Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

wasa deep woody, earth-like aroma. I didn’t like it. In fact, I hatedit; it made me nauseated.

“Alexis!Alexis, hey are you alright?” Bryce was lightly shaking my shoulderwith his hand in an attempt to get my attention.

I looked athim, then to Gareth. My breathing spiked and I could feel my bodytemperature rising. I turned back to Bryce and shook my head athim.

The last thingI remember is Bryce leaning forward to put his drink down andsaying, “Shit! Not again.”

***

This time whenI came round, I noticed that Bryce had swivelled me to a lyingposition and propped my legs high on the edge of the sofa. Thesecond thing I noticed is that my blouse was drenched and smelledof gin, and the third thing I noticed was Gareth standing next toBryce—rather close—and that Bryce was on the phone.

“Yes, Janette,she’s coming round now, her eyes just opened.” He smiled warmly atme. “No, I’ll call Jessica. You stay where you are and sort outyour incident. Thanks for your help. I’m thinking I will have togive you a raise in salary very soon.” He chuckled back at herresponse and then hung up the phone, dialling Jessicainstantly.

“Hi, Jessica.Alexis has had another panic attack and again she passed out.” Hewalked over to the sofa and knelt down beside me. “No. No, she’sbeen fine other than that.” He picked up my hand and kissed the topof it quickly. “Yes, please. I’d appreciate it. Thanks, I’ll seeyou soon.”

I noticedGareth fidget from the corner of my eye.

“Jessica is onher way, Hunny. How do you feel now?”

“Okay, Iguess. I’m a bit soggy, but I’m okay.”

“I’ll get youanother top.” He went to get up.

I grabbed hisarm. “No, don’t leave me,” I begged, while glancing at Gareth.

“Okay, I won’tleav—”

Gareth buttedin. “I gotta go, got a lot of work to do. I’m glad you’re alright,Alexis.” He nodded at Bryce then hastily left the room.

***

I had movedout to the balcony to get some air when Jessica arrived. Shefollowed Bryce out and stood next to me at the balustrade. I hadrugged myself up in a thick coat and Jessica—thank goodness—haddone the same.

“So, whathappened?” she enquired.

“I’m not quitesure,” I answered dishonestly while glancing quickly towardBryce.

Jessicanoticed my subtle eye movement and proceeded to remedy thesituation.

“Bryce, Iwould like to speak to Alexis alone if you wouldn’t mind.”

He let out abreath in a stoic manner. “Sure. I need to go and check theprogress of the Metropol renovations anyway.” He kissed myforehead. “Call me when you’re done, okay?”

I nodded.

He turned andwalked inside.

“Thank fuck,”I blurted out while looking around my vicinity, desperate forsomething to poke into my cast. “Where are all the long pointythings? I swear he has removed everything and anything that couldbe used to scratch my leg, damn controlling arse that he is.”

I was justabout to hop over to the Yucca plant and tear of a leaf whenJessica smirked at me and handed me her pen.

“Oh, you aremy saviour.” I gripped the railing, balancing myself and shoved itdirectly into my cast. “I hate this thing. I hate it with apassion. I hate all orthopaedic surgeons and I want to wage a waragainst plaster and fibreglass.”

“That would bean interesting war,” she murmured. “People have fought and died formuch less.” She continued, “So, would you like to tell me whathappened now that Bryce has gone?”

I nodded andgrabbed hold of my crutches. “Let’s go inside first, I think it’sabout to rain.”

We both madeour way inside and sat opposite each other on the lounge.

“Would youlike a drink?” I offered.

“No thank you,dear.”

“Are youcomfortable?”

“Yes, I’m justfine.”

“Can I get youanything at all?” I offered again.

“Alexis? Areyou being overly polite or are you trying to delay the inevitable?”Grrr, you smart, smarty-pants doctor of smarts.

“Okay, Garethis what happened,” I admitted with defeat, while continuing toscratch my leg with the pen.

The mention ofBryce’s cousin, her patient, got her full attention.

She snappedher eyes to mine. “How so?” she asked probingly.

I shrugged myshoulders as I nonchalantly rattled off my reasons. “He came by tovisit. Scott and I have a history. I don’t really know how to actaround him. He makes me feel uneasy. And, his aftershave triggereda flashback.”

She raised hereyebrow then frowned at me. “Tell me all about it. I want to knowwhat happened from the moment he walked in to the moment you passedout.” She patted her pockets, looking for a pen. I reluctantlyoffered hers back.

“Never mind,I’ve got another one.” She reached into her briefcase and pulledout another pen. Brilliant, I probably would not haverelinquished this one anyway.

I repeatedeverything that had transpired like she asked me to, while she satthere and took her notes.

“Alexis, we’vebeen through the possibility of your flashbacks being a result ofyour inner guilt—”

I cut in. “ButI don’t feel guilty anymore. I’ve honestly accepted that the fallwas not my fault. So why would my mind persist on trying toconvince me of something I am already convinced of?”

“Well, that’sa good question. And my answer to that is that this recent attackmay just be a result of your anxious feelings toward Gareth. It maybe completely separate from your fall altogether.”

I shrugged myshoulders. Maybe she was right, although I wasn’t quite sure.

“I canprescribe a mild antidepressant drug for you, if you’d like. But,honestly, I don’t think you’ll need it. I think we should continueour talks, I also think you need to get back to your normaleveryday life. You’ve been working again, which is good. How aboutyour friends? Have you seen any of them?”

“No, not yet,”I answered, quickly.

“Why’sthat?”

“I’ve justwanted time with Bryce, alone. It’s too soon to see them.”

She nodded.“That’s okay, Alexis. You can see people when you are ready to seethem. I’m glad you’re consciously making that choice.” Her voicesounded soft and reassuring. “Think of it as a process, a routine,a cycle as such. As time moves on and you go back to doing thethings you have always done, you will find that you are moving onout of habit. Now, if that doesn’t happen for some reason, we willlook at other methods to help that eventuate.”

She put hernotepad down and picked up her phone. “Now, if Gareth triggersanother attack I want to know right