Skins: Endgame

Chapter 13

Not long after Tony and Josh had their meeting, Effy was having a meeting of her own, with an old friend.

"How are you, Elizabeth?" Asked Doctor Foster.

"Better." She replied.

"Sure?" Enquired Doctor Foster.

"No." Effy half smiled as she replied. She didn't know what else to say.

She looked at John, noticing that he looked more remorseful than usual. She was about to ask what was wrong before he told her.

"Your mother wants you to go home. She says she can look after you there."

Effy was surprised, again, not knowing what to say.

"Is that good?" She asked.

"Good? You know better than that, Elizabeth. We have to forget about good and bad." Explained Doctor Foster.

Effy looked to be on the verge of tears.

"My boyfriend ran away," she said, "That was bad."

Before Doctor Foster had turned up, she had been cradling a picture of Freddie all morning. He was all she could think about.

"How can we know?" Replied Doctor Foster, "If only we knew how things will turn out... Like with right now. I didn't just come here to say hi Effy. I came here to say goodbye."

Effy stared at him, stunned, as he continued, "I came to tell you that I'm leaving my job here."

"You... You're leaving?" She stuttered.

"Don't be upset," he replied to her, "I think maybe it's time.

Effy tried to think of something to say, but this revelation had her mind all over the place.

"Do I say thank you?" She asked.

"We don't know yet," ventured Doctor Foster, "but I think... Yes, you could be something I'm proud of." Effy looked him directly in his eyes. Despite wanting away from him when she broke down, she had come to like him again.

"I'll never forget you." She said, trying not to cry.

He extended a hand: Effy began to extend hers to shake it, but he instead stroked her face very gently.

"No... You won't," he said as he stood up. "If you need anything before your mother gets here, my colleague, Dr Challis, will assist you. Goodbye, Elizabeth."

"Goodbye, John," Replied Effy.

He turned around and walked down the corridor. Effy watched him until he made a turn down a different corridor, before she sat back on her pillow.

Doctor Foster was a man on a mission. His options narrowed right down, he would have to work very hard to getting Jasmine back...

"No," he froze in his tracks as he corrected himself out loud, "Effy. I must get back Effy."

But try as he might, he could not get Jasmine out of his head. Oh Jasmine. His dear, belloved Jasmine...

His childhood, if one could watch it like they were watching a film, was a warped sight to beyond.

No... No... Best not think about that. His future was Effy now and he intended to get her.

He got in his car to drive off and ponder the night ahead.

Ten minutes after he left, Anthea drove up to the psychiatric hospital. The doctors let her in and took her to see Effy. Arriving at her room, she found Effy, still clutching the picture of Freddie.

"Eff," called Anthea lightly, "Time to come home."