Do You Remember? | rewriting

Patient 08

Anastasia dropped her bags behind her black desk and sat down on the leather chair to rest her legs and get her heart rate back to normal. The elevator was not working, so she had to walk up the stairs. The clock struck 6:30 pm. Patient 08 was going to be here in a half an hour, just enough time to get a snack from their kitchen and enjoy a cigarette. 

Someone knocked on the door. Anastasia grunted and got up to open it. It was the secretary, he looked like he was in a hurry. 

"Patient 08 is here." He said shortly, hoping to make a run for it after delivering the news. 

"The meeting only starts at 7 pm. I need my break, I hope you understand." she tried to close the door, but a shiny polished shoe stopped it. 

Her eyes landed on her patients face. She took a step back and allowed him to enter. Like usual her would walk around the room four times and then only take a seat on the yellow couch, he had marked as his seat. 

She took a seat on her seat and watched him, as he took out 2 metal balls out of his pockets. Anastasia had asked him any timed before, why he needed to roll the balls while he spoke, but there was only one answer 'to stay calm'. She took a closer  look at the patient. Something about him was different. No new hair cut, not a new pair of glasses, that were spotless, as always, and not a new set of metal balls, that was for sure. She examined his face, just to find a small grin on his face. Patient 08 never smiled or laughed. It was odd to see him happy. 

"Patient 08, 6:39pm." Anastasia spoke into the small recorder, she placed it on the glass table next to her seat. Just as she was about to continue the recording, the patient cut her off. 

"Dr. Sanchez, I have been your patient for almost 5 years. We both know you know my name. By now, I would have hoped you would find a place in your heart to give me the human title, that I am hoping for." his deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. It was true, she was not allowed to say his name on any tape that was going to be sent to the research centre.

"You know how this works. I am only allowed to reveal your name once the court has given me the green light. I hope you understand, it was not my choice." she checked, if the tape was recording their conversation. 

"Yes, Dr. Sanchez." His vocalised the doctor this time with full confidence. Anastasia had not redeemed her title as a doctor yet and she knew that he was fully aware of that.  

"I am Ms. Sanchez. You are aware I do not have a such title yet." she mentioned. 

"It is very clear to me, but you must understand, that I can see your future and you will be known as the best doctor in psychology, the world will have ever known." he grinned, making her feel uncomfortable to be seating in the same room with him alone. 

"Is that so? How are you so convinced?" she asked in a confused tone. 

"After everything I am going to tell you right now, you will have a theory for the research you have been trying to prove from your young psychology years. I am going to open your mind to the world of us." his confidence on the peek. He liked calling the mentally disabled crowd as 'us', because he believed himself to be a part of the group. 

She nodded and went on to question him. Will a crocked smile on his face he started to explain, what had happened during her leave of absence. 

"I will warn you know, that I am not aware of the fact, if it was a dream or if I did do this very action I am going to tell you about", his look was focused on the recorder, "It was around nine in the evening. The sun had set and there were no cars in sight. I was enjoying my evening tea, when the door bell rang. There was a perky young lady standing at my door, which a box in her hands. I asked her, what she wanted and she replied it was a gift for me. Because I am not very fond of any human being with a normal beating heart, I immediately thought it was a joke. She must have been making fun of me. But she did not let it go. The young woman walked into my house, without an invitation and placed the box on the table. I stood there by the door, watching her long legs rest as she was sitting down on my chair. Miss Sanchez, you know how I am with my seating places! The cold breeze was forcing it's way into my warm home and it was all because of that little lady. I raised my voice and told her to leave my home right at this moment, but all she did was smile. She did not move an inch. Normal people do not walk into a strangers house! So I continued to demand her to leave or I would call the police. Still no reaction. Young people of this generation are all spoiled brats and they need to be taught to be real people. At this point I had had enough, I was not tolerating her ignoring my orders. I calmed myself down and told her to hand me the box. Surprisingly she stood up and came close with the box. I told her to bring the box to the basement, with my guidance of course. Instead of thinking it was a trap she followed me. She was a pretty thing to look at, but her head was filled with air." he stopped and stopped rolling the metal balls. His eyes were turning red and his nostrils started flaring.