Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
brAUM
“ Y ou’re not Dr. Hubbert!” I leap up from the couch placed in the middle of the small yet cozy room.
The woman with dark brown skin, an hourglass figure, and a stride that speaks to her importance, sits somewhere in her mid-thirties.
Her hair is relaxed and loosely curled, her lips painted a neutral color, and she’s dressed in a sleek, yet modest, purple dress.
There’s a thick air of professionalism about her, but when her dark eyes bore into my face as she lowers herself into the rolling leather chair behind Dr. Hubbert’s desk, I catch a glint of exasperation before it’s swiftly snuffed out.
“I was told you were sharp, Mr. Milligan,” she says, her voice deep and smooth. “I’m glad to bear witness to your intelligence for myself.”
“Who the fuck are you? Where’s Dr?—”
“Dr. Hubbert is busy on Wednesdays. He asked me to oversee your emergency request to speak to a therapist,” she cuts off curtly before giving me a tight smile. “My name is Dr. Vivan Rose.”
Now is not the time for Dr. Hubbert to disappear on me. He understands I’m not like the other patients here. I’m not crazy. What I am is special. Untouchable. And if I need something Serenity Falls can’t provide to its patients, Dr. Hubbert can get it for me.
And right now, I need to contact my dad.
Dad is the only person who might be able to explain why I can’t hear The Universe. Dr. Hubbert has his direct line, something no one else outside the family has, and can bypass restrictions put in place for patients about contacting anyone on the outside.
I open my mouth to demand her to go find my doctor, but Dr. Rose leans back in the chair and raises a brow.
“We can talk or you can go, but please, Mr. Milligan,” she folds her hands on her lap, “I ask that you don’t waste my time. Dr. Hubbert isn’t here and won’t come rushing because you’ve decided to throw a fit.”
Her curt dismissiveness momentarily throws me for a loop. No one has ever spoken to me like this before. Usually they’re eager to talk to me or at least pacify me.
I shake my head, ignoring the slight and return to the issue at hand.
Go. Stay. Fuck. What should I do ? I pause, seeking the advice of The Universe—something I always do—but it doesn’t come.
I haven’t heard It for two days now. My connection isn’t there anymore.
The lack of Its presence has left a soft, persistent ringing in my ears.
The sound is rattling around in my skull, leaving me feeling shaky and disoriented.
I let out an uncharacteristic low cry of frustration before flopping back down onto the couch.
I don’t need therapy, I need Dr. Hubbert.
However , maybe talking about my issue out loud might help me figure out what to do while I wait to contact my dad.
I turn to find this new doctor eyeing me with interest. It takes everything in me not to flush under her inspection.
There’s no doubt she’s picked up on the fact I’ve been wearing these same clothes for several days in a row and the dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep.
It takes a lot of mental strength to ignore the sudden bout of self-consciousness creeping up my spine.
“ Fine, but keep up because I’m not going to hold your hand through this conversation,” I snap.
Dr. Rose nods. “I’ll try.”
Unable to keep still, I jump up, clasp my hands behind my back and start to pace.
“I have this connection to the living, dead, inanimate, and everything in between,” I start, speaking quickly, knowing I have to explain this to explain everything else. “It’s a gift that's been passed down to each of the males in the Milligan bloodline.”
“Yes, I read about this connection in your chart. This ability comes from the attachment you have to this abstract force you refer to as The Universe, correct?” Dr. Rose asks.
Good, she at least read the notes from Dr. Hubbert. I relax a little, relieved I don’t have to dive too deep into this part of things.
“Yeah,” I confirm, still pacing as my mind continues to turn over the chaos that has recently consumed me.
“I’ve had it all my life. It’s been as important to me as the beating of a heart.
I rely on it to make all of my decisions.
All of them, got it? What to wear, what to eat, who to talk to, who I can or can’t trust. All of it, Dr. Rose. ”
“Understood,” she nods. “And those in your family that have been touched by The Universe, were they guided in this same way?”
“Yes,” I mutter, distractedly.
Though they’re not the only ones guided by It. My family’s ability to commune with The Universe guides the choices made by others, which in turn can affect the entire nation. I keep that information to myself.
“And yet…” She pauses, with a frown. “According to the notes I read over before coming to see you, you’re the only Milligan to have been placed in a facility such as Serenity Falls. Why is that?”
I tense, my head whipping around to glare at her. “What the others in my family went through or currently endure is none of your concern. This isn’t about them . This session is about me, got it?”
My family’s history is complex and secretive for a reason. This nobody doesn’t have any right to dig into my personal life. Though… little does she know, she’s sitting on top of a massive secret. I push the thought away, knowing she’ll never catch on.
“Alright,” she nods. “Has the universe directed you to come seek help this afternoon?”
“No,” I snap but then hesitate. “Yes? Kind of?”
Dr. Rose tilts her head. “What’s going on, Mr. Milligan?”
“Call me Braum,” I order distractedly. “And what’s going on is I can no longer hear The Universe. It’s gone.” I tap the side of my head as I come to a stop in front the desk and stare down at her. “It’s gone . Empty in here. I’ve lost it.”
She studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “Has this ever happened before?”
“No,” I admit.
Dr. Rose nods thoughtfully. “This must be very disconcerting for you then. When did you realize you couldn’t hear the universe anymore?”
“A couple days ago, just before going to hang out with some people,” I tell her.
“And what were you doing just before you went to hang out with your friends?” Dr. Rose pushes.
For this answer, I have to be careful. I can’t tell her about Everly. Dr. Rose would be compelled to report her.
“I was…” I choose my words carefully. “Conversing with a new patient The Universe wanted me to meet.”
A brow pops up at this. “The Universe, or you, Braum?”
I open my mouth to assure her it’s the former, but I pause as the answer I’m about to speak feels disingenuous.
“Both,” I decide with less certainty than normal. If The Universe and I were still connected, I’d feel more confident. “The Universe guided me to her, and once we met, I knew she was important.”
“Fascinating. Have your interests and the interests of The Universe collided before?” she presses, genuine curiosity twisting her words.
My footsteps slow as I consider this. I’m a Milligan—I don’t want for much to begin with because I have everything. But when it comes to the guidance of The Universe, Its demands come before my own desires. Has there been a time when The Universe's demands and my own desires were one and the same?
“I-I don’t know,” I answer more to myself than to Dr. Rose.
She nods thoughtfully. “How very interesting. Let’s go back to something. Why do you think The Universe brought this patient into your life, Braum?”
I shrug, staring at the floor as my thoughts shift from panicky to introspective.
“Because she needs me? Because whatever makes her special affects me?” I scowl harder as I ponder each option.
“Are you asking me, or are you sharing with me what you think?” Dr. Rose asks. “Because if you’re asking me, I wouldn’t know the answer.”
Ignoring her for a moment, I consider the moment Everly and I meet. “She was so lost when The Universe pushed her into my path.”
“Lost? Lost how?”
Again, my shoulders rise and fall. “Literally lost for one. I offered to show her around the campus, and we got to talking. But there’s something about her that’s just… She seems lonely?”
There’s a short pause before Dr. Rose asks, “Do you have many friends, Braum?”
I open my mouth to assure her I do, but she raises a hand to stop me.
“I know about your clique on campus,” Dr. Rose elaborates. “I’ve read the notes and noticed it when I first arrived here. But are those friends or just people to keep you company while you receive your treatment here?”
“I have Rowan. He’s my friend.” My best friend. I’ve never had one before I arrived at Serenity Falls. Sure, he’s still stratospheres away from the social circles my family mingles with, but he’s close enough that he understands me to a point. Moreso than anyone else in my life.
“That’s it?” Dr. Rose pushes. “Just Rowan?”
I look up at her with a scowl. “I don’t need anyone else.”
“Maybe you do ,” she counters curiously. “The Universe pushed you toward a lost and lonely patient. Maybe it knew you guys would hit it off. When you got near her, did The Universe say anything to you?”
“It got loud and excited,” I answer at once.
Dr. Rose looks away from me to stare around the room. Suddenly, she grabs for the small Post-It pad and scribbles something down. When she’s done, she folds it and places it flat on the desk.
Looking up at me, she asks, “It is possible The Universe drove you to this woman because It knew how desperately you needed to connect to someone? Someone real who could see and understand you just as deeply as the universe does? What if this is The Universe temporarily leveling the playing field so you can connect with someone worthy of you? It left so two lonely souls could find peace in one another. Maybe It’ll come back when you need it again, but for now, you two need each other. ”
It’s uncomfortable to even consider the thought of having the playing field leveled. Lowering myself to another’s level seems… beneath me.
“ Or ,” she smiles, “you mentioned?—”
Dr. Rose keeps talking but suddenly it clicks.
Goddamn . The answer is so fucking obvious I’m momentarily stumped by my own stupidity. How could I not see it? Everly Woodrow fucking stole The Universe. Somehow she figured out how to take and use my gift, and she did it all by sucking it straight from my goddamn cock!
How fucking dare she?!
Without another word, I race for the door. Before I get there, however, Dr. Rose steps in my way, blocking it with wide eyes.
“Braum? Is everything okay?”
I bristle at her interference. “Yes, now move!”
“We still have a few minutes?—”
I scowl as I lean forward so that we’re face-to-face. “Get out of my way, Dr. Rose, or I’ll move you myself.”
Unlike anyone else who would jump out of my way to appease me, Dr. Rose simply sighs. She lifts her arm and hands me something. It’s the Post-It she’d written on and folded up.
“Fine, but take this with you,” she urges. “Read it when you’re alone.”
I snatch the piece of paper and shove it into my pocket.
“Fine, now move .”