I trudged to the hospital, ignoring the curious glances from staff and passersby. Late for my appointment, I knocked on Miss Rita's door and entered. She looked up from a file, her expression worried.
"Avery! Thank goodness you're here," she said, relief washing over her face. "I've been trying to reach you."
I collapsed onto the sofa, clutching a cushion for support. Miss Rita handed me a glass of water and sat opposite me. "Avery, what's going on? Can we talk about it?"
As she spoke, she turned on a diffuser and brought out a small speaker. "Listen to my voice and follow," she instructed. "Describe what you see, hear, and feel."
I took a deep breath and began, my voice shaking. "The room... mild lavender scent. There's a static noise... my ears are ringing. I feel something soft... a cushion? The room is blurry... I'm crying."
Miss Rita nodded, her expression calm and reassuring. After I calmed down, I handed her the notebooks I'd been keeping for the past month. "I recorded everything," I said. "Every detail."
As she read, her expression grew increasingly serious. When she looked up, I felt a sense of trepidation. "What is this, Avery?" she asked, her voice measured.
I gestured for her to keep reading. The more she read, the more somber her expression became. Finally, she spoke, her words like a blow to my chest.
I didn't like the look in her eyes, and I certainly didn't like what she was saying. My breathing grew ragged, and my vision blurred. Miss Rita's voice was firm and commanding as she guided me through a breathing exercise.
When I finally came to, I was lying on the sofa, Miss Rita's gentle voice still echoing in my ears. I didn't remember how I got there or how I'd managed to leave the hospital. The ride home was a blur.
As I entered my apartment, I broke down again. The weight of Miss Rita's words was crushing me. How was I supposed to handle this? My family's reaction, my own observations, and now Miss Rita's confirmation... it was all too much.
"Noah, please... be real again," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.