SUDDEN VISIT

Laura is here to help me get dressed again. To my surprise, I am allowed to go out today. I haven’t met

Lucien at all since our argument the other day but he must be in a better mood now. Although, I was

only allowed to go out to see a psychiatrist about my nightmare as arranged by Lucien, it was better

than not being able to step one foot out of the family compound at all. Of course, Reiner will be

accompanying me.

Laura picked up a sweet-looking white cotton dress for me along with a wide brown leather belt. The

look felt quite nice and laid back. Perfect for how I feel today. I pray today would be a laid-back day just

like the feel of the outfit with no unfortunate surprises. I’m a little nervous to see the psychiatrist but

getting to the bottom of my dream might help stop it from appearing in my dreams again. Might as well

do my best and get it over and done with.

“Are you ready to go?” Reiner asked as he walked into my bedroom.

To my surprise, Reiner is not dressed in his standard butler suit today. Instead he is wearing a white T

shirt, with an army green colored jacket and jeans. This is my first time seeing him in casual clothing

and this chill-out vibe really does suit him as well. I guess because he’s so tall he looks great wearing

jeans.

“So, you decided to wear casual clothes today?” I asked him curiously.

“Well, a certain lady told me that my ‘full butler uniform is a little bit much’. She told me she prefers that

I adapt my outfit to match what she’ll be doing on that day. Ring a bell?” he replied before winking at

me.

“It suits you…the casual clothes,” I complimented him while smiling up at him.

“You look real pretty today too. Shall we head out?” he said bowing slightly and gestured to the open

door of my bedroom.

Reiner really knows how to make me feel like a princess. Admittingly, I’m more than a little pleased that

he remembered the request I made to him on the day we first met. I honestly did not think that he

would follow my bidding. Reiner can also be full of warm and fuzzy surprises. I couldn’t stop smiling as

I walked with him to the car.

…

Pleasantly, it was just Reiner and I today. Reiner drove and I sat in the passenger seat next to him. It

sort of feels like I’m on a proper date with Reiner. Yeah, I know, to him this is his job and he’s just going

to drive me to the hospital and then back. However, the casual outfit that he has on is making me feel

like this is a private getaway for us. Just like before, Reiner had a few things to say about me sitting

next to him in the front passenger seat instead of in the backseat. I managed to convince him with my

stubbornness for him to allow me to sit in front with him.

“Umm, R…sorry you have to accompany me to the hospital today. It will probably be pretty boring for

you,” I said in a small voice. We were finally out of the house but all we’re going to do is go to the

hospital to find out how insane I had become.

“Don’t worry about it, Natalia. Boring or not depends on how we make it out to be,” Reiner replied

optimistically.

We soon arrived at the hospital and Reiner waited with me outside the psychiatrist’s room. I’ve never

seen a psychiatrist before and apart from what I’ve seen in the movies, I didn’t know what quite to

expect. I felt quite nervous, what if it turns out that I’m going crazy?

“It’ll be ok,” Reiner whispered to me comfortingly as he took my hand in his for a little squeeze. His

hands are super warm and my hand feels tiny in his.

“Miss Natalia, the doctor will see you now.”

Just like in the movies, the room was white and quite bare. The psychiatrist is an old and very thin

women sitting at her desk with her hair tied back in a low ponytail.

“Welcome, Miss Natalia. My name is Doctor Greta. It is a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard about your

case a little from your father,” Doctor Greta said with a kind smile. At least she seems genuinely nice

and caring.

“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Natalia,” I introduced myself.

“What we will discuss here in this room will remain confidential, I can assure you,” Doctor said with a

polite smile.

“Please excuse me. Natalia, I’ll be waiting outside,” Reiner said to excuse himself.

“No! I mean, I’d prefer if you could stay,” I blurted out as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I want

Reiner to stay with me.

“As you wish,” Reiner replied with a small sigh after meeting my gaze. However, he did not sit down

beside me but stood at the corner of the small room instead.

“You have a wonderful and caring boyfriend,” Doctor Greta commented as she eyed Reiner.

“I’m not her boyfriend. I’m just her bodyguard, please don’t misunderstand,” Reiner quickly corrected

Doctor Greta.

I know we’re not dating but he didn’t have to correct her that quickly, right? This is a little frustrating…

“Oh…I do apologize. Then let us officially kick off the session. I’ve heard that you’ve been having a

similar nightmare repeatedly, is that correct?” She asked.

“Yes. I keep having the same nightmare. I was running, lost in a deep dark forest and it was raining. It’s

really scary for me because I do have a phobia of the forest. Each time I dream of it, the dream

becomes more detailed and more real, I guess?” I tried my best to explain my experience.

I told her everything about my dream. When I started having them. How often I had them. What I saw in This belongs to : ©.

the dream. How the dream evolved and which details were added. I told her everything.

“I see. You are also not sure whether this event actually took place in real life or not, am I correct?”

Doctor Greta asked further after I had finished my story.

“Yes. I am unsure. I don’t have memories of the event taking place and my father, Lucien, doesn’t

remember an event like that either,” I answered. If she’s confused, I don’t blame her. I’m actually very

confused about this whole ordeal myself.

“You can take this as my pure speculation but…it could be that the event did take place. However,

since it was such a traumatizing event for you, your mind has suppressed memories related to the

event. As a result, you don’t have memories of the event taking place but you developed a phobia or a

fear of forests instead. Perhaps something that happened to you recently triggered the memory.

Something someone said, a place you’ve been to…Again this is pure speculation on my part and

perhaps the event really didn’t take place after all,” Doctor Greta explained in a serious tone.

…something someone said…a place I’ve been to recently…

--To be continued…