Just A Smile

Chapter 2 : A Complicated Session

The different groups of patients began their new exercises in the center. Max was happy of her new patients, she managed to create a bond with them the first day, especially with Gary as he was skateboarding like her. But a part of her was distracted, Jane was in a corner of the room with her group, and she could tell that Boris was struggling with her. She hadn't done any exercises that he proposed her which annoyed the man.

- "You're here, boss?"

Max started and realized she was staring at Jane the whole time, forgetting about her patients. She turned to them with a warm smile.

- "Sorry about that," Max apologized, embarrassed. "Take some rest before the session of talking group."

Her group of patients accepted, exhausted by all the exercises she asked them to do. Gary rolled his wheelchair to her with a smile on his face.

- "You've been doing this for long?" Gary asked.

- "Doing what?" Max frowned with a smile.

- "Helping people to move again."

- "Six months. Officially. Why?"

- "If I knew that there was a such beautiful therapist here, I would have come here six months ago."

- "You've been in a wheelchair for two months, why would you come here six months ago?" Max answered with an amused tone.

- "To see you," the man smirked before winking.

- "That's all you've got?"

- "Uh, I, I...Yes."

- "Nice try. Go in the circle for the talking group," Max chuckled.

- "I won't give up!"

- "Oh, I'm sure of that!"

The man softly smiled and blushed before joining the others in the circle. The goal of this first meeting was to let the patients know about each other, to see that they all have their stories which could be similar to someone else's. It was a good way to find support with people who could understand their struggles.

The therapists stayed back, letting them talk when they wanted or intervening when they could feel that some were not daring. Max hadn't stopped looking at Jane the whole time, trying to see a beginning of motivation, but nothing, the brunette didn't even move. Apparently, Gary noticed Max's preoccupation because he decided to provoke the brunette:

- "And you!? Why don't you say a bit more about yourself!?"

- "Gary, she doesn't have to," Max intervened calmly.

- "Why not!? We all talked except her! She is not sadder or more hurt than us! We're all in pain here!"

Max sighed. She could understand his point of view, but she didn't like forcing people to participate in a talking group like that, she preferred when it was coming naturally from them not from the others.

- "Do it for Max, at least! She is worried for you!"

- "Um, Gary, I appreciate your concern, but I can talk for myself," Max said. "And, yeah, I'm worried for her because I already know her. We met when we were younger."

- "She was your friend?" the man frowned.

- "We kissed," Jane told with a sharp tone.

- "I think I prefer when you don't talk," Max stated.

- "That's the goal of a talking group, right!? That's what everyone wanted me to do, right!? To feel better, right!?"

- "Yeah, that's kinda the goal, only if you try, but you didn't even do the exercises, so I wasn't expecting more from you."

- "Why would I do the exercises!? I'll be dependent all my life, why should I move again if someone will do it for me anyway!?"

- "Yeah, right. Be a lazy ass, that's clearly the solution."

- "Fuck you! You know no shit about me! You wanted me to talk!? Then let's talk...!"

While Jane was provoking again and again Max, the redhead rolled her eyes before looking around. When she saw what she was looking for, she went to it, Jane still talking, and came back to her. She taped her mouth, crouched next to her, and grabbed her face to firmly say:

- "If you want to take it off, do it yourself."

Max stood and walked away under the angry eyes of the brunette. Boris was going to take it off, but Max stopped him before he could reach her mouth.

- "Max, it's not a solution," Boris said.

- "It's not a punishment."

- "Damn, you don't spare your patients!" Gary stated.

- "Why would I!? Because you're disabled doesn't mean I have to spare you! I'm not here to treat you or look at you like weak and fragile people, because you're not. You're strong enough to not be spared."

- "Okay, okay, I think it's enough for today. We'll see all of you tomorrow," another therapist intervened. "Have a good day."

The patients didn't wait a second and began to get out of the room. Gary smiled to Max and winked to her which made her weakly smirk. Max was regretting her behavior, but Jane got on her nerves so rapidly that she lost control of herself. Adrian, her mentor, walked to her, and Max already knew why.

- "I know what you're going to say, I went too far," Max said.

- "Indeed. You should apologize to her before she decided to claim a file against you."

- "I'm going."

Max was regretting but not at the point to apologize. Jane went too far too by saying private things like that! It was nobody else's business what happened between them five years ago. It wasn't like if they were girlfriends now! She arrived in the corridor and was stopped by Boris who grabbed her arm.

- "I hope you're happy! Jane's girlfriend is furious!"

- "I'm going to apologize, relax!"

- "Relax? Relax!? Jane is under MY responsibility!"

- "I'll tell her it's my fault, don't worry! Chill!"

The redhead freed herself before continuing her walk. She arrived at the entrance hall and saw Mary pacing while Jane still had the tape on her mouth.

- "You! You're the responsible of this!? (shows Jane) How dared you!?"

- "I could tell you that it's an exercise for her hand, but it would be a lie. She got on my nerves and, I lost control. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Jane; it wasn't the goal."

- "Why didn't you take it off?" Mary asked with a calmer tone.

- "Because she can do it by herself, but she prefers acting like a victim."

Max was expecting Mary to explode, but the blonde woman turned to Jane before looking down. She could see on her face that she was distraught by all of this.

- "I'm sorry for yelling at you," Mary apologized.

- "You don't have to, it's hard to live with someone who can't face their feelings. I understand, but she is here to feel better, we won't let her down. You know, there are sessions with a psychologist where you and Jane can participate, to understand each other. You can take an appointment if you want."

- "I will...Thank you...Should I take off the tape?"

- "Do as you want. I could advise you to let it until Jane is done, so she would do it herself, but I can't force you to do anything. I can understand that it's hard to see her like that."

Mary nodded before taking her in her arms. Max wide opened her eyes, not really fan of physical contacts. She just put one hand on her back and gave some friendly taps. The blonde woman broke the hug, her eyes full of tears, and left with Jane. The redhead was shaken by this day, she knew Jane could be unbearable, but now it was worse. Maybe she needed to stay out of this, she didn't know if she was the right person to help her.