Beyond the Garden Wall by Child of the Faeries
Mimi ends up in a mental hospital after a tragic family accident, and she receives help from one of her old friends. But how far will their "friendship" go and what will be the consequences??
It was the shattering glass that awoke Mimi. Climbing out of bed, she groped for her slippers. Not finding them, she stumbled down the lushly carpeted hallway. "Daddy?" She hurried down the hall. "Mommy? Is everything okay?"
Entering her parent's room, Mimi stared into the darkest. "D-Daddy?" her voice whispered in the darkness, fear overcoming her. Approaching their bed, she stepped on broken glass. "W-what?"
A shot rang out, whizzing past her head. "Mimi, get out of here!" her mother screamed. Mimi ducked, and fled from the room. Another shot rang out, and Mimi heard her father's throaty yell. A few more shots rang out in the silence, and then the sound of someone climbing back out the window.
Then all was quiet. Mimi crept back into her parent's room, her mind consumed with protecting her family. "Mommy, Daddy, are you okay?" she cried out, running to their bed. She kissed the top of her father's head and pulled back, blood on her lips.
Horror washed over her as she noticed the amount of blood that was spread over their beautiful bedspread. "It's okay..... you're going to be okay....." Mimi cried softly, staring into her father's lifeless eyes. Beside him her mother lay as still as death.
She screamed, unable to contain her horror anymore. The bodies lay before her, reflecting her horror-stricken eyes. Shaking, Mimi collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"Here's the information on the newest patient, Doctor," a nurse said, handing Dr. Ishida a stack of papers.
"M. Izumi. Recently divorced. Psychotic breakdown, self mutilation, attempt at suicide, visions of a man, and wishes to talk to her monster friend." He looked up. "What happened to this girl?"
"She witnessed the murder of her parents. Evidently, she was very close to them," the nurse said, moving away. Dr. Ishida looked thoughtful.
"Where is she right now?" he asked, running a hand through his golden hair.
"I think she's out in the garden." Matt set down the papers and headed for the back doors.
"Hello, Ms. Izumi. I'm your psychiatrist, Dr. Ishida. Welcome to Wellington Medical Hospital." The girl, seated on a large rock, didn't move. "We will have a scheduled meeting twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays." He looked at her. "Well..... what are you doing out here? Why aren't you in your room?"
"They haven't locked me up yet," the girl whispered. "I'm just looking at the wall. It's not like I'm hurting anyone."
"Why are you looking at the wall?" Matt asked, his face perplexed. She sighed.
"Freedom lies on the other side of that wall."
Mimi closed her eyes, hoping he couldn't come to her tonight, like he did every other night. She hated the way he leered over her, his smile cold, and fear running through her veins like cold fire.
She floated for awhile in her sleep, trying to find a peaceful state of mind. Finally her mind quieted, and she tumbled into her bedroom, resting her cheek on the satiny pillows.
A crash of shattering glass. She bolted upright, but it was too late. He was already in the room.
"You're the one that got away," he breathed, running his cold finger down her cheek. She shivered, trying to pull away, but he pulled his knife out and laid the sharp side against her cheek. "Your foolish father and mother died.... I killed them. Just like I'm going to kill you." He pressed the knife harder against her skin, and a narrow band of blood flowed from the cut.
He laughed, chills running up her spine. "No.... go away," she whispered as he towered over her, commanding her. She couldn't move.
"I will kill you," the man whispered again, bending down and kissing her roughly. "But not tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps. We will see."
"Just leave me alone!" she cried out in agony. Turning, he left her room. She felt her cheek, trying to stop the blood from ruining her expensive blankets. Trying to climb out of bed, she fell to the floor, her arms and legs shaking.
"Miss....... miss, wake up," a rough voice said, and Mimi opened her eyes.
"Go away!" she screeched, jumping to her feet. The old nurse sighed.
"Lay back down right now," she commanded, pulling a syringe out of her back pocket. When Mimi had calmed enough, the nurse administered the sedative, and Mimi fell into a dark, dreamless sleep.
She opened the door to the doctor's office slowly, afraid. She didn't like it here, didn't like the doctors and the cruel nurses that locked her away for hours without anyone else to talk to.
"Hello Mimi," Dr. Ishida said pleasantly from his desk. "May I call you Mimi?" She nodded, and he gestured to a chair opposite of him. "Did you have a good night's sleep?" he asked pleasantly, and she glowered at him. Matt nervously ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry." They sat in silence for a moment. "Would you...like me to put on some music?" She didn't move, and he got up, flipping the switch on his CD player. "I used to be in a band... this is our CD," he said sheepishly. She smiled.
"I had a friend who was in a band," Mimi volunteered softly.
Matt smiled, and sat back down in his seat. "What was the name of his band?"
She scratched her head and thought for a moment. "You know..... I can't remember. It was all so long ago."
"What were you like as a child? Did you have many friends?" Matt asked, trying to get her to open up to him. Instead, she set her mouth firm. She stared at her bandaged arms.
"Mimi..... you need to talk to me," Matt said softly. "Remember that wall out there? I want to help you get beyond that wall, but I can't do it if you aren't willing to work with me."
"I don't trust you," Mimi whispered bitterly. And she didn't say another word for the rest of the session.
"The nurses on the fourth floor tell me you have been having bad dreams," Matt commented at their next meeting. "Would you like to talk about them?"
"No. I wouldn't," Mimi said unpleasantly. "Just leave me alone." Matt sighed.
"When I was a child, I used to have bad dreams. My parents got a divorce, and I had to move in with my dad. For years, I wasn't able to sleep, because these dreams haunted me. Eventually, I told my father about them and he helped me to get rid of them."
"What were the dreams?" Mimi asked, staring intently at Matt. He laughed.
"I thought the souls of my mother and little brother were coming to get me, because they thought I didn't love them anymore. I remember, every night, sitting in bed while the TV. blared in the next room, dreading to fall asleep, because they would come."
"What did you do?"
"My dad took me out to our balcony, and told me to look up at the stars. 'Whenever you look at the stars', he told me, 'remember that there is someone out there that loves you, and cares for you. This person will never let you down.' I remember his words to this day."
"And the dream went away?"
"In a few weeks. I began to move on with my life, and not focus it so much in the past. I also made several new friends that would help me through all of the tough times in my life." He leaned forward and caught Mimi's eye. "Friends that would never give up on me."
"I......I've been having bad dreams," she confessed, looking at the floor.
"What are they about?" Matt asked, leaning back.
"The killer..... the man who killed my parents....... he visits me and says he's going to kill me....... I get so scared I'm not able to move and I shake....."
"What does he do?" Matt reached across the desk and put his hand on Mimi's.
"He...... This is all so personal," she said softly, a tear running down her face.
"I only want to help. Try to think of me as a good friend."
"He teases and taunts...... cuts my face and lets it bleed..... and kisses me. And I'm paralyzed."
Dr. Ishida looked thoughtful. "Maybe it would be helpful to visualize someone coming to your aid. A.... boyfriend maybe?"
"I recently divorced from my husband. Another man hasn't entered my life."
"Girlfriend then?" She shook her head no.
"Could I.....use a boy I once knew?" she hesitantly asked. "As a child, he stood up for me and protected me when in danger. I haven't talked to him in years, but...."
"He would be fine. Now, describe him for me. What did he look like, what were his personality traits?"
"He had golden hair- so pure it would rival even the sun," she whispered, closing her eyes. "And clear blue eyes- when you looked into his eyes, you knew he was telling the truth. They were the gateway to his soul. He was possessed with this eternal flame, and I often longed to touch it, to understand him better, but I was too afraid. He was the lone wolf, you see, and his soul belonged to no one."
"Dr. Ishida, can you take a phone call from Dr. Kido?" a nurse asked, opening the door. The spell that had overtaken Mimi burst, like a soap bubble landing on a fence post.
"Sure." He turned to Mimi. "Next time you have this dream, remember this boy, and he'll help you out." He dismissed her and picked up the phone. "Joe! Long time since I last talked to you!"
Mimi's eyes widened. Joe Kido. She recognized that name. "Who is Joe Kido?" she asked, her eyes full of shock.
"Mimi, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Matt said, covering the mouth of his receiver. "Nurse, can you bring her back to her room?"
"Of course," the nurse said primly, taking hold of Mimi's arms and pulling her down the corridor.
"I want to talk about your childhood today, Mimi," Matt said gently. "Can you tell me some of your childhood memories?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, her face confused.
"On my report, it says that you long to talk to your childhood pet monster. Can you share with me who that is?"
"I can't tell you anything specific," Mimi whispered. "You would never believe me."
"Tell me as little or as much as you'd like," Matt said, an easy-going smile on his face.
"It was so long ago...... like a fairy tale or something out of a science fiction novel. There were 6....no, 7......... 8 of us, and each of us had a monster."
"Tell me about your pet monster."
"No."
Matt closed his eyes. "Okay. What was happening in your family at this time?"
"Daddy was moving up in the company, and Mom didn't like him working so much. They fought a lot.... and finally we moved to the United States."
"Why did you move to the United States?" Matt asked.
"It's a butterfly!" Mimi shrieked, jumping to her feet. Indeed, a gorgeous black and orange butterfly was perched on the outside of the window.
"Do you like butterflies?" Matt asked, a silly grin on his face.
"I wish I was a butterfly. Walls don't pen butterflies inside. They are allowed to go where they please. They are free."
The glass shattered, and Mimi bolted up in her bed, throwing velvet pillows to the floor. "It's only a dream, it's only a dream," she chanted, trying to ward off the feeling of helplessness that was already creeping into her heart.
A maniacal laugh reverberated off the walls, and Mimi jumped. "Hello, my dear," the man whispered, approaching her bed slowly. "It's been a few days.... I think I will kill you today."
"No....." Mimi cried, squirming under the blankets. "Please Matt...... save me. I can't do this on my own....."
The man leaned over her, and a scream echoed through the silent house as he pulled roughly on her hair. " I won't let you get away this time," the man said, his voice hard.
"Matt! I need you!" Mimi yelled at the top of her lungs, clawing desperately.
Suddenly the room was filled with white light, and another man appeared. His blue eyes glimmered as he floated on air, appearing almost as an angel.
The man let out a shout and dove out the window. Mimi gasped and climbed out of bed. She stood a few feet from Matt, shivering in her nightdress. "Thank you, Matt," she whispered, reaching for him. But he gave her a sad look and disappeared.
Opening her eyes, Mimi took a breath of relief. It had worked. Matt could save her.
She was one step closer to getting out of this dump.
"Dr. Ishida, it worked!" Mimi squealed, throwing her arms around the distinguished doctor. "I called him to my dream, and he saved me!"
Dr. Ishida smiled. "That's wonderful. I'm glad to see that we're making progress. But today I'd like to talk about your suicide attempt."
Mimi's face turned ashen as her eyes traveled down to her scarred wrists. "Please, I'd rather not."
"You need to talk about this, Mimi. Don't you want to become like that butterfly, free to do as you please?"
"I....guess I do," she said sullenly. "I didn't really want to kill myself."
"Then why did you cut your wrists?"
"My husband and I had just broken our marriage and I felt...... forlorn. Abused. Like no one cared about me."
"So you......?" Matt asked, his eyes concentrating on her.
"I thought everything would be better if I just ended my life. I had seen it a thousand times on television. You just cut your wrist and stick them under a running faucet to make the blood leave faster. It was so simple."
"So you cut your wrists.... and what happened?"
"I couldn't go through with it. I called my mom, and she got me to a hospital. They suggested I see a shrink then, but Daddy didn't think it was necessary."
"So you moved in with them, and everything was okay until their deaths, right?"
She hesitated. "No.... not exactly. Sometimes I still felt like suicide was the best option, but I had Mom and Dad to rely on. We always had been a tight-knit family, and we were able to pull through."
Matt sighed. "I'm very sorry for you. As a child, suicide was something I often battle against. I know I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't had some wonderful friends." He paused. "Are we friends, Mimi? Do you trust me?"
"Obviously I do, or else I wouldn't be telling you all of my darkest secrets," she said with a small smile. "You remind me of a friend I once had."
"I'm glad we get along. "Matt leaned back and accidentally tipped over a stack of papers that were placed at the corner of his desk. On the top of the pile was a large sketched picture of a wolf with odd feathers sticking out of it.
A memory fought to the surface in Mimi's brain. "Garurumon?" she whispered, picking up the piece of paper. "Is this Garurumon?"
Matt snatched the paper away, fear in his eyes. " I don't know what you are talking about," he retorted.
A dawning look covered Mimi's face. "Matt?" she whispered, searching his eyes.
"Dr. Ishida," Matt said, a bit unnerved as he settled back in his seat. "Oh look. Time's up."
Matt held his head in his hands. He could get fired for this. Doctors were not allowed to become emotionally involved with their patients. If Matt continued working with Mimi, he would undoubtedly become emotionally involved. He wouldn't be able to help her the way she needed.
He sighed, looking out the window. A stray butterfly flew past, and he knew he was too involved to quit now.
Mimi ends up in a mental hospital after a tragic family accident, and she receives help from one of her old friends. But how far will their "friendship" go and what will be the consequences??
It was the shattering glass that awoke Mimi. Climbing out of bed, she groped for her slippers. Not finding them, she stumbled down the lushly carpeted hallway. "Daddy?" She hurried down the hall. "Mommy? Is everything okay?"
Entering her parent's room, Mimi stared into the darkest. "D-Daddy?" her voice whispered in the darkness, fear overcoming her. Approaching their bed, she stepped on broken glass. "W-what?"
A shot rang out, whizzing past her head. "Mimi, get out of here!" her mother screamed. Mimi ducked, and fled from the room. Another shot rang out, and Mimi heard her father's throaty yell. A few more shots rang out in the silence, and then the sound of someone climbing back out the window.
Then all was quiet. Mimi crept back into her parent's room, her mind consumed with protecting her family. "Mommy, Daddy, are you okay?" she cried out, running to their bed. She kissed the top of her father's head and pulled back, blood on her lips.
Horror washed over her as she noticed the amount of blood that was spread over their beautiful bedspread. "It's okay..... you're going to be okay....." Mimi cried softly, staring into her father's lifeless eyes. Beside him her mother lay as still as death.
She screamed, unable to contain her horror anymore. The bodies lay before her, reflecting her horror-stricken eyes. Shaking, Mimi collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"Here's the information on the newest patient, Doctor," a nurse said, handing Dr. Ishida a stack of papers.
"M. Izumi. Recently divorced. Psychotic breakdown, self mutilation, attempt at suicide, visions of a man, and wishes to talk to her monster friend." He looked up. "What happened to this girl?"
"She witnessed the murder of her parents. Evidently, she was very close to them," the nurse said, moving away. Dr. Ishida looked thoughtful.
"Where is she right now?" he asked, running a hand through his golden hair.
"I think she's out in the garden." Matt set down the papers and headed for the back doors.
"Hello, Ms. Izumi. I'm your psychiatrist, Dr. Ishida. Welcome to Wellington Medical Hospital." The girl, seated on a large rock, didn't move. "We will have a scheduled meeting twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays." He looked at her. "Well..... what are you doing out here? Why aren't you in your room?"
"They haven't locked me up yet," the girl whispered. "I'm just looking at the wall. It's not like I'm hurting anyone."
"Why are you looking at the wall?" Matt asked, his face perplexed. She sighed.
"Freedom lies on the other side of that wall."
Mimi closed her eyes, hoping he couldn't come to her tonight, like he did every other night. She hated the way he leered over her, his smile cold, and fear running through her veins like cold fire.
She floated for awhile in her sleep, trying to find a peaceful state of mind. Finally her mind quieted, and she tumbled into her bedroom, resting her cheek on the satiny pillows.
A crash of shattering glass. She bolted upright, but it was too late. He was already in the room.
"You're the one that got away," he breathed, running his cold finger down her cheek. She shivered, trying to pull away, but he pulled his knife out and laid the sharp side against her cheek. "Your foolish father and mother died.... I killed them. Just like I'm going to kill you." He pressed the knife harder against her skin, and a narrow band of blood flowed from the cut.
He laughed, chills running up her spine. "No.... go away," she whispered as he towered over her, commanding her. She couldn't move.
"I will kill you," the man whispered again, bending down and kissing her roughly. "But not tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps. We will see."
"Just leave me alone!" she cried out in agony. Turning, he left her room. She felt her cheek, trying to stop the blood from ruining her expensive blankets. Trying to climb out of bed, she fell to the floor, her arms and legs shaking.
"Miss....... miss, wake up," a rough voice said, and Mimi opened her eyes.
"Go away!" she screeched, jumping to her feet. The old nurse sighed.
"Lay back down right now," she commanded, pulling a syringe out of her back pocket. When Mimi had calmed enough, the nurse administered the sedative, and Mimi fell into a dark, dreamless sleep.
She opened the door to the doctor's office slowly, afraid. She didn't like it here, didn't like the doctors and the cruel nurses that locked her away for hours without anyone else to talk to.
"Hello Mimi," Dr. Ishida said pleasantly from his desk. "May I call you Mimi?" She nodded, and he gestured to a chair opposite of him. "Did you have a good night's sleep?" he asked pleasantly, and she glowered at him. Matt nervously ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry." They sat in silence for a moment. "Would you...like me to put on some music?" She didn't move, and he got up, flipping the switch on his CD player. "I used to be in a band... this is our CD," he said sheepishly. She smiled.
"I had a friend who was in a band," Mimi volunteered softly.
Matt smiled, and sat back down in his seat. "What was the name of his band?"
She scratched her head and thought for a moment. "You know..... I can't remember. It was all so long ago."
"What were you like as a child? Did you have many friends?" Matt asked, trying to get her to open up to him. Instead, she set her mouth firm. She stared at her bandaged arms.
"Mimi..... you need to talk to me," Matt said softly. "Remember that wall out there? I want to help you get beyond that wall, but I can't do it if you aren't willing to work with me."
"I don't trust you," Mimi whispered bitterly. And she didn't say another word for the rest of the session.
"The nurses on the fourth floor tell me you have been having bad dreams," Matt commented at their next meeting. "Would you like to talk about them?"
"No. I wouldn't," Mimi said unpleasantly. "Just leave me alone." Matt sighed.
"When I was a child, I used to have bad dreams. My parents got a divorce, and I had to move in with my dad. For years, I wasn't able to sleep, because these dreams haunted me. Eventually, I told my father about them and he helped me to get rid of them."
"What were the dreams?" Mimi asked, staring intently at Matt. He laughed.
"I thought the souls of my mother and little brother were coming to get me, because they thought I didn't love them anymore. I remember, every night, sitting in bed while the TV. blared in the next room, dreading to fall asleep, because they would come."
"What did you do?"
"My dad took me out to our balcony, and told me to look up at the stars. 'Whenever you look at the stars', he told me, 'remember that there is someone out there that loves you, and cares for you. This person will never let you down.' I remember his words to this day."
"And the dream went away?"
"In a few weeks. I began to move on with my life, and not focus it so much in the past. I also made several new friends that would help me through all of the tough times in my life." He leaned forward and caught Mimi's eye. "Friends that would never give up on me."
"I......I've been having bad dreams," she confessed, looking at the floor.
"What are they about?" Matt asked, leaning back.
"The killer..... the man who killed my parents....... he visits me and says he's going to kill me....... I get so scared I'm not able to move and I shake....."
"What does he do?" Matt reached across the desk and put his hand on Mimi's.
"He...... This is all so personal," she said softly, a tear running down her face.
"I only want to help. Try to think of me as a good friend."
"He teases and taunts...... cuts my face and lets it bleed..... and kisses me. And I'm paralyzed."
Dr. Ishida looked thoughtful. "Maybe it would be helpful to visualize someone coming to your aid. A.... boyfriend maybe?"
"I recently divorced from my husband. Another man hasn't entered my life."
"Girlfriend then?" She shook her head no.
"Could I.....use a boy I once knew?" she hesitantly asked. "As a child, he stood up for me and protected me when in danger. I haven't talked to him in years, but...."
"He would be fine. Now, describe him for me. What did he look like, what were his personality traits?"
"He had golden hair- so pure it would rival even the sun," she whispered, closing her eyes. "And clear blue eyes- when you looked into his eyes, you knew he was telling the truth. They were the gateway to his soul. He was possessed with this eternal flame, and I often longed to touch it, to understand him better, but I was too afraid. He was the lone wolf, you see, and his soul belonged to no one."
"Dr. Ishida, can you take a phone call from Dr. Kido?" a nurse asked, opening the door. The spell that had overtaken Mimi burst, like a soap bubble landing on a fence post.
"Sure." He turned to Mimi. "Next time you have this dream, remember this boy, and he'll help you out." He dismissed her and picked up the phone. "Joe! Long time since I last talked to you!"
Mimi's eyes widened. Joe Kido. She recognized that name. "Who is Joe Kido?" she asked, her eyes full of shock.
"Mimi, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Matt said, covering the mouth of his receiver. "Nurse, can you bring her back to her room?"
"Of course," the nurse said primly, taking hold of Mimi's arms and pulling her down the corridor.
"I want to talk about your childhood today, Mimi," Matt said gently. "Can you tell me some of your childhood memories?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, her face confused.
"On my report, it says that you long to talk to your childhood pet monster. Can you share with me who that is?"
"I can't tell you anything specific," Mimi whispered. "You would never believe me."
"Tell me as little or as much as you'd like," Matt said, an easy-going smile on his face.
"It was so long ago...... like a fairy tale or something out of a science fiction novel. There were 6....no, 7......... 8 of us, and each of us had a monster."
"Tell me about your pet monster."
"No."
Matt closed his eyes. "Okay. What was happening in your family at this time?"
"Daddy was moving up in the company, and Mom didn't like him working so much. They fought a lot.... and finally we moved to the United States."
"Why did you move to the United States?" Matt asked.
"It's a butterfly!" Mimi shrieked, jumping to her feet. Indeed, a gorgeous black and orange butterfly was perched on the outside of the window.
"Do you like butterflies?" Matt asked, a silly grin on his face.
"I wish I was a butterfly. Walls don't pen butterflies inside. They are allowed to go where they please. They are free."
The glass shattered, and Mimi bolted up in her bed, throwing velvet pillows to the floor. "It's only a dream, it's only a dream," she chanted, trying to ward off the feeling of helplessness that was already creeping into her heart.
A maniacal laugh reverberated off the walls, and Mimi jumped. "Hello, my dear," the man whispered, approaching her bed slowly. "It's been a few days.... I think I will kill you today."
"No....." Mimi cried, squirming under the blankets. "Please Matt...... save me. I can't do this on my own....."
The man leaned over her, and a scream echoed through the silent house as he pulled roughly on her hair. " I won't let you get away this time," the man said, his voice hard.
"Matt! I need you!" Mimi yelled at the top of her lungs, clawing desperately.
Suddenly the room was filled with white light, and another man appeared. His blue eyes glimmered as he floated on air, appearing almost as an angel.
The man let out a shout and dove out the window. Mimi gasped and climbed out of bed. She stood a few feet from Matt, shivering in her nightdress. "Thank you, Matt," she whispered, reaching for him. But he gave her a sad look and disappeared.
Opening her eyes, Mimi took a breath of relief. It had worked. Matt could save her.
She was one step closer to getting out of this dump.
"Dr. Ishida, it worked!" Mimi squealed, throwing her arms around the distinguished doctor. "I called him to my dream, and he saved me!"
Dr. Ishida smiled. "That's wonderful. I'm glad to see that we're making progress. But today I'd like to talk about your suicide attempt."
Mimi's face turned ashen as her eyes traveled down to her scarred wrists. "Please, I'd rather not."
"You need to talk about this, Mimi. Don't you want to become like that butterfly, free to do as you please?"
"I....guess I do," she said sullenly. "I didn't really want to kill myself."
"Then why did you cut your wrists?"
"My husband and I had just broken our marriage and I felt...... forlorn. Abused. Like no one cared about me."
"So you......?" Matt asked, his eyes concentrating on her.
"I thought everything would be better if I just ended my life. I had seen it a thousand times on television. You just cut your wrist and stick them under a running faucet to make the blood leave faster. It was so simple."
"So you cut your wrists.... and what happened?"
"I couldn't go through with it. I called my mom, and she got me to a hospital. They suggested I see a shrink then, but Daddy didn't think it was necessary."
"So you moved in with them, and everything was okay until their deaths, right?"
She hesitated. "No.... not exactly. Sometimes I still felt like suicide was the best option, but I had Mom and Dad to rely on. We always had been a tight-knit family, and we were able to pull through."
Matt sighed. "I'm very sorry for you. As a child, suicide was something I often battle against. I know I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't had some wonderful friends." He paused. "Are we friends, Mimi? Do you trust me?"
"Obviously I do, or else I wouldn't be telling you all of my darkest secrets," she said with a small smile. "You remind me of a friend I once had."
"I'm glad we get along. "Matt leaned back and accidentally tipped over a stack of papers that were placed at the corner of his desk. On the top of the pile was a large sketched picture of a wolf with odd feathers sticking out of it.
A memory fought to the surface in Mimi's brain. "Garurumon?" she whispered, picking up the piece of paper. "Is this Garurumon?"
Matt snatched the paper away, fear in his eyes. " I don't know what you are talking about," he retorted.
A dawning look covered Mimi's face. "Matt?" she whispered, searching his eyes.
"Dr. Ishida," Matt said, a bit unnerved as he settled back in his seat. "Oh look. Time's up."
Matt held his head in his hands. He could get fired for this. Doctors were not allowed to become emotionally involved with their patients. If Matt continued working with Mimi, he would undoubtedly become emotionally involved. He wouldn't be able to help her the way she needed.
He sighed, looking out the window. A stray butterfly flew past, and he knew he was too involved to quit now.