A Conquest or a Friendship?
Getting Involved
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“Did you converse with the young lady?” Dr. Mickler asked
Juan as he entered his office.
“I did,”
Juan replied sadly. “Don Octavio, are
people ever brought in here for no reason?”
Dr. Mickler
raised an eyebrow. “You were going to
kill yourself, that’s a reason.”
“Not me,”
Juan said quickly. “Her.
way.’”
Dr. Mickler
sat down. “Lots of people think that
way when they’re here.”
“But she
does not talk to anyone or take any medication.”
Dr. Mickler
looked at Juan sympathetically. “You
are here because you…you’ve lived a life that…” He sighed. “There is no
easy way to say this, but people, they believe what they want to believe.
“Serina,”
Juan interjected.
“Serina.
sessions like we do or that…”
“She is not
sick,” Juan politely insisted.
“That is up
to her doctor.”
“I promise
that when we’re through, I’ll check up on things, O.K.?”
“Thank you,
Don Octavio.” Juan sat and smiled.
Dr. Mickler
was very much looking forward to Juan’s tale – fantastical or, well, not.
fantasy life – if it was a fantasy life at all.
going on in “the real world” – he just simply chose to color it more vividly,
hence calling the hospital a villa.
“Today…” Dr. Mickler’s hands
rose, then fell. “…tell me whatever
you’d like.”
Juan began
to tell the tale of Doña
Julia. Dr. Mickler began engrossed
immediately. When Juan had finished, he
asked. “You will ask about Serina?”
Dr. Paul Showalter’s office to ask about Serina.
“Who?” Paul
asked. “Jack, what you are talking
about?”
“Serina
McAllister. I just want to make sure
that she’s being treated properly.”
Paul
searched though his files. “Here she is
– she’s Bill’s patient.”
“No wonder
she doesn’t think she’s being treated,” Jack muttered.
Paul rolled
his eyes. “She’s on
office. “Serina McAllister,
she’s yours?”
'> “Y-yes,”
Bill stammered. “Why?”
“My Don
Juan seems to think she’s…”
Bill
relaxed. “Anything he thinks is no
concern of mine – anyone’s for that matter.”
“Hey, you
do realize that the kid knows everything that’s going on around him, don’t
you? He knows where he is, he knows…”
“He knows
she’s an attractive young girl – nothing more.” Bill’s voice was cold.
Feeling
anger welling up, Jack decided to leave before he said something he’d
regret. The next step?
“Don
Octavio, have you found out any information?” he asked, his eyes hopeful.
Jack tried
to hide the sadness in his eyes. “She
has a doctor, as well as medication.
I’m sorry, but…”
“I wish to
dine with her this evening,” he said with a smile.
“In the,
um, cafeteria?”
“Your
dining hall, yes. Is that permissible?”
“If she
accepts.”
Juan’s eyes
were sincere. “Ask her for me?
“How did
you…”
“She is
angry with me, I wish to make things right with her.”
Jack smiled
and put his hand on Juan’s shoulder.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you,
Don Octavio.”
“You’re
welcome.” Jack walked away feeling
sorry for the boy. He honestly believed
what this woman had told him, and refused to hear any differently.
heart; he didn’t need his trust taken advantage of as well.
“Yes?” she
called.
Jack opened
the door and saw Serina sitting on her bed, her book once again in hand.
“That’s
me,” she sighed.
“I’m Dr.
Mickler…”
“Oh, no,”
she interrupted. “I asked him not to
say anything.”
“He’s
worried about you. He believes what you
told him.”
“At least
someone does,” she mumbled.
“Serina,
you’ve met with Dr. Bill Dunsmore, haven’t you?”
“No, I
haven’t. Look, Don Juan, or whoever he
really is – he’s a sweet guy. I don’t
want him getting in trouble for me.”
“Why would
he get in trouble?”
Serina’s
eyes were sad. “I don’t need anyone
else looking at me like…like I’m making this all up.”
“I won’t,
Serina,” Jack said honestly. “Why would
he get in trouble?”
Serina
sighed and decided that telling her story couldn’t make things any worse.
Walker…”
“The Serina Jack took “Exactly,” “No therapy “No.” “No “No “What do “Graphic “You’re “Twenty.” “How does a Serina was “I’m sorry, “People Jack “I don’t “Well, it’s “I know you “Why don’t Serina got “Mm She turned
real-estate l?”
nodded. “I caught him cheating and, in
his twisted mind, not mine, he thought I’d still marry him, then divorce him
for his indiscretions – which was a clause in the prenuptial agreement.
story about me suffering from depression from his calling off the wedding and
put me here until he could pack up and move his life to the west coast.”
this information in, then spoke.
“That’s rather elaborate, isn’t it?”
Serina said softly. “It sounds so
made-up, nobody will think it’s anything more than some delusional woman’s
rantings. If your ‘Don Juan’ tries to
step in…Trevor’s a powerful man, Dr. Mickler, he could make sure his life’s
miserable.”
for you?”
meds?” She shook her head.
meds…” She stood up.
I’m not crazy. I know that if I stay
here without a fuss, I’ll be let go…eventually. Granted my job and life will be gone, but…”
you do?”
design for an advertising firm. I was
away on business when all of this happened.”
very young. How old are you?”
twenty year old get a job like that?”
hurt. Suddenly, her entire life was
being questioned. “By excelling at art
and getting lucky enough to get hired by a firm that wanted me badly enough to
put me through college while I work for them.”
Serina, I didn’t mean to offend you…”
rarely mean to offend,” she said softly.
“I know you don’t believe me, so we can both pretend that this didn’t
happen, O.K.? Please make sure that
your guy drops it.”
smiled. “That will be rather difficult,
seeing as he wants you to join him for dinner.”
think that’s a good idea.”
up to you, but…”
really can’t say,” she interrupted, “but is he sick? I mean, really, he doesn’t seem ‘sick.’”
you just take him up on his offer? You can
decide for yourself.”
up and walked to her window.
“Cafeteria?”
hm. Can I tell him, six-thirty?”
and smiled at Jack. “Sure.”