Trapped in Between

2: Truly, Madly, Deeply

"Am I asleep? Am I awake or somewhere in between?" I ask my doctor the following morning, when I get enough courage to get out of bed.

"I'm sure that there's nothing to worry about Michael. But, if you do continue to hear those voices-"

"Um, it's only one voice," I correct Dr. Paul, who's been my family doctor for as long as I can remember.

"Oh that's right." He looks down to write something on his clipboard. "So, just before you leave I'm going to make sure that I have all of the right information here."

"Okay," I nod.

"This started yesterday, this voice acts as if it knows you on a personal level, it's inside your head, and, there's only one voice." Dr. Paul looks up when he's finished, and smiles. "Is that right?" 

"Yes, for now at least," I look down at my shoes. "Can you please not contact my mom about this? And please don't leave any messages at home, either, my brother might be home and could ruin my life." 

Dr. Paul doesn't look worried but sympathetic towards me. "Michael, there's no shame in what's going on right now, and anyways, your brother shouldn't make fun, and I know that your mom wouldn't judge you."

"But," I sigh, "it's not that, it's just that."

"I get it." Dr. Paul cuts me off, "I understand that if this is hard for you to handle, and that you don't want the other kids to make fun of you. But, wouldn't it help for your mom to know, maybe?" 

"No!" I proclaim. "I just mean, please don't tell her. She'll belittle me, and I'm 17, I can handle myself." I say more confidently. 

"Well  if you're sure, Michael." 

"I am! Plus, I did tell someone, I told you." I say sheepishly.

"So, if that's all for today, I have other patients' problems to attend to." Dr. Paul winks at me, for an old(er) guy, he's okay, you know?

Haha. Old guy, you won't live for that long, little boy. 

Of course, I don't tell Dr. Paul that the voice is back, while I'm walking out of his office, because I think, maybe it'll just go away. 

Maybe, just, maybe.