Several thoughts ran through my head. I wondered if Dave would really come. I knew it was either I or Dave that could follow Hart. He did not used to travel with just anyone. It was either his secretary or his best friend. I was not surprised by the whole matter. He had been betrayed by even his family, he wouldn't have wanted to trust anyone. One of the things I did as his secretary was to make him believe in me. Due to that, everything always went smoothly between us.
Then, I got a call. It was prosecutor Augustus. It had been a long time since I had seen him. I was quite surprised to have received his call.
"Are you busy right away?" He asked. I did not understand what he meant by that. But I had to say no.
"Where are you?" Sounding displeased, he asked.
"At work. Is there any problem sir?" I asked politely hoping that he would tell me what happened on the phone.
"I have depression. " He replied. "How does this concern me? " I thought.
"Oh! Sorry. " I didn't know what to say than that.
"You are a counselor. You should be able to save me. I have a trial coming next week, it has really affected my work. " He said. I did not understand how he got to know that I studied counseling. But I guessed he didn't know that I was not a counselor but I studied it.
"What made you think you are depressed? Did the doctor diagnose you of it?" I asked.
"I feel sad, hopeless and emptiness. I also have insomnia. A friend of mine said that was the symptoms of depression. " He answered.
"How is depression different from feeling sad? Does that mean you are depressed if you are sad?" I asked him that question to see his idea on it.
"Being sad is normal for everyone. It only lasts for a short period of time, but being depressed lasts for a very long time. As for me, everyday. " He answered. That was when I discovered the reason why he had to be a prosecutor. A person that is not smart cannot be a prosecutor.
"That's good. But, what are you depressed about? You should have something you're depressed about, don't you think so?" I asked.
"Lately, my mother died. I guess it's worth being depressed. I'm really hopeless. " He said.
"Okay. I understand what you are saying. But, you know I'm not in the field, even though I studied it in school, as a result, I would have to tell you the little I know about depression. I hope you would understand. " I replied in a calm manner. The fact that he called me for advice still amazed me till date. Well, I would not have declined his request even though I wanted to. I had no other choice than to tell him some things I knew.
"Thank you secretary Mira. " He answered still on the phone call. Only God knew why he thought of me and decided to ask advice from me.
"Okay. In order for you to overcome depression, you have to do things that relax and energize you. Things like exercise, healthy food, water, not thinking, talk to people on your problems and many more. By the time you do all those, you will see changes. Do not think about anything. " I advised. I sounded more like a counselor. For the first time in my good life, I gave advice to someone.
"After all those, will I be okay?" He asked.
"We will have to see. But, if it turns out that you experience no changes, you have to consult your doctor or a real counselor. " I replied bluntly.
"Thank you ma'am, I really appreciate it. " He replied as I hung up. At closely two thirty on, Dave had not arrived. Then, I knew something was wrong. It was either Dave was not coming or something was stopping him from coming. I went to meet Hart at this stage.
"Is Mr Dave not coming? Did something happen to him?" I asked looking worried.
"He had to get to somewhere, so, he cannot make it here. The directors are busy too. My driver has no experience and I cannot go alone. " He said. It clearly showed that he was going to beg me to follow him.
"Oh! That is bad. What are we going to do now?" I deliberately asked.
"Secretary Mesa, can you by any chance follow me to Afghanistan. I know that you are acrophobic, nevertheless, I will be with you. You need not to worry. " He finally said. This time, I believed I had no other choice than to accept the request.
"I will follow you on one condition. " I replied.
"What is that?" He asked.
"When we are back, I will take three weeks leave from work without doing anything. " I said. I knew that I had been working nonstop and I believed that someone like me needed rest.
"That's quite hard, but I will make it happen. If that's what you want, so be it. " He said as he smiled.
To travel was not my problem, but the fact that I would have to stay in an airplane for long hours. Even when I was a kid, I was given scholarship to Albania but I turned it down because of my phobia. If I had gone to Albania that time, I believe I would have became a counselor not a secretary. But it was okay, because of it, I became something that fitted me so well — a secretary. Having a lot of secrets, life of a secretary was something I wanted to hold unto without having it released. I loved myself being someone I could not believe I could be. Due to that, I began to fight all obstacles. Since I could be a secretary to a cold hearted CEO, there should be no thing I should be afraid of. No single thing. I decided to fear nothing!