E-0 Prologue Memory Lane

* Ding dong

- Please come in. Oh my goodness! It's you, Miss Scott!

- Yeah it's me. How are you doing, Doctor Norman?

- I am not a doctor, I am a 'Therapist' . Nevermind, life always goes on like nothing ever happened.

- Life.... surely goes on.

The chill autumn breeze made me shiver a little. I sat down on the sofa. There was a old classical music playing somewhere, must be Mr. Norman. Margreta was brewing her special tea. I took a quick look at her book shelves. Filled with psychology and stuff, nothing new. She was hell of a student. Heard that she was the topper of her University.

- Should I add a little lemon juice to your tea, Miss Scott?

- Uh...Yes please. And don't call me miss Scott, just Lucy is better.

- Hmm, I can consider. But in exchange you have to call me Greta.

Margreta handed me the tea cup. I took a sip.

- Isn't that a little bit unprofessional? Letting your client call you... informally?

- If calling you Lucy ain't informal, nor calling me Greta is. You're like my own daughter , don't hesitate to me.

I looked outside. It was a foggy weather, still I spotted some people. Some of them were children playing, some old folks walking down the alley, and some....Couples. They looked very young, hardly twenty. They might not be the most beautiful man or woman, but they were looking beautiful together.

- Ahhh.... youngsters these days. Can't even wait till they get a job. Must be first love. By the way, it's been so long since I've seen such pleasant autumn.

Sure it has been.

I looked at the bookshelf again. This time I noticed something different.

- Is that ' Just one heartbreak away' I see in your shelf? That's unexpected.

- Sure it is. Wasn't really meant to be in my dry knowledge shelf. A colleague suggested it for a better look on teenage problems, depression, anxiety etc. And guess what? I'm hooked! Too bad the writer used a pen name, 'Cici' is it? Or else I would personally interview her.

- There's more to your surprise, Greta. Believe it or not, I am that 'Cici'.

Greta burst into laughter.

- What a good one! You almost had me in the first half!

- I am not joking, Greta.

Greta became serious. Her grey eyes were straight staring at mine.

- I still have the softcopy of the book in my mobile. Wait a minute.... look, here it is.

She was still looking at me. Then suddenly, she chuckled.

- I don't need to look at that softcopy, sweety. All I need is to look at you and I will know if you are lying or not. And congratulations, 'Cici'. You have passed the test a long ago.

- .....A long ago?

- Yes dear. Remember about the ' realistic' dream you told me about? That day I went through the book again and I found the narrations awfully similar. So I guessed it.

- But what if I am just someone who also read it and came to you bluffing and for increasing my popularity?

- Then have to take my 3rd year psychology exam again! -Greta smiled, - But for now, my brain is telling me to trust you.

There was a moment of silence. I looked at the window. The alley was showered with dry leaves. I'm sure everyone here in this town felt a nip in the air like me.

It was Greta who broke the silence.

-So, Miss 'Cici' , ready for the interview?