Take Me Away | ✓

» 7

P H O E N I X

Dr Andrews wasn't my doctor. He was, however, a friend of my mother's and seemed to have taken it upon himself to fill in the role of my parents after the accident. Since dad was in another state and mom barely registering my existence, it was kind of nice to have some form of an adult figure present in my life. It gave a smudge of stability to all the chaos.

"How are you, Phoenix?" He asked whilst fitting the blood pressure cuff around my arm.

"Good."

"Has there been any side effects to the medication?"

I felt the cuff tighten around my arm as he read the number off the meter. "I've been having trouble sleeping."

He nodded as if expecting this. "It's common to experience disruptions in your sleeping pattern after a traumatic event. Just to be on the safe side, I'm going to give you something a little different this time."

I extended my fingers as the cuff came off. Dr Andrews tapped a few things on his computer before turning back to me. He was handsome for his age. A few prematurely grey hairs lined his head. His kind features made you instantly want to trust him; an advantage in his profession.

"I'm going to schedule you for a blood test in a couple of weeks time." He handed me a slip. "Just show this to the receptionist."

I stared at the signature at the bottom. The way he looped the first letter of his name around the rest of the letters. When I didn't move from my seat he gently tapped my wrist to regain my attention.

"Your first session with Dr Meyer is in a week."

I nodded, frowning slightly. "You don't have to do this. I know you might feel guilty or something for not--"

"This has nothing to do with that, Phoenix." He said firmly. "Your mental health is just as important as your physical health."

"Was it you or my mom that signed me up for therapy?"

He didn't answer for a while and when he did, it wasn't to my question. "We both want what's best for you."

I regarded him for a couple more seconds. He seemed sincere enough and it irked me that I couldn't find any fault with him except that he shouldn't have been the one doing this. He didn't have to make the appointments, he could have just asked me or my mom. Yet he still did.

I nodded, feeling the unease rise in the pit of my stomach the longer I stayed in the room. It now seemed smaller than when I first came in.

"One more thing." He called out just as my hand was on the doorknob.

"Yeah?"

"I suggest you change your cigarettes to e-cigarettes. It's a much safer option."

"How did you--" I stopped myself when another thought occurred to me. "You're not going to tell my mom, are you?" I asked hesitantly.

"That's the least you should be worrying about, Phoenix. Remember to look after yourself every once in a while rather than others."

I gave him a curt nod showing that I understood. He didn't pursue any further questions, leaving me to finish up in the waiting room.