The Best is Yet to Come

Epilogue

Looking at the lineup of patients for the day, Dr.Greene smiles at the name next on his list. Emma Quinn.

He hadn't seen her in several weeks and had started to worry. The secretaries made several attempts to reach out to her but without any luck. He couldn't deny the relief he felt when Emma had finally called to resume their weekly sessions.

For a brief refresher, Dr.Greene tugs open the drawer to the metal filing cabinet to retrieve Ms.Quinn's file. It was thick, years worth of notes and papers were stuffed neatly inside. The heavy Manila folder hits his desk with a thump and he flips it open, perusing over the papers at the top of the stack.

Ah, yes. Emma Grace Quinn. 22 years. Diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and depression.

Dr.Greene would never forget the day Emma first walked into his office. She was seventeen, recently orphaned and had just been released from the hospital. She hobbled in on crutches, her left leg was broken, and she had the saddest eyes he'd ever seen on a teenage girl. Over time, her pale face had returned its color and her eyes were always dull like there was something missing. She lacked the glow of life in her voice that you'd expect to hear in a young woman.

He had to give her credit, she was determined and resilient. Emma graduated college, had a full time job and lived on her own. It was something that was difficult for anyone her age, let alone someone in her circumstances. But he knew Emma was lonely. It was something they'd been working on for years.

Emma chose to abstain from any close relationships in a vain attempt to protect herself as well as the people around her. Dr.Greene was ecstatic the day he convinced her to adopt a pet, hopeful that the companionship would provide her some relief and it had, but not for long. Emma's demeanor had started to decline for months before she stopped showing up to her appointments. Clearly, the lonely darkness she kept herself in had finally started to eat at her.

A light tap at the door cuts through the silence. Dr.Greene closes the file, tucks it safely back into the drawer and calls, "Come in."

Emma Quinn tiptoes into his office with a smile and shuts the door behind her.

"Emma!" He greets cheerfully and watches as she seats herself into the leather chair across from his desk, "It's been a while. How have you been?"

Emma smiles shyly at him, her blue eyes clear and bright, "Yeah, I'm sorry about that." She tucks a chestnut curl behind her ear. "Things have been... crazy lately," she laughs nervously.

Dr.Greene reaches for his notepad and eyes the fountain pen to his right, "Well, don't keep me in suspense. Catch me up. What have you been up to?"

Emma dives into her story and an hour later, Dr.Greene has six pages of notes to log into the computer that afternoon. No wonder she'd looked so alive walking into his office, Emma has had more excitement in the last week than she's had in the last five years. Not to mention the boy...

Counting the pages again, he can't help but laugh, "I guess you've been staying busy. I have to ask though, what happened? Why did you miss so many appointments?"

Emma looks down, twisting her fingers in her lap. "I wasn't in a good place," she whispers, "I didn't want to try anymore."

"Is that why you came back? You want to try?" he prompts.

She meets his eyes and something in those blue depths sparkles with her next words, "Noah makes me want to try. I want to be better for him... well, he makes me want to be better for myself, too."

Coughing back the emotion rising to his throat, Dr.Greene glances at his watch. "I am so happy to hear that, Emma. Should we resume this next week? Same time?"

Emma grins, sits up from her chair and reaches for her bag. "Sounds great. I'll be there. Thanks for everything."

Dr.Greene leans back in his chair and watches the sad girl he had come to know turn with a friendly smile and a wave. Emma walks out of the office with her head held high and a newborn spring in her step.