Her Therapist

Chapter 40.

ESTHER

"Esther, dear!", someone squeaks the second I walk past the door, trying to hype myself to dig into work, and get over this day so I can go back to the gorgeous apartment I now live in.

To be honest, I was never this excited to go back...to whenever I was staying in. I usually wanted to go to work or even school just so I could escape, first my dad, and then my loneliness, and intruisve thoughts that overtake my mind and lead it to the darkest places where I wish I was dead.

But now that bath I could take seems really tempting. So, I can't wish to go back to that apartment. I just hope Sebastian has some wine in there, so it could be perfe...Okay, I think he once said no alcohol, so I have to listen to him.

"Honey, I was so worried for you!" Someone hugs me tightly, and I choke on what seems to be my last breath. "I missed you so much." The choke stops, and I can finally breathe again. Nanny's lighten up face come in view, and my expression softens.

"I am here now", I assure her by squeezing her shoulder, and she takes my hand, and kiss its palm. I smile softly, and try to change my soft demeanor as fast as I can.

"Where is Benson? Did the bastard miss me?" I walk past Nanny, but I know she follows me, laughing sweetly.

"Of course, he's been troublemaker since you...since he has last seen you."

"Now I'm gonna fix him, don't you worry." I pat her back slightly, scolding myself, remembering that she is old, and her bones must her at this age.

"I'm sure you will. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Sure thing."

I walk to Benson's cage, ignoring other hungry animals that are practically begging me with her sweet expressions to feed them. Well, you waited until now, you could wait two more minutes.

Once I approach cage of Benson's mother, whose name I forgot, he opens one eye lazily, and immediately jumps on his feet, his tail swinging.

"Yes, I'm here. Hi, I missed you, too. I heard you were a troublemaker, huh?" He winces. "No apologies now, no, Bens."

"You like talking to animals, don't you?", a voice I don't recognize says out of the sudden. I snap my head to it as soon as I can, a frown has already appeared on my forehead.

I meet with a face of a young man, more a man than a boy, but his features are still sharp, and innocent. His smile is wide, and my eyes fall to his dimples that he has on each side of cheeks. I've never seen his before.

"You a customer?", I ask, confused, eyeing him up and down, and I immediately realize he works here. I don't really know a lot of people working here, but I can recognize them, and for some reason no one disturb me, or talk to me if it isn't necessary. Maybe Sebastian or Nanny had warned them about my anger issues, as he likes to call them.

He chuckles lightly, and shakes his head, which causes me to notice his curls that are between blonde and light brown shade. They do a little dance, and I wiggle my eyebrows, not believing how a man be so perfect.

Seriously, Esther? 

Since when do you notice man's appearance?

Must be since I started to feel more comfortable around Tomlinson. I'm not sure which part of me responds to this. My heart or mind.

"No, I've started working here recently."

Must be in my absence. Nanny should have told me this. But then, I mean, why would she? It's not that I leave an impression like I care, and like I want to help and impress our new coworkers. I prefer being solo. Or lately just being with...him.