Detective in Love

Chapter 14

Chris runs to my side and pulls me in for a hug.
"Oh how much we miss you at work!!!" She exclaims, almost tearing up.

"I miss you guys too." I reply, looking at her face, and then Jason's.

"Amazing how you just joined us at work and still had quite an impact. On all of us." Jason says, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"Thank you." I manage a weak smile too.

"How are things so far?" Chris asks me.

"I woke up in a haze, wondering where the hell I was, and who the nice stranger in my room is. Later it came to me, when she told me her name for the second time. Chloe Stauffer. Anyways, what happened with Mr. Wilson's case?" I need to know.

"Mrs Adler left home. She said that her husband and Mrs Wilson were meant to be. That they both deserved each other. She did the right thing. They have loved each other for a long time. Mr and Mrs Adler are getting a divorce tomorrow, and she will leave this place and start her life elsewhere. She wanted us to tell you as well." Chris explains.

That's a lot!

"I see." I reply, nodding my head. "Well I better get started on this now."

"Nigella are you sure you're up for it? Maybe wait till you feel better?" Jason suggests.

"I've already wasted two days. Plus, I'm feeling much better now." I respond. "Anything new?"

"Not yet. What about Chloe?"

"Chloe is nicer than I had imagined. Quite nice to be frank." I praise the girl who had helped me get down on my own feet this morning.

"Do you suspect her?" Chris asks me.

"Not yet. No. But I barely know her right? I'll ask her about Timothy. Tonight."

Timothy Davis. The reason why I'm here.

Two days ago, I ended up in an asylum because of him. 
He was found dead in his room which he shared with his roommate Jordan, here at the asylum. Even though they say he was depressed, his parents had requested for an investigation.
"My son would never kill himself! Despite everything, he was a happy kid!" his mother had cried before Tiffany.
Tiffany, doctor Tiffany. We knew each other back then. During middle school.

She had called Chris, asking for her to conduct the investigation. Given the fact that Chris now has two kids at home to look after, it was mine to investigate. 
Disguised as a Schizophrenia patient, I'm here to look for the actual reasons why he had taken such a huge step.

Tiffany had asked me to pretend to "lose it" as they dragged me inside the asylum. I had done so.
That's how and why I was injected a dose of Haloperidol, putting me into sleep.

"Whatever you do, be careful. Just have Tiffany call us, if you ever need anything." Chris informs me. "I'll let you both talk. See you later Nigey. Take care!" she hugs me and leaves the room. Leaving me and Jason all by ourselves. Alone. 
This is something Chris would do had she got the chance to. Now that she found a chance. She had done it.

"Liv has been worried about you. Anything you want me to tell her?" After a few seconds of silence Jason finally speaks.

She must be home alone. I honestly miss her a lot more than I'd like to admit in front of her. But she isn't here. She wouldn't be allowed inside.

"Ask her to stay safe. Tell her that I'll be back soon." I answer him.

He nods, and once again the pin drop silence has filled the entire room faster than the spreading of a deadly virus.
"We can do it some other way N. Just say the word." he tells me.

"You know that there is no other way. It'll be fine, I will solve it. Don't worry."

"It's not the case I'm worried about. It's you I'm worried about!" he looks like he is holding in a barrel of tears.
Funny enough! Why would he be crying??
I might be psychotic after all.

"Let's not do this Jason. Pretending like everything is fine and we are best friends."

"Aren't we? Can't I care for you?"

"What do you even mean by aren't we? You have to stop confusing me with your words and actions Jason. I cannot understand them anymore. For five years we hadn't spoken to each other once. Not even once. Not even a lame text wishing each other a Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year. I don't blame you for leaving me Jason. You left and there must've been a good reason why. Just because we are working together does not mean we have to try and fix things to go back to how they used to be."

"Nigella why I did what I did was because I could no longer-"

"No longer what Jason?" I cut him off. "No longer be my best friend? You left. Things changed. I told you once, I don't blame you. But please! Let's not pretend like everything is fine and cool. We are colleagues. Let's keep it that way. I've made plenty of wonderful memories with you. I will cherish them till my very last breath. But let's not offset it all by arguments and sadness. I don't wanna hurt you. I don't wanna hurt myself anymore. Thank you for being here today Jason. It means a lot. Thank you for caring about me. But I'm strong enough to stay here till this case is solved. You don't have to worry." I finish.

"Alright then." he tightens his lips, and nods his head. "Take care Nigella. I know you will do well. Goodbye." 

"Goodbye Jason."

He heads for the door, and stops for a while, holding the handle of the door tight. And he leaves.

I clench my fists, my fingers digging deep down my skin. It's supposed to hurt me.
But it doesn't.

This hurts more.

Me hurting him, and him leaving me.

It hurts more.

But I know for myself,

               it is what it is...