(This story contains mental health issues. Reader discresion is advised.)

   “Mr. Ross…Mr. Ross…Albert.”

   “Yes, sorry doctor, I got a little lost in my thoughts there.”

   “What happened afterwards?”

   “I waited for the cops to arrive so I could turn myself in. Got convicted of fifth degree murder and sentenced to go to court mandated anger management and therapy. The coroner determined that Jasmine’s death was from an unrelated stroke.”

   “Yet you still blame yourself for her death? Mrs. Laden was a very hard person to work with according to many who knew her. Her medical history is rife with not listening to healthcare professionals, chronic smoking, and suffering from heart attacks and the like. Jasmine likely would’ve died that night either way.”

   “That was no stroke I saw! I caused it somehow! I know it.”

   “You pleaded not guilty in court though. If you believed you were responsible, why not plead guilty?”

   “I never meant to hurt anyone. I just… I don’t know, maybe I did…”

   “Listen Albert, you’re blaming yourself because the idea of having no control over anything in life terrifies you. That need to control and find meaning behind a chaotic world, is what drove you to cornering Jasmine to get answers you sought. This magical thinking is your attempt to absolve yourself of what you knew was wrong, by saying killing her was the misstep, rather than seeking her out after work to begin with. Having no ill intent, and the fact you got off easy, doesn’t change that.”

   “But what about all the stuff she told me?”

   “Must’ve found out about your insecurities and foibles from you in passing somehow. It was certainly an attempt to protect herself, by telling you what she thought you wanted to hear so you’d leave her alone. They were just lies. You want to know how I know?”

   “How?”

   “You’re looking directly into my eyes now.”

   “I am?”

   “Yes, and you’ve been doing so since our first session. See, no curses or conspiracies, just magical thinking, that’s all. By the way, our current session is up.”

   “Oh, it is? Okay! Thanks for everything, doc. You don’t mind if I shake your hand?”

   “I don’t mind at all.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

   “Doctor?”

   “Is Mr. Ross gone, Mrs. Soliz?”

   “Yes, he left after scheduling his next appointment.”

   “Good! You have the hand sanitizer?”

   “I’ve got it.”

   “Great, thank you.”

   “Doctor…”

   “Hold on, let me take these earplugs out. These small ones are hard to see, but they’re such a pain in the ass to remove. Okay, you were saying?”

   “Mr. Ross told me that you made eye contact with him. How is that possible without dying?”

   “He tends to automatically stare at your nose without even noticing. The times he does look you directly in the yes, you’re safe for up to a minute if he isn’t under duress. Couldn’t do it soon after he lost his job due to the incident, but he’s mostly fine now. The county’s board of commerce wants everyone to hold off hiring him for a few months to accelerate economic growth. It’s likely too long of a waiting period for him, which might place us at risk. There’d be a lot less problems if people bothered to read the informational brochures when they first move here. No offense Mrs. Soliz.”

   “None taken. You’re very brave for doing this job. To place yourself at risk in each session, working to convince him that his paranoia and anger are playing tricks on him.”

   “Not all that difficult. The trial probably scared most of that curiosity out of him. My job is more to make sure he doesn’t seek out answers again. Just remember to keep his view of you at the level of an acquaintance, so he never feels like we could be friends. It’s part of the reason why I tell you to focus on keeping yourself busy and making nothing more than small talk whenever he’s around. A shame really. Mr. Ross seems like an okay guy when you get to know him and follow the rules of interaction. Only real problem is that he’s kinda gross.”