It was an idea she started to deliberate over, over time, it became more than an option mindlessly put into consideration, as the constant thought became a necessity."

[Louis]:(nods)"I see."(small pause)"How did your mother come to the conclusion it was a good decision to be made?"

[Alicia]:(rolls her eyes)"Said it's not the hardest thing to make from an outer perspective, whatsoever. You believe her?"

[Louis]:"Don't you?"

[Alicia]:"Do you?"

[Louis]:(pauses)"What about...what you do for a living, Alicia? What do you work."

[Alicia]:(maintains a stern look, gives in)"I am a journalist. I quite love it, many think it's stupids' work, but I disagree."

[Louis]:"I believe it is a creative job."(writes down, nodding at her)"Creativity can be linked to intelligence."

[Alicia]:(furrows her lips)"It sure can be."

[Louis]:"Can you tell the importance your job represents to you?"

[Alicia]:(suspicious)"Enough. I benefit it, it benefits me. Quite the match."

[Louis]:"Alright. How much of your daily time you devote to your journalism work?"

[Alicia]:"Around seven hours a day? Six, sometimes eight."

[Louis]:(curves his lips, nodding)"Do you often find yourself worrying about your job? During work times or out."(writes down)

[Alicia]:(doesn't let her guard down)"At times, yes. At some extent, you know, when I have an important article to give in-when I'm late in particular, or when the office offers an interesting opportunity of a sort."(nods)"Times like that."

[Louis]:(hums a yes)"Fair enough. Do you have mates in this office? Colleagues?"

[Alicia]:(quirks a brow, then shrugs)"I have a modest amount of people to communicate with. Don't you think I'm friendly enough?"

[Louis]:"You seem kind as far as I've seen."
(shrugs as well)

[Alicia]:(snorts, quietly)"No you don't. No one does."

[Louis]:"Even this modest amount of friends of yours?"

[Alicia]:(been laying back on her chair for a while now)"They are reserved looking people. But god knew they aren't."

[Louis]:"And what made you presume such supposition?"(looking at her concentratedly)

[Alicia]:"My future won't be any safe and sound of their harm, is what's it."

[Louis]:"There are certain hows of supposed harm you think they might touch you with though, isn't there?"

[Alicia]:"I don't think of, I believe in. These are no predictions mister."(shakes her head sideways)

[Louis]:(trying to drag answers out)"And these beliefs shall be?"

[Alicia]:"I could go on telling details, there is more than a single one, but I know it would be but worse."

[Louis]:"How so?"

[Alicia]:(shakes her head sideways, again, smiling)"I'm not going for it."

[Louis]:"Do you believe I hold alike intentions?"(she repeats similar reaction)
"Alright. I suppose I am not the only suspect, perhaps your mates either, is there some other one, ones, on the list?"

[Alicia]:( gives him a steady look for a second)"You think my mother would bring my room to my room every night if she was so squeaky clean?"(pauses again)"Or you think those people would put me in the Christmas party organization team if they weren't up for something? I never accept the coffee anyone offers anymore."

[Louis]:(interrupts)"I conclude they don't usually put you in projects teams?"

[Alicia]:(quite railed up)"What do you keep writing anyway? Y'all think I'm insane, don't you? And you are all too very stable?"

[Louis]:(puts what's in his hand peacefully away)"Here I put the pen down. So you know, I am only here to help and for your very benefit."(she crosses her arms, giving a bored look, but she wanna listen)"How much time do you know this information for? That they mean to hurt you."

[Alicia]:"Long enough. Long enough to be aware of the importance of my safety."(adds then)"And the importance of preserving it."

[Louis]:(nods)"Did you ever find yourself stressing about the issue? Or for any other matter, in any period of time of your life? That it had you in lack of sleep, perhaps?"

[Alicia]:(yet another pause)"My father used to say my anxiety's trouble."(remembers, rolls her eyes)"And my aunt would go "détends toi", I don't see the trouble though."

[Louis]:(hums in understanding)"So, Alicia, I have checked you medical file, clean as it could be. And I think it only is because of not considering therapy before, or not being to it by the matter. Conclusively; I suppose you have Paranoid Personality Disorder."(pauses for a second)"That can be affirmed in future sessions if that may be."

[Alicia]:(a stretch of quiet)"Can you furnish me with the absolute proof?"

[Louis]:(purses his lips, nods once)"I sure can. I suppose it's enough chitchat for the day though, am I wrong?"(he doesn't wait for her response when she tries to interrupt)"I'll fix up a date that arranges us both, and we can discuss a lot more, right? You can inquire all with Myra outside."

[Alicia]:(slings over hand bag, heads out, mutters)"To hell with you all."