Martin could hear someone breathing. It must be Arthur quietly watching him. They lied then. As much as he wanted to be alone he did want to see Arthur. He didn't want to be alone, so much as he didn't want to talk to Carolyn or Douglas. He spoke without turning around, "Are Doug and Carolyn still outside?"
"No they've left. We thought you were asleep Skip, did I wake you?"
"No Arthur", Martin turned over and sat up.
"Did you have a nice nap?"
He nodded. For a moment he just looked at Arthur, his smile still reached his golden brown eyes. He hadn't seen this for ages. It warmed him.
"Are you alright Skip? You're crying."
"Oh," He wiped his face quickly, "I'm fine." He paused. "I missed you Arthur. I don't know why I'm lucky enough to see you again." he admitted.
"I do. It's because I texted Douglas and he checked on you." Arthur explained as if it were as simple as getting milk.
"You sent Douglas to check on me?"
"Well, yeah. You stopped answering my texts and I got worried and I showed mum and she got worried. But I'm not worried now 'cause I know you're going to get better."
"I am." he said despairingly.
"You're worried Skip? Why?" Arthur wondered.
"I'm worried about what I'll say to the psychologist. I know I want to be alive. I found that out when I-" he didn't want to say it. Arthur understood; he moved on. "I want to be alive but I don't know how. I don't know what I'll do when I go home. I don't know if I should go back to flying. I don't know where to live because I can't move back to my attic. But I don't know where else I'd go. Carolyn's right I can't go to Mum or Catlin, but I don't want to stay with her. I feel like if I went back to flying now; if I went to Carolyn's it would be too much. The pace would set me back. But if I don't have a plan I'll end up where I was in a month." His voice broke and his heart began to pound.
"You'll be fine Martin." Arthur sweetly reassured him, "You don't need a plan yet. You just need someone to stay with. And I know you'll be able to fly again because you love it. Air Swiss will still be there when you're ready. Look Skip, even though mum's the boss, you're the pilot, you don't always have to listen to her, sometimes she's wrong and you have to do what you know is the right thing. You don't even have to know what it is yet, because you will figure it out eventually." he placed his hand on Martin's forearm. Someone had finally said exactly what Martin needed to hear. He actually felt at peace listening to Arthur. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around him. Arthur was surprised for a moment, but enthusiastically returned the hug.
"Knock knock." They broke the embrace to see a woman with short blond hair and a salmon blazer at the door. "Sorry to interrupt Mr. Crieff." she had a soft Spanish accent. "You've got a meeting with me today, and I thought I'd come down to say hello. You can call me Maria. Would you mind introducing me to your friend?" she said in the kind, yet condescending manner of psychologists.
"This is Arthur Shappey. He's part of the cabin crew."
"Well, I'm not really, I didn't pass the test in the smoke filled fuselage, but I still get to go on flights. I'm like the really helpful passenger." Arthur interjected.
"That's... lovely dear." At that moment Carolyn and Douglas returned. They saved Martin the introductions
"Douglas Richardson, his co-pilot."
"Carolyn Knapp Shappey, his boss."
"Nice to meet you both." she said as she shook hands. Douglas held a bag of clothes for Martin. "Picked these up while you took a nap."
"Thanks Doug." Martin looked around the room awkwardly. So many people, it felt good not to be alone, but intimidating to have a crowd in the room.
"Well Martin, you can come see me when you're ready, the nurse will show you to my office." Maria excused herself. Martin nodded and thanked her for the visit. "I'll be up in a few minutes."
Douglas and Arthur left to let him get dressed. Carolyn waited behind a bit.
"Martin, Earlier, I was rather forward with my suggestions. I'm sorry. I pushed you into it too quickly."
"It's alright, Carolyn. I understand. I am glad you offered." Martian accepted her apology wholeheartedly, being a rare occurrence. "Arthur told me you got worried when he showed you my texts."
"Of course I did. Any fool could see you weren't in your right mind." She answered with her usual attitude. He looked away from her. "I'll let you get dressed. The offer still stands if you choose it, Martin."
"Thanks Carolyn."
