51 Old wounds

The two walked towards the elevator and entered the brightly lit space that had a large mirror covering one of its walls. As Zara stepped in she saw a lady step in behind her. Her eyes were glossed over and pitch black with no irises or pupils. Zara stiffened a scream and her hand slid inside the open palm of Jake's and he looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Is everything okay?" Jake asked her and she peered at the woman nervously. She blinked and the woman's eyes were normal again. The woman stood near Zara, apparently busy shouting at someone for not emptying her bins that made a few of the others who had entered the lift, chuckle.

Zara kept looking at the woman who was dressed in a business suit, a plaid blue skirt and a white blouse, her earrings glittering in the lights. Something about the woman seemed off to her.

Zara wanted to talk to Jake about what she had seen but she wanted to be sure that no one was around them when she did. When the lift announced that they had reached the fourth floor, the woman too got out with Zara and Jake.

Jake motioned for her, "Shall we go?"

Zara couldn't think of anything and bent down pretending to tie her shoelaces. When the woman had gone ahead in the opposite direction, Zara sighed.

"Jake you wouldn't believe me if I told you this, but I think that woman was something different."

Jake pushed her in the direction of the office, "Ok, enough stalling. I know you are anxious to meet Mrs. Brooke but we've got this."

Zara waved her hands in the air, "No no, you are not understanding. That woman"-she said pointing to the black-eyed woman who had entered an office on the opposite side of the lobby, "That woman had all black eyes- no irises or pupils."

Jake looked from Zara to the woman and muttered, "Shit". He dragged her in a corner and lowered his voice, "Look Z, Mrs. Brooke had said that you had weird dreams in your childhood and that they may come back to you when you are anxious or stressed."

Zara fumbled a bit but she couldn't have been wrong about the eyes. "I am not anxious or stressed"

Jake put his hands on her shoulders and whispered, "Z, please try to get yourself together, I am here with you, don't worry."

Zara couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice, "Really? You of all people think I am hallucinating. You have known me for such a long time, you think I am not in the best of my mind"

Jake tried to keep his voice low, "Z, please. I...it's..its just that I have so many things on my mind right now. I am not able to think straight." There was nothing more that he could offer her at that point.

Zara drew back from his hold and Jake's hands went limp against her sides. His face was shrouded with concern and worry. "Look Z, I am sorry for being so jumpy. I don't want you to think that your brain is going nuts. I don't need to think I am not able to help you, not when grandpa is suffering already."

Jake sat down on the chairs placed outside the waiting room and Zara took a moment to collect herself. His elbows were resting on his knees and his hands were in his hair.

Zara tried reaching for him but held back. "Go inside and meet her. I will wait here for you." Zara knocked on the door nervously adjusting her glasses on her nose.

"Come in"

Zara opened the door of the office, a small space that looked warm and inviting. She peered inside and saw the walls adorned with happy and positive quotes about life and healing, bookshelves lined with several books neatly arranged in stacks and some flowers to add color.

Her therapist, Mrs.Brooke sat in a cozy chair against a giant desk that had all the usual office supplies arranged neatly on either corners.

The woman looked up through her glasses and smiled at Zara, "Oh hello dear, please take a seat."