Six Months Later

Six Months Later - Chapter 9

Inside Dr. Kirkpatrick’s office, I mentally prepare while she pours me a glass of ice water. She offers me hot tea first, top-notch imported stuff, she assures me. In the end, I opt for low-rent tap water because I’m too scatterbrained to pick flavors and sip carefully.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a week since we spoke,” Dr. Kirkpatrick says as she sets down my glass.

This is shrink speak for Just how crazy have you been in the last few days?

And my answer would be pretty freaking crazy, but I’m not here to give answers. If I’m forced to sit in this stupid office, I’m going to pick her brain until I find something that will help me get my memories back.

“I’ve been busy,” I start. “But I think I’m starting to have things come back to me.”

Blatant lie. If you add my new vanishing computer files, my list of missing items is actually expanding.

“That’s terrific,” she says. “Would you like to talk about some of those things?”

I bite my lip and glance over at her bookshelves. It’s a calculated move. If I look too conflicted, she’ll know I’m faking, so I do it fast, hoping to sell it just enough.

“I’m not sure. I might not be ready yet. Is that okay?”

“Do you feel that you need my permission?” she asks me with a smile.

“It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t want to jinx it, you know? I want to be sure I’m really making progress.”

More importantly, I haven’t invented a memory to discuss today.

“All right, Chloe. Is there something else specific you’d like to talk about?”

And that is shrink speak for, Obviously there’s something specific you’d like to talk about.

I stand up and head over to her bookcase, scanning the shelves. “I want to talk about psychology. I don’t know if you remember, but I got really interested in it last year after that class I took.”

“I do. I believe I provided a list of recommended books and some additional elective courses that I thought would be beneficial.”

Okay, I didn’t take the courses. After months of panic attacks and therapy sessions, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open that can of worms. No one needed another reminder of my Prozac Princess past, thanks.

I look down at my shoes and sigh. “I guess last year I was still tossing the idea around. Now, things are different. I’m a senior, and I’m applying to schools.”

“You worked very hard this summer,” she says, which almost makes me laugh. For all she probably knows, I spent my summer painting my toenails and watching Tom and Jerry reruns.