18. Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Alex
“Any update from Ryo on Danyal?” asked Hoko.
Alex shook his head, and said he planned to contact Boston PD today to see if they had any leads. Hoko asked Alex to please keep him updated, and to feel free to contact him anytime, day or night. Alex thanked Hoko for his support.
“So, how are you holding up?” said Hoko.
“I’ll admit, I hit rock bottom the other night, but Galen helped me relax enough to get through it.” Hearing his words out loud, Alex worried they could be misinterpreted as Galen helping him relax in another way, and was embarrassed. “I mean, Galen helped talk me back from the edge.”
Hoko nodded and asked if Alex was doing his breathing exercises, to which he responded he did them several times a day, and that they were helping. Hoko said he was glad to hear it and recommended trying cinnamon tea for its relaxing properties. Hoko added he started every day with it.
Alex smiled and told Hoko he had the strangest thing happened last night. Most nights, he dreams about Danyal, but last night, he had a dream about his boarding school boyfriend, David. Alex had thought about him, of course, but never had any dreams about him. Dr. Sonja’s walk down memory lane must have opened some old wounds in his last session. Alex said they had a rough ending. When they were outed after being found kissing, David’s family pulled him out of the school, and Alex was forced into daily conversion therapy for months. Alex said it was a traumatic time. He often thought of David, but was scared to find him.
“What scares you?” said Hoko.
“His hyper-religious family pulled him out of school due to the scandal. I’m afraid…what if he hurt himself?”
Hoko replied he could understand Alex’s reservation. He added that Ditta said if you try to connect with a person who may have passed, you may be able to connect with the person’s essence. But if Alex was not ready to know, there’s no need to push. Hoko encouraged Alex to talk to him about his dream.
Alex sat with tears starting to form in his eyes. He said in the dream, David was still handsome, but that his face had filled out. He was married with two kids, a boy and a girl. David and his family were in California. He was happy. Alex said he woke up crying happy tears. Hoko smiled and said that he didn’t think it was merely a dream, before explaining that the mind and perception expand when asleep or unconscious. Alex said he didn’t understand. Hoko said he had access to Alex’s records and could tell him exactly what happened to David, if that was what he wanted. Alex hesitantly nodded yes.
Hoko opened Alex’s file and smiled, before saying David lived in CA, was married to his husband, had two kids, and was happy. Hoko said he was amazed Alex had reached David in CA on the other side of the country through quantum entanglement and emotion. At this, Alex burst into tears. Hoko moved to Alex’s side and put his hand on his shoulder.
Alex turned and hugged Hoko, saying he could only use his abilities when asleep or with Hoko without getting severe headaches or losing control. “You’re my Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
“I recall Obi-Wan said, ‘These are your first steps.’ We’ll get there, Alex, where you can use your abilities pain-free. In our two sessions, you’ve made remarkable progress. So, I promised to discuss Ditta’s potential abilities in each session. Dealer’s choice, you pick.”
Alex smiled and said super strength was rather passé as abilities go, so he’d go with something else. Hoko nodded, confirming Ditta had super strength and endurance.
“I guess one of the more fascinating abilities would be teleportation,” said Alex.
“Well, Dr. Lieth, jump right into the deep end of the ocean,” said Hoko.
“OK,” Alex said with a smile, “now I’m intrigued.”
Hoko said Ditta and all the gods of lore could teleport. He hypothesized it was like riding the Earth’s electromagnetic fields from one place to another. Hoko added it was more like “world walking.” Alex sat forward before saying that “world walking” sounded ominous. Hoko agreed and said Ditta shared it was more like stepping out of one dimension in time and space into another world, which allowed her to appear at any point she wanted on Earth.
“Did you ever see her do it?” said Alex.
Hoko said no, before adding Ditta told him she hadn’t “world walked” in years due to advances in modern transportation, not to mention the fear of being discovered. As she adapted to modern society, she used her abilities less and less. Hoko cautioned Alex that Ditta did warn that teleportation was the hardest of her abilities to grasp.
“Understood, no teleporting,” said Alex.
“Before you leave, can I ask a favor?” said Hoko.
“Anything. You’ve done so much for me and asked for nothing in return.”
“Would you be willing to discuss your difficulties with Dr. Sonja?”
“That’s a rather massive ask…but I trust you. After our last session, I don’t know if we can ever have a trusting relationship after she deceived me for the past two years, as well as her harsh assessment of my progress.”
“I understand, Alex. I can’t pretend to know her thoughts, but I’ve known her for over twenty years, and she’s shaken by how the session played out.”
“Did she say so?”
“Yes, she did. She’s regretful, personally and professionally. It’s difficult for me to see two people I care about needlessly suffering. Are you open to finding a way forward?”
“Only if she apologizes,” said Alex.
“It won’t be an issue, Alex. You can pick the time and place where you are comfortable and in control.”
“Would you be willing to sit with us as a referee?”
“Yes, it would be my pleasure,” said Hoko.
“I’m trying to be in a forgiving mood. Can you call her into your office now before I lose my courage?” said Alex.
“I can try, Alex.” Hoko picked up the phone and made a brief call. After about thirty seconds, he hung up the phone and looked up at Alex. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Didn’t let me pressure you in any way.”
Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “She’s at the door, Hoko; ask her to step inside.”
Hoko stood and walked to the door, opening it for Dr. Sonja. She entered the room and sat in the chair next to Hoko across from Alex.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Alex. I couldn’t blame you if you never wanted to be alone with me in a room again,” said Dr. Sonja.
“I’m only doing this as a favor to Hoko. So, if you’ve something to say, say it so I can move on with my day,” said Alex coldly.
Dr. Sonja said Alex didn’t have to say anything because she needed to apologize. She added she had been practicing psychotherapy for nearly forty years and had never encountered such regret as she had about the disintegration of their relationship. She agreed Alex had been deceived. She admitted she was at fault for breaking a cardinal rule and not meeting him in treatment where he needed help, which biased her thinking by comparing him to Ditta and prior clients.
“You are a unique person, Alex Lieth, who deserved to be treated with caring and compassion to help you navigate the minefield that your life has become. It’s my responsibility to fix the rupture in our alliance, if we are to have a healthy working relationship going forward.”
“Thank you for the apology, Dr. Sonja. I’ve made mistakes too, and apologize for accessing your digital records without permission. I know humility can be a bitter pill to swallow.”
“It’s a new start, Alex. Please call me Diana. I hope you allow me to fix any damage I may have caused. My sole clinical purpose is to help you adjust to your circumstances and to help you find Danyal––if you accept my apology and my help.”
“I accept your apology, Diana. I need to go, but I’ll consider scheduling a session later this week.” Alex stood to exit the room, “Good day to you both.”
With that, Alex walked out into the waiting room and sat down next to Galen.
“Ya look weird, mate. Cat that ate the canary,” said Galen.
“I think I accepted a truce with Dr. Sonja… Diana.”
Galen furrowed his brow. “Knew the forecast was for freezing weather, but guess hell froze over.”
Alex chuckled, “Hoko brokered the truce and she apologized.”
“Humility is a good look, mate. Wear it more.”
“Plus, I have a theory. I think Diana has a crush on Hoko.”
“Come again?”
“It’s just a hunch. She’s different around him, and we tend to covet what we see. Working closely with someone can lead to strong feelings.”
Galen rolled his eyes and resumed reading his magazine.
“Hilarious, Galen. Anything good in your magazine?”
“Nah, no rugby news.”
“You miss rugby. Why did you quit playing?”
“Many reasons, none worth discussing.”
“Message received; back off, Alex. I want to detour before leaving for Boston PD and the university. Can you have your friend Zoe look at Danyal’s phone?”
“Yep, will make it happen. When?”
“Excellent. Let’s do it now. I need the steps, and it’s not every day I get to meet one of your friends,” said Alex.