He Heals Me

Chapter 8: Well There It Is

Doc: I have no choice, but to keep you here for Kina's sake. Understand this Larry. If you fail her, she may never recover. It took her a very long time to seek professional help after her last attempt to get better didn't end too well. I can not stress it enough. From this day forward if you deviate from the plans that I put forth, it will be grounds for immediate termination. We will not have this conversation again Larry.

Larry: I appreciate your concern doctor and you give me another chance, but I have to ask why you didn't just fire me?

Doc: *sighs* My first patient was suffering from a milder case of what plagues Kina. Everyday he came to his sessions and we worked on him getting better. He became dependent on my presence before I even knew it. It happened so fast. He began to request more time during his sessions and naively I took it as building a tolerance to reliving his life's tragedies....but I was wrong. I diagnosed his condition as sustainable without treatment and allowed him to be released from my care. He voiced concerns, but being his doctor, I felt I knew what was best for him. I put him out there in the world alone to fend for himself. After two weeks, he was found in his home in his bed with an empty bottle of pills and a suicide note. He thanked me for relieving him of a lot of his guilt and stress. He also went on to write how empty he felt after treatment. He was free of all the bad, but that hole was never filled with anything else.

Larry: Wait, I don't understand. So how this help Kina for me to stay?

Doc: If I take you away from her, it could end one of two ways. It could create a void or it could put us back at square one. In either case, it doesn't help her get better. Know that what you have shared with me about your feelings for her will stay between us. In exchange, promise that you will never leave her side except knowing that without the slightest doubt, she will be able to fully function without you. If you do leave and something happens to her, that will forever be your greatest lesson in this profession and you will have to live with that.

Larry: I promise.

Doc: Today has been a bit much for me. I'm going home and I suggest that you do too.

Larry: Thank you again Dr. Lynn. I won't let you down.

Doc: It's not about letting me down anymore Larry. It's about letting her down.

Larry: I won't let her down either.

Doc: I hope that stands the test of time.

Dr. Lynn walked out the observation leaving Larry to follow her out. She locked the door and without so much as a look in Larry's direction, she walked out to the parking lot. Larry, having a lot on his mind, walked out a lot slower. Seemingly weighed down by his decision. Had he spoke out of pure emotion, wanting to prove Dr. Lynn wrong? Would he be enough to carry the weight on Kina's back? Then there was the revelation that in this short time he had managed to fall in love with his first patient. With all of these thoughts swarming around in his head, he decided to take a longer, more scenic route on the way home.

Larry wasn't hungry, but he still bought some fast food to take home in case that changed. He contemplated calling Kina to come clean, but felt like that would just be too much too soon. He decided it was best to go back to business as usual tomorrow and not tell her for the time being.

After arriving home, he walked into his bedroom and grabbed the necessary items to take a shower from his walk in closet. He desperately wanted to feel the water cascade over his tense body. He turned his bluetooth speaker on and connected his phone before shedding his clothing. He turned the water on to a decent temperature. He turned back to his phone to pick a song that would help with his current mood. He settled on "The Ends" by Travis Scott and stepped into the shower.

Putting his head under the water, letting it saturate his twists and run down the rest of his body, he could feel his muscles begin to relax. His conversation with Dr. Lynn still replaying in his mind, he shook away any negative thoughts of anything happening to Kina. He grabbed his body wash and lathered it into a towel before scrubbing his body. He rinsed his body free of the suds and stepped out of the shower, wrapping his towel around his waist. Walking into his room, he took the towel and dried his body before sliding into a t-shirt and a pair of briefs.

He laid down on the bed feeling drained. After making sure his alarm was set for the next morning, he turned over on his side and closed his eyes, neglecting to spare even a second thought about the food that he had just bought which grew cold sitting on the kitchen counter.

*Meanwhile at Kina's House*

When Kina got home from her session, she made a phone call to her oldest sister on her father's side of the family, Laila. She knew that she was the most affected by her father's death. After a few rings, Laila picked up.

Laila: Hello?

Kina: Hey Laila. It's Kina.

Laila: Well isn't this a surprise. *voice dripping with sarcasm* I haven't heard from you in a good minute.

Kina: *sighs* I know. I just wanted to apologize for not being there for you when Dad passed away. I have some serious issues that I'm working through. I'm getting help Lai. Today was the first time in a long time that I've been able to talk about everything that happened and I'm getting better. I just wanted to say that and let you know I'm so sorry.

Laila: Well thanks. I honestly wasn't expecting that. I hope you get well little sister.

Kina: Me too Lai... Well I'll let you go.

Laila: Ok. Well don't be a stranger. Maybe when you're all better you can visit. Your nephews miss you. I do too.

Kina: Yeah, definitely. I miss yall too.

Laila: Alright well talk to you later.

Kina: OK. I love you Lai.

Laila: I love you too Kina.

*call ends*

Kina felt another huge weight lift from her shoulders. She sat there for a moment contemplating calling Larry to tell him about the phone call. Instead, she decided to just wait until her session tomorrow. She took a quick shower after ordering some food and waited for it to arrive. After she ate, she turned in for the night.

For once in a very long time, she slept peacefully.

A/N: Surprised? So what's next for them? Let me know what you think in the comments and as always Vote my lovelies!