DH AN: I hope you are ready for another chapter of Healing Presence. Please enjoy it.


Chapter Nine

I remember these three events with almost absolute certainty: discovering my father's lower corridors, a meeting with a certain boy, and the day my alias was "revealed" to the leader who had invaded my last two dreams. But there are so many things that I don't remember that would help me so much in the situations I found myself in consistently.

The one that I would be expected to associate with the physician looking over my father was one of those missing memories. I had an idea of who might know. But I wasn't fully awake yet. I shook some life back into my body, and grabbed a nice navy shirt with sleeves that grew wider the closer they came to my hands, and a soft worn pair of toffee colored pants; and headed for the bathroom right across the hall for a nice shower to clear my head.

I winced as the water hit me with that cold first burst, but the cold blasts gave way to warm relaxation. I soon felt refreshed and soon dressed after drying myself off. I braided my hair, placing the tip of braided length over my left shoulder. Skipping across the cold tiles, I gratefully retrieved my shoes.

I walked to the kitchen, sighing as I did so. I grabbed a blue mug, filled it with water and set it on the hotplate that served as the method of brewing my tea. The aroma tickled the air. I was so unbelievably tense, and that aroma calmed my nerves beyond reason. I set my face into my hands to ponder several details.

"Miss Mhera?" I blinked as Odion came into the kitchen. I put a smile on my face for his benefit, even though I was extremely worried; obviously he read beyond my outer expression. "You seem worried." He came and sat across from me, looking at me with hazel eyes that could see through any ruse I'd put up.

I sighed. "Worry is truly an understatement, my friend." My voice grew louder as I rattled off reasons using my fingers to keep track of how many I listed. "My father's ill, I have several essays to write, and to top that, my mind finds pleasure in vexing itself beyond measure." I was shaking as I spoke. "I think 'stress' would be the correct descriptive word for what I'm experiencing."

He nodded understandingly. "You said that your mind is vexing itself." He looked into my eyes, gently urging me to answer his next inquiry. "What exactly is the cause for your vexation, Mhera?"

I hesitated, as he had just opened the door for my questions to be answered if I would just ask. "You'll think it silly." I stated attempting to sway away from the situation.

He laughed softly, which brought a slight smile to my face. He quit laughing and responded. "It cannot be any more ridiculous than watching you try to avoid answering me. That has never been your forte."

I laughed lightly which brought a small smile to his face. He had me figured out pretty well. I recovered the serious nature that this conversation needed. "I feel like I should remember something about the physician, but I have no memory of her." I rubbed my temples. "Do you have any idea why?"

"I don't know." Odion's face clearly showed that he wanted to aid me more. But it brightened slightly. "I can, however, tell you why I asked Dr. Gardner."

"Because she was the only one willing to make a house call?" I asked, laughing softly at my own joke.

"Well yes. But there was another reason." He raised an eyebrow as I almost jumped out of my seat. My body screamed, "Please tell."

"Easy Mhera. Keep your seat. It's not like you're hearing this for the first time. Surely your father has told you." The look on my face told him the opposite.

"Miss Mhera," He looked at me with an unreadable gaze. "How much has your father told you about your mother?"

I turned away from Odion, murmuring. "He's told me more than he should have to." I hesitated. "Why?"

"Because the only other time Dr. Gardner came was when your mother was pregnant with you."


DH: The mystery ensues. I hope you liked this chapter. Please Review.