Doctor Jekyll; to relearn humanity.

Chapter 5: Hell hath no fury...

So, apparently, all he needed to do was drink the brew again. It was so simple in retrospect, but it took him a day or two to actually go through it... Why?
It's painful is why.

A few months had passed since the discovery, there being some changes with the routine the doctor used to follow to a tee. He still warily shuffled through the streets, the scorn still on his face, yet the people have started to approach. It's still in the earlier stages of social acceptance, but it's noticeable in the way people are now... talking to him. More patients and generally more conversations. He's even writing to people who he's previously been close with like Doctor Lanyon!

He hasn't written back.
But that's probably because he's a busy man. Jekyll wouldn't dare think it, but he was a little relieved that Doctor Lanyon didn't bother with him.
Evenings spent just going around and studying how people act were needed, it became much easier to talk to people seeing how they talk to each other. A consequence of this were the snide remarks set to his disguise, people called Edward Hyde creepy, an idiot even, for not knowing the answers to a test everyone already passed.
It was all worth it if it wouldn't happen to him.

The door opened to his office, some things were noticeable right off the bat. Less cobwebs, less dust, even. Windows opened, letting some air in on the cloudy day. It was less claustrophobic being in the room. Doctor Jekyll took his time getting the day started, with there being not a lot to do today.

Day in, day out, time passed all the same, people walking to places they needed to be. No one needed the doctor for a good long while, so it left Jekyll up to his own devices. He constantly found himself looking out the door. He could leave and walk around, but there could be people to treat, so he stayed.
He let his mind wander, however. He thought back to Hyde. It wouldn't be too hard to go back home and drink the 'HJ7' he still had. Did I mention he made extra? It's a good three batches from the same ingredients, and should last him for a few months.
Maybe.

It didn't take too long for someone to show up to the doctor's office, the door opening as usual with a creak. The doctor hurried over to the door, a lot more lively than at the beginning of the story. Peeking his head over to the door soured the mood immediately.
"You." He said through gritted teeth.

"Hello Doctor!" Mrs. Morris waved at him as she ushered one of her presumed children in. Either that or one of her friends since she looked old enough to be a mother herself, maybe he would ask her about it. She looked similar enough to her presumed mother that he probably didn't need to ask. Would it be rude to say anything? Never mind all of that, it was besides the point, and he was quick to get back on topic at hand. "Why are you here today?"

"It's not me, it's for my daughter." Mrs. Morris pointed to the lady next to her. "My eldest, of age for three years."
Ok, that answers that.
This woman looked to be the age her mother said. Her hair long and decorated with braids, the dress she wore looked to that of her mother's; a hand-me-down. She didn't look sick, in fact, she looked quite healthy.
There was a long pause in the conversation, the doctor not knowing how to continue the conversation effectively.
It became only a little awkward.

"What for?" Doctor Jekyll eventually asked out after what felt like an hour, the woman before him all too keen on answering his question and making him more confused.
"Well, since you had been avoiding all of my attempts, I thought you might like them..." She trailed off the sentence as she cornered the doctor in the already tiny room. She was dancing around the point of the conversation, parading even as she gestured to her daughter.

The doctor ran through likely possibilities, not finding any to match the scene before him. "Like who... what?" he let out a disgruntled sigh.
"Like them younger!" Mrs. Morris cheerfully replied.
This didn't help the doctor.
The daughter, however, looked shocked at the sentence, approaching her mother with confusion. She tried to reason with her to no avail. "Mother, I am not- You said I would be-!"
"Sweetie," Mrs. Morris looked at her daughter, a simple gaze cutting the daughter off. She spoke softly as those honeyed words came spilling out. "I am fulfilling my obligation as your mother to wed you off to someone who will provide you a good life."

"No." the word was almost a whisper, quiet enough to catch Mrs. Morris off guard. She was trying to marry her daughter off to the doctor. It clicked as soon as she said that. She was trying to get into his wallet. It was a little flattering, but he didn't want a wife. She spun around with a smile on her face, as if he had told a joke.
"No?" she repeated, like she didn't believe what she heard.
"You heard me, No. I don't want you, I don't want your daughter," It came out more harsh than he would have liked, and a little louder, but she wasn't listening to him. "Now get out." He was demanding her to take this seriously, to take him seriously. He was actively pointing to the door!
The face she made was dismissive, then concerned. Not at the statements he made, but at his hands. She tried to deflect the subject, reaching for the doctor and trying to get a better look at the scars on his palms from months earlier. "Are your hands ok?" Her lady-like voice called out.

Doctor Jekyll tore his hands away from the lady in front of him, with a look of disgust. "Yes, now get out."

The face Mrs. Morris made as she said that was ugly, it was furious. "You will come around eventually, no one enjoys the company of only themselves forever. You will grow to appreciate me." It was a rare face from her usual smile, and as she dragged her oldest behind her to the door, she swung it open and closed with a slam.
She was sure to come back again, because she always does.

The entire conversation left Doctor Jekyll peeved, and as expected, it spoiled the rest of the day. He was eventually able to repress any malice on the outside, but it carried over to Hyde.