Leaving the Shell

Chapter 2

I took a stiff, deep breath, and walked in.

"There you are! I was so worried!" My mother immediately coddled me. Like a switch, I was already annoyed, but I could keep it together this time.

"Sorry, mom. I was just stressed so I went on a walk." I replied. At least I got the apology out of the way.

"It's okay sweetie. I've set up your computer in your room, it's all set for your appointment." Appointment? On my computer? Is she talking about the doctor's checkup? I thought you would go to the clinic for that. Of course, in order to remain unsuspicious, I had to understand. Or at least pretend to. I just nodded my head silently and walked off upstairs. Once I got into my room, I sat down in front of my laptop, for the second time today. To my dismay, it was already logged into. 'I don't even have any privacy on my laptop? My personal device?' I thought to myself. My computer was all set for a video call, just like my mom informed me. But I noticed in another tab that my email was open, and it was not my school email. I looked at the bottom corner of the screen and saw that I still had five minutes before my appointment, or ten minutes if I wanted to be late. Either way, I had lots of time to do some research. Not on bands, but on why the heck I was doing a virtual meeting with a doctor.

Clicking on the email, I noticed that it was from the doctor that my mother had mentioned earlier, Doctor Gaudet. Below his formal greetings, there was a link, I assumed it took me to the video call area. Underneath it was a small list of information about the appointment, I scanned it, looking for any hint of what we were going to be talking about. It read that I apparently have anxiety, particularly social anxiety, that could've been the reason my mom was scared to death when I went on my walk. I also had an eating disorder, which again, also made sense because of the incident this morning. And now I'm getting tested for depression. This person is a wreck, and the worst part was that I was going to have to act like it from now on. Fortunately, I had pieced together a little part of my unknown puzzle of this life.

I had to stop myself from pondering when I realized that I was already two minutes late. I switched my tabs and I hovered my cursor over the call button. I was getting ready, probably the hardest part of my special "power." Acting. I clicked hesitantly.

The bubbly ringing that followed was probably some of the tensest in my life. Doctor's appointments were tough, it meant that I had to really know everything that was happening inside of the body that I hijacked. My thinking was stopped short when I registered that the ringing had stopped repeating. I prayed that my doctor missed the call, although I highly doubted it. My prayers failed when I heard a voice speak up. It was glitchy, but it was still very much there.

"Hello! I didn't expect to see your camera turned on." He started rather cheerfully.

My camera was on, and it didn't even pass through my mind that it would be out of character. I tried to play cool, as much as possible. "Oh, sorry, I must've misclicked." I lied.

"Don't be sorry! It was nothing more than a delightful surprise." It was annoying how happy this guy is. I know that sounds terrible, but it's true. I tried to think up a reply, but I figured it would just be better to remain silent. Seemed more Emma-like. "Anyways," he continued, "how have you been the last two weeks Emma?"

My voice was caught in my throat, these are the hardest questions because I don't even know what the people I take ever do. It's not like I'm gifted with memories with the bodies, I'm just left with my own tools and devices. Sometimes it works, sometimes I receive very troubling looks. "Not a lot. Just school and stuff." Short and simple, that's my motto.

"And how's the family?" He asked.

Now this one was a struggle, did this girl also find her mother annoying, or is that just me? 'Quickly,' I thought, 'he's waiting.' "Good, I guess. Same as last time."