Fallen (Lingorm)

Chapter 35

Lingling sat in the familiar, overstuffed armchair, her posture slightly hunched, a pen in hand as she absently doodled on the edge of her notebook. 

The rhythmic scratch of pen against paper was the only sound she made at first, her gaze focused on the random swirls and loops she was unconsciously creating.

 Her therapist, a calm woman with a steady presence, waited patiently for Lingling to speak.

"She left," Lingling said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just like that. No word. Nothing. You know how they say, 'cat got your tongue'? Yeah, that." Her lips twisted into a bitter half-smile, but there was no humor in her expression.

 Dr. Yi, nodded with her usual calm demeanor, pen poised over her notebook. "Did she try to talk to you later? It's been four days since that night, hasn't it?"

Lingling's eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a sigh. "She didn't. Not a word. I haven't seen her. I didn't even go to work today—what's the point?" She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling as if the answers might be etched in its plain white surface.

Dr. Yi tilted her head, her tone measured and steady. "Why do you think she did it? Why do you think she left like that?"

Lingling tapped the pen against her knee, her movements erratic, almost restless. "I don't know. Maybe... maybe it's because we've always competed at work? It's always been this unspoken game—who's better, who's faster, who's smarter. No slacking allowed. We've always been neck and neck, and I won't lie, I used to show off. I used to be cocky about how much better I was at certain things. But that was just work. That was never meant to spill over into... us." She paused, her throat tightening. "I think it got into her head, though. Maybe she thought I was just another person trying to one-up her."

Dr. Yi tilted her head, her pen poised. "And since you helped her out, do you expect her to come thank you?"

Lingling let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "Come to me? Sure. Thank me? Hah, more like kill me for real this time." She laughed bitterly before her expression turned serious. "Honestly, I don't think she has it in her to thank me. Or maybe she just won't talk to me at all."

She smiled gently. "But she has a personality rooted in pride and a high ego, perhaps she might show her appreciation in another way—like returning the amount you paid?"