"Okay, sir. I accept your offer," Matt said reluctantly, his voice low.
"Good," Andre replied without looking up. "You can leave now."
Matt nodded and turned toward the door. But halfway there, he paused. A thought struck him — something didn't add up.
He turned back slowly. "Um… sir?"
Andre didn't look up. "What is it? Have you already changed your mind in less than a minute?" His tone was edged with annoyance.
"No, sir, that's not it," Matt said quickly. "It's just that… you never asked about the patient. I thought you might want to know some details before taking over the case."
Andre exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Fine. Go on," he said, his voice flat and impatient.
Matt swallowed. "Well… the patient is a young boy. I believe he has autism."
Andre finally looked up, expression unreadable. "Okay…"
Matt continued, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. "The problem is… the boy attacked someone. It caused quite a stir at the hospital. His parents are worried, and—"
Andre cut him off. "So, as a psychologist, you can't handle an autistic child? Is that what you're saying?"
Matt froze, caught off guard by the sudden coldness in Andre's tone. "N-no, sir. That's not what I meant. It's just… his behavior is unpredictable, and I thought maybe—"
Andre leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Maybe I'd do it better?"
"I just thought you could help," Matt said quietly.
Andre's eyes softened for a brief moment — just a flicker — before he looked away. "We'll see," he said simply, returning to his files.
Matt stood there for a moment, unsure whether to speak again or leave. Finally, he turned and walked out, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing softly through the room.
Andre stared at the file in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere — on the words 'autistic child' and the faint echo of a girl's voice from twenty years ago, crying for help.