AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story was originally meant to be a CROSS OVER with the movie The Sixth Sense, but I changed it to be a story similar to it (like Donnie being able to see dead people like Cole in the movie). There are even scenes in this story derived from the film but I do not own this idea. There are spoilers in this story so if you haven't seen the Sixth Sense, I highly recommend it! Thank you for keeping up with this story and for being patient.
soup4mepapi
"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear."
C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
Donnie's POV
Dr. Alvaro pushed my wheelchair into the office while Dr. Cullen held the door open, a wry smile on his lips as his eerie gold eyes watched me.
The office was too small for my liking. The walls were painted tan, the floor was wooden with a desk and two taupe leather chairs with wheels set on either side of the desk. There was a shelf behind the desk containing books and a photo of what I assumed was Dr. Alvaro's family.
"So how are you feeling today, Adonica?" Dr. Alvaro asked warmly, interrupting my observations as he set me near the window opposite of the side of the desk he was sitting in.
"I'm feeling fine today, thank you. How are you?" I asked quietly as I felt the little hairs on my arms perk up as a cold breeze blew past.
I froze.
"You're letting the cold get in!" Dr. Alvaro exclaimed when he noticed that the window was open.
"Oh I'll get that!" Dr. Cullen chuckled as he shut the window, bringing down the latch.
I relaxed, exhaling slowly.
"So to start off, tell us about yourself, Adonica." Dr. Alvaro said warmly as he leaned back comfortably in the taupe leather chair. Dr. Cullen, on the other hand, was leaning forward attentively with his elbows on the desk, his hands clasped before him.
The difference between these two doctors was so striking to me.
I nervously picked at the white bandage wrapped around my hand, "Well, I like to be called Donnie instead of Adoncia." I said but it sounded more like a question.
I swallowed thickly. 'Interviews' always made me nervous. I always felt that answering simple questions like what my favourite color was could jeopardize how doctors analyzed my mental health.
Dr. Cullen smiled a small and wry smile and said, "Alright then, Donnie, tell us what you like to do for fun."
"I like to-" I paused to clear my throat, "I like to dance?" "Oh really? What kind of dancing?" Dr. Alvaro asked.
"Belly dancing. My aunt Fatima was a talented dancer in Spain so she taught me when I was little." I mumbled.
There was a bit of an awkward pause before Dr. Alvaro piped up, "My son dances hip-hop!"
"Oh really? How old is he?" I asked politely. I was never really interested in hip hop dancing but I had seen a few dancers perform on the streets of New York. The fluidity of their movements was impressive and difficult for me to imitate.
"He's sixteen, a sophomore in high school! I don't know how he does it to look like he has no bones in his body." Dr. Alvaro shook his head fondly before smiling at me, encouraging me to continue.
"The fluidity necessary for hip-hop dancing is, in some few ways, similar to the fluidity necessary for belly dance techniques but, I'll admit, hip-hop is all about, well, 'hopping' while belly dancing is about neat technique and graceful movements." I commented happily, feeling a bit relaxed now that we were discussing a topic I knew I could get tired of.
"Your mother told us that you're using a studio to practice. Is there never an end to practicing dancing? I'm asking because I'm curious as to when my son will quit all that ridiculous dancing at home." Dr. Alvaro grumbled.
I laughed at that. "There's never a point in a dancer's life in which someone will hand them a trophy and say, 'you've done it, you are now successful at everything there is to know about dancing' because there is always room to improve. Not only that, but it's a lot of fun."
Dr. Cullen gave Dr. Alvaro a humorous glance. "Sounds like your torture will never end."
Dr. Alvaro scowled playfully but leaned forward, "I guess you're right." He sighed dramatically but turned to me once more. "Did you like growing up in Spain?"
I knew that sooner or later, Dr. Alvaro and Dr. Cullen would bring up the subject of my previous mental analysis but the way Dr. Alvaro's dark eyes would glow when asking such casual questions made me feel like I was simply getting to know someone rather than being interrogated.
"Yes; I like being bilingual and life over there was generally quiet and calm." I nodded.
Dr. Cullen spoke up, "Did you have many friends in Spain?"
I shrugged casually but I felt the knots in my stomach tighten. I knew they were trying to ease into the topic of my previous diagnosis.
"No, you're more of an introvert, aren't you?" Dr. Alvaro stated rather than asked. "My wife is the same." He sighed, "It was nearly impossible for me to date her; I had to do all the talking for a while." He rolled his dark eyes but smiled.
If I hadn't been so nervous, I wouldn't have noticed Dr. Cullen quickly scribble down something on his clipboard.
"Do you have friends in high school now?" Dr. Cullen asked.
I swallowed before answering, "A few." I nodded.
"By the way, do you like the LaPush High School? My son is attending Forks high school but I've heard LaPush High is actually smaller!" Dr. Alvaro exclaimed. "How a school could possibly get any smaller than Forks' is beyond me." He muttered the last part.
If it hadn't been for Dr. Alvaro's casual friendliness, I would've gone into panic attack. Anticipating more difficult questions was what kept me nervous but Dr. Alvaro was charming and funny.
"It's alright, I guess." I offered a small smile.
When I was little, doctors would furiously scribble things down more often on their clipboards if I didn't smile; smiling made them like me and be gentler with their questions.
But Dr. Cullen's thoughtful and attentive expression didn't falter.
"Which is your favourite class?" Dr. Alvaro asked.
"Music; Mr. Hunter is my favourite professor as well." I added.
Doctors didn't like when I answered in short sentences. It made them impatient and made them scribble things down on their clipboards.
"Do you play any instruments?" Dr. Cullen asked, leaning on one elbow, bringing his fist up to his chin, looking pensive.
I shook my head but Dr. Alvaro nodded for me to continue; I felt like I was taking a test and that Dr. Alvaro was helping me cheat.
I took in a breath. "I have a boyfriend and one friend, Seth and Eliza."
Dr. Alvaro turned to Dr. Cullen, "You know the Clearwaters don't you?" he exclaimed, nudging Dr. Cullen's arm in a friendly manner before turning to me, his brown eyes warm. "What's he like?"
I felt my cheeks heat up and I knew I was blushing. "He's nice. And, as you said, he does most of the talking." I chuckled a bit at the last part.
Seth was usually the playful one while I was too scared and quiet to do or say much. I never noticed what a prude I was compared to his playful and friendly personality.
I wondered if Dr. Cullen knew about what Seth was.
Dr. Alvaro laughed and Dr. Cullen's thoughtful and observant face broke into a fond smile.
"Seth is a good young man." Dr. Cullen told Dr. Alvaro. "Good, good! Be sure to go easy on him!" Dr. Alvaro nodded at me, "And what about Eliza? What is she like?"
"She's…" I took a moment to find the right word to describe her. "Loud." I said finally.
"How so?" Dr. Cullen prodded.
"She just…is." I blurted. I never noticed until know how indescribable Eliza was. "She's like a hummingbird, sort of. She's always so chirpy and… loud."
"Reminds me of Alice." Dr. Alvaro gave Dr. Cullen a pointed look which made Dr. Cullen smile fondly.
"Alice is my daughter. The way you described your friend sounds just like Alice." Dr. Cullen explained.
I was glad Dr. Alvaro would make Dr. Cullen smile; I felt that if it weren't for him, Dr. Cullen would've just gotten down to asking difficult questions that used to make my mother turn to me with tear-filled hopeful eyes, a trembling chin, and pouted lips.
Just then a nurse opened the office door, "Dr. Alvaro, Dr. Cullen, I apologize for interrupting your interview but there is someone out here that insists on seeing the two of you." The nurse murmured, giving them a pointed look.
Dr. Cullen and Dr. Alvaro exchanged a glance before Dr. Cullen turned to me and said, "We'll be right back, this will only take two minutes. Will you be alright?"
I nodded, feeling grateful that the nurse interrupted. I knew it was foolish to hope that the interruption would cause this meeting to be shortened or annulled but I felt like I could relax.
I exhaled loudly once they shut the door behind them, leaving me alone in the room. I leaned back in my wheelchair, closing my eyes and popping my neck before I heard the door open.
Feeling too lazy too tired, I expected Dr. Alvaro or Dr. Cullen to announce their presence and to have an excuse about forgetting something in the office but was greeted with a cold breeze instead.
I tensed up and turned slowly, feeling my eyes widen when I saw the young teen kneel before me, clasping my hand in his cold ones.
He was pale and thin; he looked yellow and very ill. There were dark and heavy circles around his bloodshot eyes; his dirty blond hair was matted against his cheeks and forehead as if he were sweating. He was breathing heavily. "Please, I want to live!"
I felt the macaroni I had consumed earlier that day begin to travel up my esophagus but the teen tugged at my hand aggressively now as he began to wail, big fat tears rolling down his yellowish cheeks.
His hands are so cold. I thought to myself as my teeth began to clatter and I began to tremble.
"I don't want to die!" He howled, tugging my arm as if I could get up and help him. His fingertips were purple and bloodstained, as if they had been constantly pricked.
I began to gag as my eyes filled up with tears; I could feel a panic attack coming up but I refused to break down in the doctor's office. If Dr. Alvaro and Dr. Cullen were to come in the middle of my panic attack, I would surely be sent to a psychiatric ward.
"I don't care who Santa Claus thinks he is! If he insists on flying over U.S. air space without sufficient clearance and a proper documented flight plan, he will be shot down!" Dr. Alvaro was saying when he and Dr. Cullen entered the office.
"Sorry to have made you wait, Donnie." Dr. Cullen apologized, patting my shoulder lightly with his cold hand, pausing on my shoulder when he noticed how much I was shaking.
"Donnie, why are you shaking?" Dr. Alvaro frowned, his eyes adopting that attentive and observant look Dr. Cullen had earlier.
"I-I'm cold."
