p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c432f81099d9096637a2aa633b3a1518"The following week went by in a blur, mainly a mix of alcohol and despising myself for what I've done. When we finally were able to take off the bandages, I was stunned by how different he was. He looked exactly like how he used to, if not better. I'm pretty sure that first day I drank myself to the verge of death, but I was somewhat relieved that I woke up the next morning./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b96991f2d36b00d9e78af9c76b4b9660""Good morning, Doctor." I hear from the kitchen. I sit up and look around the small apartment, trying to figure out where Jonathan even is./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e28561f5e9b7681856aa341b01625b3e""Guten Morgen (Good morning), Chonny..." I stop after a moment. I still don't know if he's picked up on any of the things I say in German, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has. I see him walk into the living room and he sits down across from me, setting down a plate of toast in front of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5154e910669b50bcd30a4b19997c0551""You should eat, Einstein." I hesitate at the sound of my own name. He never says my actual name, except for the time at his aunts' house. That was a complicated couple of days. I hated having to break him out of that prison for the Criminal Insane for a second time. I was tempted to just let him rot in that place for the rest of his life, but something in me wouldn't let me do that to him, no matter how evil of a man he is./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0f5381abc7977e51a11ec49a4d016777""Why are you looking at me like that?" He says, snapping me out of my thoughts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e568d0b75c431e29b90be696c7f571a8""Vat?" I blink, sitting there dumbly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f9efbe82c8bef282bc0a7bb53c00faba""You're staring at me, Doctor."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a09b56a7b598a6370dc3a223b0817aa8""Oh, right. Sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="48e4affce166dcf6554e8b8afdace4be"I sit up a little, and I grab the toast. After a moment, I start to eat, and I ignore the fact that I already have managed to get butter on my face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7102a57433e884b8a2ed5f17460d00b7""Herman, you're making a mess of yourself." I practically start choking on the toast, having been caught off guard by him saying my name, my first name even. He gets up nervously, and he stands next to me. "Do you need some water? You know, not alcohol?" I nod, wheezing slightly. He gets me a glass of water, and he hands it to me. "Here."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d76012fb1b99080686b8f52014d257c1""Danke (Thank you)." I stutter before drinking the water. I almost choke on the water as well. He pats me on the back./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b2ae762a7aebfdb28693764db3940b2a""You sure you're feeling okay? Aside from the hangover, of course." I nod a little. I feel my face is warm, I'm... blushing. Why am I blushing? "Herman, you're blushing. And it's not just because you're drunk, is it?" I hesitate before shaking my head a little. "Then what is it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="276d7cde4a15d577f6a7fbeb9fca8b2c"There's no way I can say it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="14c717fc566be04c9bd3a2b0f8e1cd43"He'd probably kill me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cf0864308fb30e487d130d0c12a5dca3""Doctor?" I jump when he speaks again. I must've zoned out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="766017a929d71a30fe0854188f0c0567""S-Sorry, I zoned out a little..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3096c56431df399ab79caf3b3af56032"He crouches in front of me, which scares me slightly. He still frightens me, even if he doesn't look like the monster I know he is. "Why are you blushing, Doctor?" I shake my head, getting up. I can't make myself say anything. He rises as well and he grabs my arm, stopping me from going to a different room. "Herman, tell me." I can tell that he's wondering what's going on with me, but I can't make myself speak./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8cd8a35cf137cf50126476530841a3d5""I-It's nothing, Jonathan." I see him hesitate. He knows I only call him Jonathan when there's something serious going on. He lets go of my arm, and I walk to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of whiskey./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="475f5cb7b91e21fa24b3dc3211071b04""Jesus Doctor, are you planning on drinking yourself to death?" He walks over and stops me before I can even put the bottle to my lips. I look at him. "How about you put the bottle down, and just talk to me." I narrow my eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3819fc09d60f823bdc32ae4043438c1c""Let go of my arm." is all I say. He sighs deeply and lets go of my arm once again. I take a swig out of the bottle, and I set it down, taking a deep breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0e662a1e09e86ec14645c945ff707ee1"Why am I nervous?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5fb540429d63ef1658ac9f8977883046"It's not like he's a em style="box-sizing: border-box;"murderer/em or anything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fbd4cb62db02d919a2c15602cffc72ea"No time like the present./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7bdcda9f679ddb690c890ea5c7e7d704"Especially if you might end up having no future./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6a94004d972f20251da8bb22aa4b3b53""Listen Einstein, I just-" I turn to him and silence him with a soft kiss. I move away after a little bit, and I move to sit down on the couch but he stops me, grabbing my arm for the third time. I look at him, starting to get frustrated, but he looks very calm about everything. "Had I known you felt like that, Doctor, I would've done something about that a lot sooner." He smiles at me, and I feel my face get even warmer./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5ac0c2e2ca6329f493861941e49a28d5"What have I gotten myself into now.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8d89fd7e2eeedb61e7f63f0999dc45b4"Well, no time like the present./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0319f7d1d74c5cb23624790dc68c68a8"Especially if your future has a em style="box-sizing: border-box;"serial killer that you assisted in busting out of a prison for the Criminal Insane/em in it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7932c0711862e11d71d42a60148aa47"I better be ready for some... interesting experiences from here on out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5e221eeda0bcf51a155ab3b7d4455c29"Jonathan gently pulls me towards him, and my heart is beginning to race. "Doctor, you look nervous." He says quietly. Nodding, I stand there silently, unable to actually say anything. "It's okay, Doctor. There's nothing for you to be nervous about." I nod again, wondering what he's planning./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a324bd2a55b2e28184ff97815e0acd1c"He stands closer to me, and I can feel my heart racing, and I can almost hear it pounding in my ears. We're inches - not even inches, more like an inch - apart, and he pulls me slightly closer, putting a hand on my waist./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cf10e11f818c9df59931ebb9853a7e04""Let's have a little em style="box-sizing: border-box;"fun/em, Doctor."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d2307e1fd1d4e2065ec9377131f15c13"I start thinking about all the things he might end up doing, but... I'm not as afraid as I usually would be. Hopefully, I'm not just being optimistic.../p