The Session

Empty Promises

"At times I don't know Lucas." She sighed. "By the way, how's your patient doing? This is the third month, right?"
"Uhhh yeah, she's okay. It's not that bad; she's getting better; maybe if they let her out, she'll recover in no time. She already has a clean record for the past two years. She's good to go."

"Well, I think they are planning to keep her here longer than that, I don't know why, but did you hear what happened to all those assigned to her? They seemed to have bad luck following the none of them survived."

Lucas stared at her; something jolted in his stomach, making him feel uneasy; he moved his chair back towards the table and motioned to her to concentrate when a middle-aged Lady dressed in a black pantsuit walked in. The conference room went silent as she walked past them, slightly acknowledging fa ew doctors with a nod, including Lucas.
The lights in the conference room switched on, revealing middle-aged faces staring at the woman on the podium.
"Good Morning Everyone." She looked around the audience before continuing her speech.
"I believe that the news has been circulated but I'd like to make it formal. Our hospital has been chosen to embark on a program with the NEO organization, the program is named SPECIAL RESCUE." Dr Ashley stepped down from the podium to walk around the conference room.
"The organization will be visiting our hospital next week on Tuesday to check on patients who are close to recovery; they are willing to provide fifty patients with a stable job as well as insurance and life security, thereby giving them a new life after all the hurdles and rehabs. Myself and a few other doctors in this Facility have checked the records of our patients and we have also produced a list with names of chosen candidates after much consideration."

She motioned to a nurse carrying bundles of files in her hands to pass them around the congregation.

"Those files include the names of the special patients selected along with their medical records. You are given this because we need you to go through each one of them and give the board feedback if you feel that they are mentally fit to be exposed to such conditions or they are not."

After the meeting, doctors and nurses shuffled past Lucas in a group towards the exit. He scanned around the room, looking for a redhead in a blue shirt and blank pants with round glasses glued to her face.

"Doctor Ashley, Doctor Ashley..." Lucas tried to make his way through the crowd trying to get her attention.
She turned around to see him and dismissed the nurses she was talking to.

"Yes Doctor Lucas, how may I help you?" Giving him a tight smile.
"I- I'd like to discuss something with you, Ma'am; it's about Miss Dozebel.

She looked around the room in an uneasy mood.

"Let's go to my office." She motioned for him to follow her as they walked towards the exit.

*****************

"I don't think this would be appropriate in this situation. Lucas, this is not part of your job. I-"

"Ma'am, I've been assigned to her for a couple of months now. I have studied my patient, and I feel it's time to begin social exposure therapy. I did a thorough screening of the list of patients you gave us, and to my observation, most of them are not even ready for exposure yet, and some of them are far worse than Miss Dozebel... And they are getting a chance to reshape their lives. Doesn't she deserve a chance too?"

Doctor Ashley glared at him with pure disdain; if there's one thing she detest most, it's when her decision is being questioned. And Lucas is doing just that despite being aware of the consequences.

"I am fully aware that you are concerned about the welfare of your patient. However, as instructed by her guardian she is to be kept inside the four walls of her room. Do not forget that she is a top VIP client and most of our income comes from the VIP section. Moreover, your patient has earlier been diagnosed with several disturbing psychological behaviours with documented proof of her exhibiting traits of mental instability. I hope you think this through Lucas."

Lucas knew this conversation had reached a stopping point. It'd be wise if he quietly left with a nod and approving smile, but he wasn't ready to give up easily. He made a promise to his beloved; he needed to keep that promise if he wanted to gain her trust as well as access to the mystery surrounding his fairytale princess.
Dozebel is a girl with disturbing secrets; exposing her to society without proper response is like letting all hell break loose. An insurance might not be able to cover the extent of the damages if she decides to inflict one. It is a risky game to vouch for her without fully knowing all he is to understand about her. But the intimacy they shared brought him closer to her in a way he didn't understand. He feels like he has known her all his life, and the need to put a smile on her face has become a commitment to him lately. Lucas wants to solve a riddle among lies. At the moment, the only thing that matters is that he made a promise, and a promise made should forever be a promise kept.

"Do you have something else to say?" Doctor Ashley eyed him with curiosity, he seemed lost in his thoughts.
"Uh- no, ma'am, I- I um, I'll figure it out my way," Lucas mumbled.
"Did you say something?" Doctor Ashley raised her eyebrows, not quite sure what she heard.

"I understand your concern, Doctor Ashley; we'll do just that." With that, he nodded and got up from his seat, walked out of the office, and closed the door quietly behind him.