Let's Pretend [Niall Horan]

Chapter 16

-Dr. Blank-

••January 29, 2013••

"You may want to immediately contact any clients that went through with this procedure," the woman on the phone told me.

"I understand," I answered.  I had just gone through with this with one of my clients; I had known that it was risk but it seemed right for her. Under the circumstances, I still think we had made the right decision, but Elizabeth Gray definitely wouldn't be pleased to hear about this.

I let out a deep sigh. Poor little girl, she was such a positive happy one.

"Thank you." I told the lady on the phone before I hung up.  This was so overwhelming; the procedure had sounded like a miracle at first, but now it was turning into a disaster.

Quickly I picked up the phone and dialed the Gray household, letting it ring a few times before the phone was answered by the usual housekeeper.

"Gray residence," her kind voice came over the line.

"Hello my dear Lisa, this is Doctor Blank, how are you today?" I asked, trying to find a way to break the news gently.

"Ah, Doctor!  I'm well, thank you for seeing me the other day. I'm all better. Is this call about Faith?"

"Yes, Lisa it is. I'm afraid I have some bad news," I told her. This was Elizabeth Gray I was dealing with; it would be best to be straightforward. 

I could hear her gasp; and I could tell that she was running through the house with the phone.  I heard her call Elizabeth a few times till she got a response from somewhere distant.

"Doctor Blank is on the phone ma'am," I overheard Lisa say.  Her voice echoed through the phone. A few seconds of silence passed before the phone was picked up. 

"Hello," Elizabeth's posh accent came on the line, obviously already stressed and unhappy.  I couldn't imagine how unhappy she would be when she heard this news.

"This is Doctor Blank, may I ask where Faith is now?" I asked as politely as I could.  I hated to admit it, but Mrs. Gray still managed to make me uneasy, even with my experience with clients and professional training.  The way she spoke and looked at people was unsettling.  It was easier on the phone.

"She's at school," she replied coldly. "Why did you call?" she asked getting right to the point.

"I have some bad news," I repeated with a long sigh.

That had been two years ago, but I remembered it as if it was only yesterday.  I set the phone down, having left a message in Mrs. Gray's automated voice mail.  This was horrible. Everything we did for Faith ended up being a complete failure, and to know that she was missing now was the worst news I could have heard. If she was missing, she was doing things that would excite her. This was bad. So very bad. 

I had advised Elizabeth to simply just tell Faith the truth, but that concluded with her hanging up on me. To a degree, I could understand why she was wanted to keep it a secret, but it resulted in Faith running all the way to England!

If Mrs. Gray didn't find her soon, the symptoms could get worse, but there was nothing we could do anymore.  The last option was simple; let her do what she wanted for as long as she had.  James Gray would agree with me, if only I could get ahold of him.

I rested my head in my hands before getting up, shutting off the lights, and walking out of my office. It had been a long day; I needed sleep.  I was tempted to go out and look for the girl myself.  She was such a lovely girl.  I couldn't let her just die now.