The Third Man

Chapter 1 - The visit

"She is here, she will not leave until I'm dead" said Paul. His voice trembling with fear, eyes wide and bloodshot, cheeks sunk deep. He was sitting on one of the two chairs in the room, legs curled up, holding them tightly against his chest, eyes transfixed at one point.

"Paul... Paul .... PAUL!" Doctor shouted, "What are you looking for?"

"It's her, she has come to kill me, I can sense her" replied Paul, eyes fixated at one place "She is right outside the window, looking at us."

There was an evident uneasiness at the doctor's face. He gently strolled towards the window removed the curtain a bit and scanned the area outside. 

Nothing. 

Now with greater confidence he slid back the whole curtain and told Paul in a stern assuring voice "See, there's no one." But the doctor knew better. He knew she was there and Paul could see her.

"Why would she want you dead? She's your wife." the doctor asked.

"Because I killed her."

The scene was paused.

"This clip is from 2009, Paul's case was handed over to me by district court" said the doctor "And I have to admit, after knowing the story of this man even I got scared. And mind you Mr. Lockhart I don't get scared easy"

Dr. Nash's eyes were gazing at Peter, making him uneasy while at the same time, making his point assertively clear.

"So where's Paul now? Is he cured?" asked Peter in a curious voice.

"Yes, alas' he cured himself of his misery one week after this incident" replied Dr. Nash "He was found with both his wrists cut open with a fork he stole while having a meal. At one point the hospital even considered to take help of an exorcist. Can you believe that?" Said Dr. Nash, having a tone of disbelief in his voice.

"Maybe he should have been taken to an exorcist, maybe that's what he needed" Peter suggested.

"You see, how readily you accepted that he should have been shown to exorcists? But people have a hard time coming around the fact that maybe it's their own brain playing tricks on them."

"Mr. Lockhart..." continued Dr. Nash " we tend to explore the space, deep oceans and what not when the reality is that we don't even understand 30% of what our brain is capable of."

"Doctor, I understand what you are saying. But... what happened with me... was real" Peter whispered

"And why do you think I will not believe you?"

"Because no one does. I have went over this a hundred times with hundred different people, and I have seen the way they look at me"

"Mr. Lockhart you will be amazed at the things I'm ready to believe. But I can't until you open up about it"

There was a moment of silence between them. Peter gazed deep into the doctor's eyes as if looking for something. He shut his eyes, his face tense, head bowed down.

Dr. Nash could sense Peter's mental and emotional block, his depressed mind fighting with him, unable to come to a decision. Dr. Nash decided to address the situation.

"Mr. Lockhart, if you don't mind may I ask you why you decided to come to me?"

"It's my wife..... I mean my ex-wife" replied Peter, seeming upset "she won't let me see my kid until I get myself treated, she thinks I'm dangerous for him. That I'm crazy, and I might end up hurting our son" added Peter

"Peter, if it help I would like to tell you, whatever you speak here, will remain within these walls, and I can't tell a soul about it without your consent. It's the Doctor-Patient clause. Now it's your turn to decide, you want help or you want to lose your son" said Dr. Nash in a stern voice.

Peter knew there was no way around it, if he ever wanted to meet his son again he had to tell him everything, no matter how difficult it may be. It was his only hope.

"Okay doctor, you win. From where do you want me to start?"

"From the very beginning."

                                                                      
End of chapter 1
                                                                   

P.S - This story has been in my head for quite a while now, so couldn't wait to share it with you.

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