Trapped in the Afterlife

Chapter 11- First Name, Last Doe

I entered the shrink's office and resisted the regular urge to run straight out. It wasn't that I didn't like her or that she didn't make me at ease but her office was just so intimidating. With the lounge chair in the far end, her desk placed in front of the cabinets which I assumed held the files of all the other patients she had analyzed. Her diplomas hanging above these cabinets were intimidating enough. It was also the 'dark' air that lingered here. The entire office was decorated in dark wood with a few items of light color. She had explained that it was meant to relax a patient, help them slide into a semi-slumber with ease when she had to perform hypnosis.

I proceed like usual to sit on the edge of the chair meant for the patients to lie down on. Ever since our second meeting I had refused to lie down, prefering to sit and talk with her eye-to-eye.

''Good morning,'' she welcomed me with her bright smile. ''The doctors told me that you will be leaving our care shortly. That a foster home has been found for you.''

I nodded as I handed her the journal that contained my dreams and nightmares. ''Yes, Alexanne's parents have agreed to take me into their care.''

She took the journal and sad down on the chair facing me before putting the journal down on the side table beside her. ''We won't be looking at your dreams today. Since its your last visit with me here, I want to make sure you're ready to face the outside world. You will still have to visit me at least once a week so that we can keep you stable.'' she picked up the file on the side table with my name on it and pulled out a few forms. ''You will be given the chance to enroll in school - one for adults where you will be less subject to bullying depending on how high you rank. Also because we can confirm that you are over the graduating year. However, it is not an obligation for this year and if you wish to take this year off, I can write you a note.''

It only took me a few moments to make my decision. ''I want to have the most real 'life' experience since I don't remember anything. I want to go to school.''

''Very well. You will have to go through an equivalence test to see what your brain remembers of school so that you may be placed in the right year's studies. Keep in mind that you might find yourself a lot lower than other kids your age.'' she frowned as she looked at me but I simply nodded. ''Kids can cruel... which is why the school for adults is the best alternative.''

''Its fine. Everyone goes through it, why should I be any different? Plus, I'll have you and the Thornes to help me through it all.'' I smiled encouragingly at her. Apparently, at the moment she was the one who needed comforting and not me. But I could feel my insides starting to churn at the thought of attentding school and mingling with strangers. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I would be meeting strangers who would be as unknown as I am to myself.

''Glad to hear it! Well then, you have three hours to complete the equivalence exam. For the moment we will submit it with your hospital identification and once you decide on a name for yourself, we will send the change to the ministry. However, your last name will always be 'X-name of your foster family'; for the moment it shall be X-Thorne. Until the moment you are either officially adopted, returned to your family or married.'' she smiled, handed me a stack of papers that looked way too thick to finish within three hours, a pencil case with assorted materials in it and a sheet with instructions on which item in the pencil case was used for which section of the test. She finished by placing three books on the corner of her desk, indicating for me to take place at her desk. ''I'll come back for you in three hours.''

I nodded, took a seat in her comfortable shrink chair, opened the pencil case, turned the stack of papers to the first page and attacked this first and new challenge.

Its been a week since I left the hospital and moved in with my foster family. During this time I had been watched over by a nanny since I wasn't capable of caring for myself quite yet and the Thornes all had a life to return to after their own daughter's accident and the adjustment of their newest addition – me. We hadn't gotten much time to interact because of this but I think that I fared well enough.