Can you Remember? #Wattys2016

Chapter 24: A Visit With a Therapist

After I had showered and left Sage's house, I drove all the way home to my house only to find nobody was home. I parked my car in the driveway and dug my house key out of my pocket. Because I'm always constantly worried about losing my house key, I took it off my car key ring and now carry it in my pocket or wallet, depending on what I have with me.

When I walked up to the front door of my house, I found a note card taped to the door with my name on the cover. I unstuck the card from the tape holding it to the door and opened it up to find a message my mom had left for me.

Dear Kade,

Your father and I have decided to go out of town for the day since you are with Sage. If you are reading this, that means you've left and come back home for some reason. No matter! Remember our talk dear? Well, I took the liberty of making your first appointment for you! You are meeting with therapist Lori Perkins at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday. I've told Sage to tell you incase you don't read this. Your father and I should be home around midnight, but you're welcome to spend the night again at Sage's house. See you tomorrow!

P.S~ I want to know what happens at your appointment!

Love, Mom

She forgot to include where the building was located and directions to get there, so I had to look them up online with only her name. So after two hours of going all up and down town to try and fine where I was going, I made it there with only ten minutes to spare before my appointment.

The building was a four story building that was made with a brick exterior. It had two windows in the front on each side of the building with curtains drawn. The double doors to the front of the building were wood with a walnut color finish to them. All in all, the outside looked homey and gave off a comforting vibe.

Inside, the first floor looked more like a lobby of a hotel. The floor tiles were moca cream marble, and the walls were stucco painted white. One side of the room had a black square rug covering a good space with toys for kids who either had an appointment or had to wait. The other side of the room had a black three seat leather couch and six black leather chairs. In the middle of the space set up was a coffee table with magazines placed on them. Both sides have flat screen TVs mounted on the wall playing programs on them. Towards the back wall in the middle was a black desk with a sierra white granite counter top.

Knowing my appointment was soon, I approached the front desk.

"Excuse me," I say getting the attention of the two ladies in front of the computer screens. "I'm here for an appointment, but it's my first time here meaning I don't know where I'm going."

"Ok dear. Who are you here to see?" asked the lady on the left with curly blond hair.

"Dr. Lori Perkins at 4 o'clock," I tell her reading the name off the note my mom left for me.

"Oh you must be Kade then," said the red headed lady. "She's expecting you, so you can go right up. Just go up to the third floor and enter the room with her name on it."

"Thank you for your help," I tell them turning away towards the elevator. I enter the elevator and click the third floor button waiting for it to take me up.

When the elevator opens, I'm greeted with a cozy looking hallway painted empire gray with a rug running the length of the hallway. There are four doors, two on each side, and I start looking for where I'm supposed to go. Her door is the last one on the right. Before entering, I knock on the door.

"Come in!" calls a cheery voice from the other side of the door. I twist the handle and walk into the room. The room has a living room set up with a door on each side. Picture frames and collages hang from the walls which I assume is work from previous. . . patients. "You must be Kade. It's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Dr. Perkins or Dr. Lori if you prefer."

"I'll call you Dr. Lori then," I say taking a seat in a chair across from her.

"That's fine dear. Since this is our first meeting, we're just going to get to know each other, become more comfortable you know, and identify why you are here with your own words. Okay dear?" I nod my head yes, and she continues on. "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself."

"Well I'm in high school. My junior year actually. Um, I have good friends, and I guess I do okay in school. I don't really know what else to say."

"What do you like to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you have any hobbies?"

"I like to make clothes."

"Are the clothes you are wearing now something you made?"

"No. Someone gave me some clothes to wear while mine are washing."

"Ok. Now, I know your here for amnesia is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, according to your mother, there is another reason for your visit. I'm going to tell you what your mom said when she called. She said that since your accident, you've been having an. . . abnormal attitude. You've been dressing in all black and hanging with a group of kids who all look like they could be in jail. You don't hang around people you used to and no longer have good grades. This is all things your mother has said. Now, tell me what you think."

I sat there for a moment taking in what she had just said. My mom said all of this about me? Why would she say that? I'm the way I've always been! I blink a few times coming back to my senses and look up at Dr. Lori before I speak.

"Honestly, I don't know where this is coming from. I'm the way I've always been. Those clothes are items I've made. That "group of kids" are my closest friends. I don't know those other people. I've never done good in school! I don't have an attitude problem! I'm just responding back to strange claims my parents make and say about me."

"That's no the worst thing she said," Dr. Lori told me looking somber and sympathetic. "She said 'I don't know who my daughter is anymore.'"