Zac turned and cocked his head. Trying to listen for something. Anything really. It was quiet in the room. But too quiet for it to be a comfortable silence.
“Hello Zac.”
He shook his head, “Hey.”
“So what are you here for?”
Zac shrugged. No way in hell was he going to make this easy for her! “I don’t know, doesn’t it say on your file?” He asked.
“Yes, it does.” She answered gently. “But I wanted to know if you knew.”
Refusing to answer this time, Zac crossed his arms and turned his head the other way. Knowing that it would not seem as though he was looking at her.
“Find anything interesting out my window?” She questioned.
He refused to be baited and sulked in his chair. He wasn’t about to admit how her question was like a hard blow to the head for him. Just like the one on the stairs. He thought bitterly.
“Remembering something?”
Zac frowned angrily. “Who are you?”
“Your psychiatrist for the day.”
He groaned inwardly. Not what he wanted to hear. “What is your name?” He asked slowly. Making sure that she understood what he meant.
“Jane McPherson.” She answered simply, unfazed by his intention.
“Okay, Janey.” He said shortly. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t know why I’m here, but I don’t care. I just don’t want to be.”
Mrs. McPherson leaned forward in her chair and placed her hands on the edge of her desk. “Then why are you here, Zac?”
Zac shrugged. “Lab rat?” He asked.
“No.” She said smiling.
He didn’t miss hearing the smile in her voice. “Then I don’t know why.”
“If you’re not happy with being here, then maybe you should leave.” She told him simply.
Zac was quiet for a second. “You’re serious?”
“Yep.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”
He sunk in his chair; “There’s always a catch.” He muttered dryly.
“If you’re not happy here, you shouldn’t have to stay.” She told him, shrugging herself.
Zac smiled and nodded. “Okay.” With that, he stood up and started counting his steps towards the door.
Not even giving her a second to change her mind, he stepped out into the hallway where his parents were waiting.
“So what happened?” Mr. Hanson asked quickly.
Zac grinned. “I’m cured.”
Mrs. Hanson eyed him, “What do you mean?” She asked curiously.
He gave a half shrug, “There’s nothing wrong with me besides my eyesight.” He scratched the side of his head, “And that’s only because I don’t seem to have it.”
“What did she say, Zac?” His father asked wearily.
Zac gave another grin. “That if I wasn’t happy in there, that I shouldn’t stay.” He shrugged fully this time. “And I wasn’t. So here I am.”
“Zac.” Mrs. Hanson chided gently.
But Zac backed away. “It was her idea, I followed through with it.”
He waited for a response but got none. “I don’t need therapy. I understand that I am blind. I understand that I may never see again. I understand that it is hard for some to accept this, it’s hard for me to at times too. But I have my life back.” He said smiling softly at them.
“I can play the drums, I’ve performed, and I’ve met with the fans. No one suspects a thing, and nothing is going to go wrong.” He contnued on.
His parents gradually accepted his little speech, and started towards the elevators.
Summer stood up from her seat in the corner. Her mouth dangling open, and her eyes wide.
Quickly she ran for Mrs. McPherson’s room. “Mom!” She screamed wildly.
