The next day, Eli, once again, walked to therapy. Even with the energetic, lively atmosphere of Toronto, to him, everything was silent-still. Even with the screaming street-acts and coffee shop employees that are tortured in those humiliating costumes seemed not-as-loud as before.
He ignored anyone who tried to come up to him. It was like he was the husband, and his wife had just died. He had to get there first.
When Eli arrived, the therapist rushed out questions.
"So, how are you doing?" She smiled
"Fine."
"Were you thinking about anything else you wanted to tell me?"
"No."
"Well, what do you have on your shoulders?" she sighed.
"Nothing."
They sat there in silence as Eli refused to talk. Minutes flew by as Eli's tensed face stayed pursed. Right as she was about to ask another question, there was a knock on the door. Before the woman could get up, the door opened.
"Mom!" a young voice yelped.
Eli, in some way, recognized her voice. But, before he could fully make out who obtained the high-pitched voice-
"Imogen? What's wrong?" Mrs. Gadre' replied.
And at that moment, Eli's stomach churned. He immediately turned his head, so she couldn't see him.
"Oh, Mom, I am sorry, are you with a patient?" Imogen sighed.
"Yes, I am with Eli Goldsworthy."
She said his name.
"Eli?" Imogen asked.
"Um, yeah, he has been coming for the past few weeks on Mondays through Thursdays," Mrs. Gadre' replied.
Eli scoffed. He felt so much guilt that he was finally going to be, so to speak, forced into telling her that he is… crazy. Well, all he could do was pretend that she wasn't there at the moment. Cause, he really liked her. Until; 'Eli Goldsworthy? The boy who works here?'
He was caught.
Eli turned his body. He gave her a quick smirk, but all was hidden under his guilt. "Um, hi, Imogen."
"You said that you worked here!" was her immediate response.
"Wait? You know this boy?" Mrs. Gadre' interrupted.
"Imogen, well, I just maybe thought that you might think that I was-"
The door slammed shut.
Therapy went on for another hour. Questions were only about how his heart felt at the moment, and how he wishes things were different.
Yet, before therapy ended, Mrs. Gadre' wanted Eli to stay for a few extra minutes…
"Um, sorry, but isn't our time up?" Eli rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I just want to ask you one more thing," she smiled.
"Fine. What?" Eli sighed.
"How do you know my daughter," she asked, and, at that moment, her innocent smile became a deadly glare.
"Uh, I bumped into her yesterday… We, uh, talked for a little bit," he answered.
"Well, then why did she say that 'you lied'?" she glared.
"Cause, I just was caught in between my words," he replied.
"Alright, you may leave" she sighed.
Eli walked out the room, as he saw Imogen leaving the office.