In front of me stood a double door of a light blue color degraded by time and improper care. Dust and grime stains decorated the lower corners of the doors and the white base that covered the building's walls.

The rest of the houses and buildings around the clinic shared the same old and dusty characteristics... every place has its places far from civilization, and Royal Woods was no exception.

I took a step forward and headed inside the building, the hall only had a handful of plastic chairs lined up that pointed towards the center of the room, the marks on the wall telling me that there was once a television mounted there.

At the end of the room, in a small room with an arched opening, a young man was reading a book equal to if not larger than Lisa's encyclopedias. As I got closer I noticed that the boy was wearing a doctor's gown and that, no matter how much I waved my hands in front of him, getting their attention was impossible.

It really makes me want to play a prank on him… but no, Lincoln, this is not the time.

"Good morning," I said in a gentle tone.

The boy calmly and unhurriedly placed down the book and noticed me. "Good morning, little one, my name is Michael, you can call me Mike. You look pretty healthy, how can I help you? "

I drew the doctor's note from my pocket, which produced an instant smile from the boy.

"Wait, don't tell me, Dr. Clare, right?" I nodded at his question, and then he added, "That woman would be in so much trouble if it weren't that this place is always empty... but hey, I guess I should learn some humbleness from her."

I turned my head to the side in confusion, this boy seemed to be trying to tell me something or maybe...

"Oh sorry, I like to talk too much and often end up spelling more than necessary… it's a bad habit that I got after staying in this place for so long," he said before producing a paper from his desk and handing it to me, "Follow the hallway to the right of this room and look for room 3-B. "

"Thank you very much," I blurted out and continued on my way to the office.

The walls inside the building looked better than the ones outside, with a dark blue color that was easy to see and comfortable for the eyes. Lines of different colors guided the way to the emergency room, emergency room, bathrooms, and others that I did not understand since they were only acronyms.

Speaking of things that I did not understand, when I arrived at my destination I could not help but be surprised by the title framed on the door:

Emergencies: Dr. Clare.

Even though I came there without any idea of what to expect, picturing Miss Clare in an emergency room treating some serious accident injury was a surprise. Well, I wouldn't expect that from any therapist.

But, the reason for me to stod there wasn't the words on the wood or the beautiful way the carving was handled. No, the thing holding me there was a strange cold that shrieked through my spine, followed by a dreadful realization that I didn't know what to say if I were to step inside that room.

All of that wouldn't have mattered to me in the past, I wouldn't be absorbed in my thoughts looking for a reason not to step forward. What lay on the other side of the concrete wall should give me hope and calm, as it did all the other times, so...

Why…? I wondered

Why am I so afraid?

Like a scared rabbit, I left a white trail on my way back to the waiting room. I have never walked so fast in my life. Obviously, my feet left crumbs that anyone could notice.

"Everything okay, kid?" Michael asked from his post.

"U-uh ..." I was stuck in the present, unable to offer any thoughts or words.

"Okay, take your time. I'm here for you if you need me, whatever it may be… "said Mike before putting the book down completely. My mind was still blank but my desire to move and not look like a rooted vegetable in the ground was stronger.

It was clear that I had to order my thoughts, understand what was stopping me.

What am I afraid to say? Is the uncertainty of what will happen if I get to talk to Miss Clare?

Worse than those questions were the fact that like or not I still needed to talk to her.

Tell her what I saw in that reflection.

And admit that I let her down after she told me that I was not the problem...

Besides, I would have to tell her about my parent's trip, knowing full well that after spelling the beans she'll get me out of my house as soon as possible; Moving me away from my sisters, which was just what I wanted to avoid from the beginning...

"I'm not ready ..." I stated, as long as those words were rooted in my psyche.

"No one is," they replied. I turned my head, puzzled at such an answer. Mike was there, sitting a couple of chairs to my right. "Kid, it would be a lie to say that we are all prepared for whatever life throws at us. That does not mean that we can move on... "

I scratched my cheek instinctively, seeking to describe my anxiety with my actions. "I understand ... but, I-I just..."

"Facing your problems is complicated and certainly something to fear, which is why so few people seek help," Michael then got up and kneeled in front of me, "Does it bother you if stay here?"

"Ahm, g-go ahead ..."

"Okay… ugh, I'm not an expert, kid. So I can't treat your problems like the doctor would. But I can try to give you the courage to go and seek help. "

"It's just ..." I sighed. "I just can't, I'm afraid of what she might say to me this time."

"Why's that?"

"Well, she trusted me, and thought that I wouldn't fall into the problem… but it feels like I did, I'm a worse person than who I was on my first session."

Michael patted me lightly on the shoulders and for a brief moment, making me feel as if a weight had been lifted from them. It was such a strange feeling but at the same time, I knew it was a natural reaction.

"You suffered a relapse, that's acceptable, kid," he said before rubbing my hair, an ever-present smile on his face, "You just have to remind this absolute truth: the doctor will not seek to judge you, her only intention is to help you. It is our oath and if I am honest it feels so good to fulfill it that if it weren't that we need to eat we would work for free. "

"Well, Clare told me that she wouldn't charge me in here."

"To be honest, kid, I think the doctor's main source of food is the well-being she gets from helping her patients, is either that or she's an immortal monster. Don't know, I don't trust that anyone can survive after one of those weird energy drinks she takes." He said, laughing shortly after.

His energy and positivity were contagious, and I soon realized that I was infected too. "Thanks, Mike, I feel a little more relieved now."

"Just a little? Damn, I thought I could even charge you, haha!" then he patted me on the back again, "Tell me if I can do anything else for you."

"Well, any advice that helps me get my feet to the doctor's office would be fine."

Mike thought for a few seconds before his face was brighter than the light in the living room. He helped me up and asked me to close my eyes, as he was going to guide me.

"Okay, kid, I want you to blank your mind and think about nothing except the following: after you finish talking about everything, and after you finish listening to everything the doc has to say, your visit will be over. The decision of which path to choose will be yours alone; that is an unbreakable fact. What you are looking for here is only a guide, but the final decision will always be yours."

The cold that I felt before was clouded by the warmth of that friendly hand that was guiding me. His words resonated with me as well, moderating my fears to a single sentence.

"The fear I feel for what might happen is less dangerous than what will happen if I don't face them."

"That's the spirit! I see that you are ready to face that practice again."

"Thanks for your help Mike, this time I will make it through that door,"

"I'm sure you'll do, now remember what I told you and open your eyes when you're ready." It was the last thing he said before releasing me, "Good luck, kid."

...

I opened my eyes, and before me was the doctor, sitting on a brown leather sofa. She was wearing a green cloth dress that was visible under her pale lab coat.

If it was already difficult to react to the situation in which I was. The fact of seeing the doctor in such a loose dress made me ... Well, I'm a teenager coursing through puberty, don't judge me!

"Glad to see you, Lincoln."

"A-ahm, I ..."

"It seems that we will have a lot to talk about today. From what I heard, I guess that you're…" The doctor paused for a moment, her eyes warily inspecting my expression. "It seems that you aren't comfortable... you don't mind if I wear something more conservative, right?" I nodded furiously at the idea. "Then wait for a moment."

Clare got up and went to a small room attached to the office. While I waited for her I made my way to the couch, which only had two stalls, and albeit small it was really comfy. In a short time I got used to the idea that I was really there, and with it, little by little the fear I had disappeared.

It was strange. I was so scared just moments ago, and yet, there I was now, feeling extremely comfortable in that same room. I slowly inhaled the scent of the place, which was covered in sweet lavender; It blended well with the exotic and colorful flowers and plants that Miss Clare kept on her desk.

The posters on the walls were generic and because of the wrinkles they had, it was very likely that they had been there for a long time. Everything else seemed new.

"People always notice the posters first," the doctor mentioned as she arrived, now with white pants under her dress and a much thicker gown, seeing her was easy for me now.

"They are a bit old ..." I commented.

"I have made my contributions to the place, but there are certain things that I cannot change, and others that I have simply left out of nostalgia, like the posters. They take me back to my childhood memories."

Clare then took a notepad and pencil, and sat down next to me again, "sorry for the lack of space, you can rest your head on my lap if you prefer to."

I took the opportunity without giving it a second thought and leaned back on her thighs. "Well, I can see that you have more confidence in me, that's good," said the doctor before starting to write things down in her notebook.

"Well… being here eases me a lot. I feel like… like I'm in a space cut off from the rest of the world."

"This is a special place, after all, Lincoln. A place to heal and learn from yourself." Then she began to stroke my hair, and I can swear that if it weren't that I needed to talk, Morpheus' hands would have taken me at that very moment.

"Now tell me about your week."

"Well, let's start with the easy stuff. I got a truce with several of my sisters, and now I feel safer, especially around Lynn and Lucy ... Well, Lucy is a special case, I wanted her to come here, she seems to be the only one who understands how much help she needs. But.. she refused and reiterated several times that I should not trust her. "

"Interesting ... What about your other sisters?"

"I haven't talked with the older ones, except for Luan, she has given me my space but is still close to me. Uhm, what I mean is..."

"I suppose she's still very close but no longer invades your personal space or tries to..."

I nodded, "yeap, that. Oh, and now with the truce, the twins have calmed down in their fits of… curiosity. They only ask, or demand, for affection in a healthy way now. "

"I'm very happy to hear that, the little ones are very susceptible to getting hurt if the behavior of your other sisters continues to unfold as in the first weeks."

"I'll do everything in my power to protect them from getting hurt ... although that brings me to the difficult part of this session..." I swallowed, hoping to gulp my shame, but I just ended up clearing my throat. "I... failed you, doctor..."

"What do you mean, Lincoln?"

"Well, you told me that I was not the problem… that I was only looking for the solution, and…. in the end, I am also part of the problem."

I looked up so I could see the doctor in the eye as I made my confession, "Before the truce, I kissed Lynn… nothing forced me to do it. I didn't feel particularly dizzy nor did I lose consciousness during it. I liked it, to the point where it wasn't me who stopped us, but her."

Clare stared at me for a brief moment. Then, her lips curved into a smile, "Lincoln ... I think it's my fault for not being clear about all the problems we are trying to solve."

"Huh?"

"Let me write them down here while I explain, your task will be to study and self-reflect on them later, understand?" I nodded and then she gently closed my eyes with the palm of her hand. "Good, now focus on my words. The first problem is your younger sisters, who cannot and should not be close to explicit acts during this very early stage of their life. We must protect their minds at all cost from getting corrupted."

The doctor stroked my hair again as she continued speaking, "The second problem is your older sisters, especially Lori since she is the more mature. I want you to be aware of this, Lincoln, they are abusing you and taking advantage of your age and their position of power. My status as a therapist deprives me of the right to talk about it explicitly with the authorities without the permission of your parents ... but believe me, I will not hesitate to make an anonymous call if I see that your life gets endangered."

The doctor paused for a moment, took a breath, and then continued, "and finally, there's this whole incest thing. Which I think is what worries you the most," I nodded several times, "Lincoln, there are reasons why incest in different forms is allowed in different parts of the world."

"Wait, like, is it allowed?!"

"It is a taboo subject so it is still frowned upon, but go to the right place and you could marry one if not several of your sisters. The important thing, Lincoln, is to understand why it is allowed and when it is accepted. For that, you'll need to see things from my point of view."

"I'm sorry if this offends you…. But I can't help but feel like you're supporting my sisters."

She smiled at me, "I'm glad you're honest, Lincoln. However, I disagree. I'm not endorsing your sisters' actions. I just want to make sure you understand what is going on inside your head. I want you to have full knowledge of the subject so that you are aware of the point that separates what you want and what your adolescent body wants."

The doctor waited for me to approve her intentions and then continued, "As I was saying, there are reasons why this kind of love is acceptable. Understanding them will be easier if I explain to you when is not acceptable. It is not acceptable when the relationship is subject to the dominance of one party over the other. It is not acceptable when the reason for the relationship is purely based on control and abuse of power; when one of the two parties can only see the other as an object of desire. Aaand, it is not acceptable when at least one of the two parties cannot take the adult role."

She apologized for a moment as to turn the notebook page.

"Beyond age itself, this adult role implies the fact that the person can make their own decisions based on their experience, knowledge, and their own reasoning. If these rules are broken, the relationship becomes dependent. And at that moment only the one with the highest hierarchy will end up winning. Many toxic relationships, the ones where rape and abuse are common, were born from here. An incestuous relationship by itself won't achieve this type of outcome, but it is much easier for a toxic relationship to arise from incest, and that is why many scholars like me seek to avoid at all costs that they develop unless we find ourselves with a healthy relationship accepted by both parties. If I'm honest, Lincoln, I can only assume that you are already in a toxic relationship."

The lady then took a deep breath and continued jotting down in her notebook, letting the words settle in my head. Of course, my head is not made to refrain from just listening for long, for what I managed to understand had only left more doubts inside my head that needed to be answered.

"So ... How do I know if what I feel is correct?"

"With help, time, care, and a lot of self-reflect. Lincoln, I will need you to ask yourself every day what you feel: How do you see your sisters, how do you feel around them, whether or not the idea of their bodies causes uneasiness or disgust in you, and how do you feel about the idea of incest, the fetish itself.

She then opened my eyes with her hand.

"If possible, I need you to distance yourself from them during it, make sure your thoughts don't have a link with them so you can be as objective as possible."

Clare finished her note and handed me the torn sheets of her notebook, "Analyze everything I told you, that way I'll be able to guide you during our next session."

I took the notes and put them in my pocket, I still had one more thing to talk about and a lot of time in my hands; time that I would undoubtedly have to take advantage of.

"Thanks for your help miss Clare... Don't you mind if I stay a little longer?"

"Of course not, it's nice to have some company, this part of Royal Woods is a ghost town."

"Excellent. The truth is that I do not know what I will do when I return, my parents will go on a trip and leave my older sisters in charge."

The doctor immediately wrote her address and telephone number on one note and handed it to me.

"I have to prepare some things before I can receive people in my department, but in the meantime, if something happens, anything, let me know. If not, call me in two days, maybe by then I will have a temporary solution."

I was stunned by the words and reaction of the doctor, I could have sworn that her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets the moment she heard my words, "W-wow I didn't expect this ... thank you, Miss Clare."

Clare then picked me up and gave me a big hug. Her breasts and her soft scent briefly clouded my weak adolescent mind. "Lincoln, what I said that time is still true. You are not the problem, just a victim of the situation. A very brave and strong victim. I don't want you to get hurt, okay?" I managed, with an effort of both body and mind, to lift my gaze away from her breast and up to greet her compassionate eyes and smile.

And as I smiled back at her a thank you, Clare slowly stroked my head.

Wow... she truly cares about me.

"I'll call the moment I see myself in danger, and I'll do my best to follow your instructions…"

I frowned down as a thought broke part of the happiness inside me.

"And if my older sisters, especially Lori, can't be brought to their senses... I… I can't even imagine what it would be like to see one of my sisters in jail."

Wait, now to think of it, why did I say Lori?

Clare pulled away a bit so she could get a clear view of my face before answering, "You don't have to be a hero, Lincoln, although your efforts are valid. Just understand that if she doesn't want to change, it won't be your fault."

I shook my head at the reminder.

"I understand, I understand, she is your sister and you love her. But you must put your safety and your younger sisters first, it's your top priority."

The hug ended (unfortunately) shortly after, but I still didn't want to leave the place.

Who wouldn't want to stay with such a honeyed doctor anyway?

"Yeah, I get it... I'll make sure to put my priorities in order ..." I paused for a moment, I had no more things to talk about, but my desire to continue between those four walls remained, "Ahm ... doctor, there is something else I want to ask... "

She responded with a warm smile, "Lincoln, you can call me Clare. And yes, you can ask me for anything. "

"Aa-ahm, can I stay here a little longer? And so take the time to reflect on what you told me."

Clare shook off her robe and motioned for me to lay my head on her lap again, "Make yourself comfortable," then she took her phone out of her pocket, "I don't usually have patients anyway so you can stay until my shift is over."

Like a dog around his house, it didn't take long for me to get comfortable on the doctor's soft pillows, aware that deep within me an attraction for her was developing, but at the same time certain that such attraction was clouded by the peace and trust I had in her.

The minutes passed quickly as I enjoyed the serenity of that room and the peace from being away from the rest of the world. At some point I stopped reflecting on my past and how I feel about my sisters. Everything I managed to analyze was consumed when I fell into the realm of dreams.

By the time I woke up, the doctor had greeted me, ironically, with a "good night."

I tried to apologize for falling asleep but she avoided the apology, not considering the need for one. She made it clear that her turn would finish in less than an hour, so I decided to go first so she could have time to accommodate her stuff.

As I left I saw Mike waiting in the hallway with a book in hand; he greeted me quickly before returning his eyes to the book.

For my part, I took one last look at the door, but as I did so I found a strange singularity: The fear that I felt when I first saw that wooden frame had returned as strong as before. Only now there was no reason for it to exist.

"This is o-odd... W-why do I feel-"

"Uff, what a great topic!" Mike yelled just before slamming his book shut, snapping me out of a trance caused by the sudden fear engulfing me. "Hey, kid, I can take you home if you want, it's getting late after all."

"U-uh ..." I glanced at the door one last time, making sure the feeling I had was real (and yes, it was) before turning back to Mike. "Yeah, that would be great, by the way, my name is, Lincoln."

"Like the president? Great, by the way, what do you use to make your hair get that shade of white?" When I replied that it was my natural color Mike's jaw dropped, "heck, some people are so lucky... well enough chatter, I have an exam tomorrow and this topic looks pretty juicy."

After getting in the car, and seeing that Mike was unable to concentrate on talking and driving at the same time. My head decided to put two thoughts in front of me.

The first was the peculiarity with the doctor's door, and how come I was afraid of it.

The second, and more important...

What will happen to Lincoln Loud from now on?