2. The time he became Nick Cutter's assistant.
Stephen stood outside the office of Professor Nick Cutter's door. He stood there and stared. He couldn't do it. Not this. Not now. It just seemed all wrong. Nothing had seemed right for ages now, but this seemed too wrong. Even for him.
'I can't do this. I mean this is Professor Nick Cutter. He just lost his wife.' At the thought of the once love of his, Helen Cutter; Stephen could not bring himself to turn from the door.
'Not to mention I slept with her. How will I explain that if it ever comes up in conversation? 'Um... sorry professor, I just sort of slipped... and fell on her... repeatedly.' Yes, that would be brilliant. Just brilliant.' He scowls unintentionally lost in his own little world.
'His assistant? I would be with him all the time. I would work side-by-side with him day in and day out.' He steps back slightly from the door, but stops himself. He gives the door a sad look and thinks, 'Six months ago I thought that I was never going to meet this man, and now I've gone and applied to be his assistant?'
He steps back toward the door and then lifts his hands in frustration. 'This is daft! I've gone completely mental. Of course...' Stephen thinks as he gives the door a thoughtful look. 'others are starting to spread word that he's going insane, but he's not. He's just grieving. Much like I am...'
Stephen finally comes to a reasonable course of action and steps closer to the door. He lifts his hand and knocks. 'He just needs someone to make sure he lives to see another day, and another day, and another day...'
"Yes." Stephen hears as he pushes the door open slightly. He can hear a slight slur in the professor's voice, but thinks absolutely nothing of it.
"Professor..." Stephen asks as he pokes his head in the office. It was much, much more cluttered then that of his old professor's. But he didn't say anything about that either.
"I'm Stephen Hart... Your new assistant..."
Stephen only has one thought running through his mind as he opens the door and walks in:
' I shouldn't do this. I mustn't do this. I can't do this... but I will anyway.'
