Photo

-1-

That day started with a knock on my door.

-" Long time no see, little brother! ".

=" Christa! ".

It was never that long gap between me and my sister, but I never thought Christa would think of visiting me one day actually. She came in however, hugged me tight, then suggested that she should make me the delicious cupcakes she used to before I moved in here. So yes, I went to get what was necessary for those, and they were ready an hour after or so.

" But it seems to me that you're a little bit excited than.. than usual today! ", I told her while we sat down eating. I knew her well and I felt something glittering in her eyes without she telling me that, but even further, I knew she was waiting for the right moment to start talking.

-" Well.. I have some news. Ed, I received a new patient! ".

=" Oh, but you've been an official psychiatrist for 4 years now so.. maybe it isn't the first time to receive one?".

-" As a kick off, I'm still - or was still - an assistant. You know the story! I work for the 'real' psychiatrist, aunt.. ugh I mean, DR EMMA, and so I just finish her unfinished work, accept the requests of HER patients, or proceed their courses... It's different this time ".

=" So.. aunt Emma finally gave you the chance with a case by your own? ".

-" No one gives the chance to the others, Ed. It's either we make it for ourselves or not "

=" I don't get your point till now, sis".

-" Look, I've been researching and studying for three years, and through these I've been specifically studying a rare case, very rare one. Isn't it my right when I get the chance to approach a patient like this to complete my researches and even help in the improvement to take this chance and start my own path? ".

Even though Christa never really supported me, I had considered her the dearest one to me in the world. Call me naive or whatever you want to call me, but I believed in her although that was the second time for her to even come and visit me by herself.

=" I believe in you, Christa, you know I really do ".

-" I know dear, that's why I'm excited, and to be more honest, you can help, too! ".

=" .. Me?? ".

-" Yes! Well, I shall spare you the long story of the Asperger patient whose mother sent an E-mail yesterday informing Dr Emma that the girl is starting college here in the city the next week. The thing is, Her mother insisted on online therapy, she doesn't want her daughter to lose her concentration in her studies and blah blah. Dr Emma wouldve surely refused the case because of the condition the mother had put, but I thought; what if I accept the patient and even approach her indirectly so I can complete my own studies! So.. I moved the case file to my own folder and.. now I'm Dr Emma who will start contacting the patient ".

=" Wait a second.. you STOLE the file?!".

-" Come on, I accepted the poor patient, no one would've done so in the whole city! ".

=" No, no Christa, that's demented! What if the patient got worse, what if her mother finds out you aren't the therapist she contacted!".

-" I'm a therapist too ,Ed. I know what I'm doing! You have to trust me!"

=" I do dear! But.. I understand nothing of your psychiatric nonsense, aunt Emma knows better and.. I don't think she would've handled you this case ".

-" What better she knows?! I've been working for my aunt for years and she never even thought about trying to make me practice! I won't be kept on the hook forever, Ed.. I'm sure I'm able to do it ".

Silence covered our empty plates. Out of the blue I decided to break this silence by rising up to do the dishes. Christa followed me, then I found myself connecting the conversation again.

=" Let me know how can a second-year-college student who studies English and is interested in photography help an excited young therapist, Miss ".

Christa laughed, then she looked at me with absolute excitement.

-" Well, the thing is that the girl is studying English too, so you'll meet ".

=" I wonder why I don't get you this day.."

-" Shut up and listen ".

Although I have never understood Christa's nonsense, I was eager to know about the patient that made adrenaline rush in my sister's blood. She kept talking non-stop for about half an hour, and all I understood is that " Eve " had a kind of unusual social disorder which was extremely shown in her non- gestured conversations, her verbal misunderstandings, her anxious attitude sometimes.. she shows no emotions and is utterly naive, isolated, overthinks everything.. she had everything that makes a person distant and strange- yet she was highly intelligent and looks utterly normal, even a hard worker and gets very interested in peculiar things.

We were by then having coffee, and Christa was still talking about the disordered girl as if words were running out of her mouth screaming how talkative she was.

=" Well Christa, actually I..".

-" Let me guess, you don't understand my nonsense ".

=" Exactly. Just get to the point ".

-" Right. She should start therapy as soon as she contacts me. The thing is, as I mentioned before, I'm not allowed to meet the patient in case of her mother's condition. I have my ways with online therapy of course, but that makes no difference for my research. I should listen to her talking 'live'. Then that's your job, you'll meet her for me ".

=" .. ".

-" Yes, Ed! She's interested in photography, and that's exactly the key! " .

=" Excuse me? ".

-" Concentrate, stupid! You can approach her! I told you she's so into special matters. You can easily talk to her, and all I want from you is to record your conversations and handle me those records ".

I didn't respond for a second, I was really, really confused. Deep down I knew my sister was taking advantage of me, deep down with no doubt I wanted to help her on the other hand. Deep down I wasn't feeling well about what would go on, deep down something attracted me towards the girl we were talking about. I looked at my camera on the table in front of me with a poker face.

-" Look, when you're ready, here's a picture of her.. and we'll chat about it then ".

Christa sent me an instant picture of the college girl, left me a recorder on the table,and went to put on her jacket.

=" Tell aunt Emma I really miss her ".

-" I will, sweetie ".

She closed the door behind her when it started raining at the exact moment. Rain always attracted my complicated thoughts. Consequently, I sat quietly to watch the water drops falling from my window. I remember nothing more of this day however, except for the girl's picture Christa had sent me. I just took a glance at it that day, but now I remember it as clear as I remember my name.
************************************