Hue

four - lindsey

A bit shorter at just under 3K words, but I think you'll like this chapter...

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"Confidence is key, but shouldn't it be based on reality?"

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"Silk, are you listening to me? I'd like you to look in my eyes," I told her gently. Silk sat across from me on the brown leather couch in my office. Her deep blue eyes lifted and bored into my own, nearly making me regret asking her to make eye contact.

Silk rarely looked someone in the eye, but when she did... Her stare was easily the most intense gaze I've ever come across in all my years as a psychologist. I've been working with Silk for the past five years, since her parents first approached me when she was twelve years old. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. Sure, her parents warned me about how challenging a case she would be. They even told me the number of therapists Silk had gone through in her life. But did I really know what I was getting myself into? Hell no.

Silk Fontane was easily my toughest client.

First of all, she was pretty high on the autism spectrum which had a tendency to complicate things. I suspect that the autism stems from her synesthesia, but that's only one theory. Second, in my professional opinion, Silk is a sociopath. Third, she has the most unique case of synesthesia ever recorded. No one has ever recorded a patient having every single one of their senses overlapping, especially not the way Silk's do. Fourth, Silk is more spoiled than a thousand year old egg. Her parents, especially her father, gave her whatever she wanted.

It was probably the scariest thing about Silk.

Everybody dreams of having a rich family that loved them and spoiled them and was there for them. Silk has that dream. She has everything she could ever ask for and look how she's turning out. A spoiled sociopath with a condition that leaves her spending every moment wondering if she's insane for hearing and seeing things that no one else does.

But, even with all her flaws and challenges, Silk was easily my favorite client.

"Silk, have you used the White Room this week?" I asked her. My eyes scanned over her quickly, looking for any tells. "I noticed today that it's your day to use it." I watched her to see how she responded to my prompt.

"No," She told me as blank as ever. "I didn't use it and of course, I know today is the day. You of all people know how much I look forward to my time in the White Room. Besides, when was the last time I forgot something?"

"Touché," I replied wryly. I glanced down at my notebook and opened to a fresh sheet of paper. Deciding to switch topics, I asked her a few questions about how she was adjusting to the new school.

"Oh, and I suspect I have possible friends," Silk added casually as she answered one of my questions.

"What?!" I exclaimed, before I could stop myself. My eyebrows shot up and my jaw dropped slightly. Quickly, I composed myself and questioned, "Who? How did you meet? Do you like them? Do they like you? How old are they?" After a moment, I realized I neglected the most important question. Hesitantly, I asked, "They are human, right?"

"Rocket, Amos, Trix, Trina, Cooper, Eli, Chioma, Molly, Alex, and Roman. I met Rocket when I slept in a cardboard box overnight and he introduced me to his friends the next day. I have no personal feelings or attachment regarding them. A few of them seem to like me, a few seem to despise me. Age ranges from twelve to eighteen. As far as I can tell, yes, they are human," Silk answered, responding to each of my questions in order.