Rafayel gently nudged Jiwon awake, brushing his knuckles against his cheek.
Rafayel:
“Hey, baby. Wake up.”
Jiwon stirred, groaning lowly, face burying deeper into the pillow.
Jiwon:
“No…”
Rafayel: (softly)
“I know. But we’ve got an appointment this morning. I talked to a clinic. Private, quiet, no group stuff. Just you and a doctor. It’s gonna be okay.”
Jiwon slowly opened one eye, his voice hoarse.
Jiwon:
“I don’t want to talk to another stranger who looks at me like I’m broken.”
Rafayel:
“Then don’t talk. Just let them observe. You don’t even have to answer anything you don’t want to. I’ll be there the whole time.”
Jiwon stared at the wall for a moment, jaw clenched, then rolled over and pulled the blanket back over his head.
Jiwon:
“I’ll just mess it up.”
Rafayel:
“You can’t mess up breathing, Jiwon. And that’s all you gotta do today.”
Silence.
Then a reluctant whisper from under the blanket.
Jiwon:
“…Can I wear your hoodie?”
Rafayel: (smiling softly)
“You can wear all of them if you want.”
---
10:00 AM – Dr. Maya Clinic
The room was warm, filled with muted pastels and soft lighting. A couple of plants. A bookshelf. No medical smell, no harsh white walls.
Jiwon sat curled on the couch in Rafayel’s black hoodie, sleeves covering his hands, hood up. His knees were drawn up, eyes darting toward the door every time someone passed. Rafayel sat beside him, his hand resting on Jiwon’s thigh.
Dr. Maya:
“Hi, Jiwon. I’m not here to fix you, just to understand what your brain might be doing when things feel heavy. Is it okay if we do this at your pace?”
Jiwon didn’t reply. He looked at the floor. Rafayel gave his knee a gentle squeeze.
Rafayel:
“He hears you. Just nervous.”
Dr. Maya:
“That’s alright. We’ll start small. You don’t have to talk. I’ll ask Rafayel a few things first.”
They ran through questions—history of mood swings, eating patterns, sleep issues, trauma responses, outbursts, withdrawals. Rafayel answered all with as much care and sensitivity as possible.
Halfway through, Jiwon suddenly whispered something.
Jiwon:
“…I hate my head.”
Rafayel looked over instantly, heart aching.
Dr. Maya:
“Why do you hate it, Jiwon?”
He slowly looked up, eyes glassy, voice low.
Jiwon:
“It lies to me. It tells me I’m nothing. Even when someone loves me… it still says I’m better off gone.”
Silence. The weight of it filled the room.
Dr. Maya:
“That’s a cruel voice to live with.”
Jiwon:
“It’s loud. And I’m tired.”
Rafayel:
“We’re gonna figure out how to quiet it, love. I promise.”
Dr. Maya:
“Thank you for telling me that, Jiwon. That helps. I believe what you're describing could be a blend of complex PTSD, panic disorder, and potentially a depressive spectrum illness. But I’d like to do some gentle tasks with you over the next couple weeks. No rush. No pressure. Just to help us see more clearly.”
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𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔
Fanfiction[SEASON 1 COMPLETED] [SEASON 2 COMPLETED] ch 38 [SEASON 3 ONGOING] ch 74 Prison Guard, Lee Minho is curious to know why there's a cute, infamous criminal in the prison. What do you think happens when he has to be the prison guard to the one and onl...
