Elsewhere

6.

CHAPTER 6.

THE APPOINTMENT pt. 2

"My dad left because of me?"

Layers of an unsettling emotion began to clench Grin's throat making it difficult for any more words to form. A weariness swept over him, which slowed down his steps in the middle of their dance and sucked in all of his energy with it.

"No," The doctor said. His face wore an empty, indifferent expression. "He left because he was a coward."

Grin took a step back, breaking himself away from the doctor's grasp. He needed the space to process the information that was given to him. His eyes began to mist but he bit down his tongue to hold those tears back. Him backing away only gave Doctor Gorhol a chance to light another cigarette. Silence continued to linger between the two of them until a gentle sigh from the doctor finally broke it.

"Unfortunately I must end this session here," Hearing those words brought a sting to Grin's heart somehow. He looked at the older man quietly and watched a faint cloud from his cigarette veil over the doctor's lips as he spoke.
"But please do not hesitate to come to me. I am here for you whenever. I mean that."

Grin only nodded and they shook hands. Grin turned away and walked out of the office full of uncertainty. The weight of that feeling carried him down the long hallway, then into the waiting room where another patient sat there patiently. It was a young woman who looked just about the same age as Grin with short red hair that made her appear like a tomboy. At first glance she nearly looked like a boy until Grin's eyes wandered downward and saw her full set of breasts filling her striped shirt. She was twisting her hair nervously and stared straight at Grin as he walked in, and she smiled at him. Grin smiled back and decided to shoot his shot.

"Hey," Grin said politely and he walked up closer to where she sat but then he paused when he noticed how quickly her body tensed and clutched her purse. "Sorry," He lifted a hand and backed away a little.
"I didn't mean to bother you."

The woman shook her head.
"No. You're fine." She flashed him another timid smile. "Did you have Doctor Gorhol too? Is he any good?"

"Well," Grin rubbed the back of his neck and looked behind him as if someone was there.
"He's not too bad. Definitely a good dancer."

The woman raised an eyebrow at him.
"A good dancer?"

"It's a long story," Grin chuckled and slipped both hands in his pockets. "Anyway, you're pretty cute—"

"Anna Solomon." Another voice from the front desk interrupted Grin. The woman's head immediately straightened up at the sound of that name. "Doctor Gorhol will see you now."

"That's me. It was nice speaking with you." The woman stood up and held her purse over her shoulder, waving at Grin as she walked away.

A look of disappointment weighed over Grin's face as he watched her walk away. All he could do was shrug his shoulders and continue making his way out of the building.

...

A telephone rang in Doctor Gorhol's office.

Slowly, the doctor picked up the receiver as he watched the fog from his cigarette lift and dissolve into the air.
"Hello?"

"Alaric Gorehall," A deep voice answered. "Are you busy?"

Doctor Gorhol glanced at the ticking clock on the wall. "I could spare a minute or two."

"I apologize for the inconvenience, but you have a visitor. It is very urgent."