Chapter 12

Shaun sat at a table in the hospital cafeteria eating blueberry pancakes. Claire walked over to him with a tray of waffles and sat across from him.

"Mind if I sit here?" Claire asked.

"I am not currently sitting there, so why would I mind?" Shaun asked.

"Okay," Claire said. "So how are you doing this morning?"

"They were out of chocolate chip pancakes, so I'm eating blueberry pancakes," Shaun said.

"Okay," Claire said. "I almost overslept this morning."

"Do you believe dead people can visit you?" Shaun asked.

"Why do you ask?" Claire asked.

"Last night, Steve visited me," Shaun said.

"It sounds like you just had a dream," Claire said.

"No," Shaun said. "I was not asleep. He was there. He patted my head and told me how proud he is of me."

"Maybe you were just imagining it," Claire said.

"You don't believe me," Shaun said with his voice breaking. "Just like Dr. Glassman."

"Shaun," Claire said. "Please don't get upset. I believe you."

"You're not just saying that?" Shaun asked.

"No," Claire said. "I believe you."

"I don't think Steve is going to visit me again," Shaun said. "I think last night was really goodbye. I have to deal with the fact that he's really gone."

"Even though Steve isn't here, he's always with you," Claire said. "He lives on in your heart."

"That is a figure of speech," Shaun said. "Because a person can't physically live in someone else's heart."

Claire held up one of her waffles.

"Do you want a waffle?" Claire asked. "They have chocolate chips."

"Okay," Shaun said taking the waffle. "Thank you Claire.

The next day, Dr. Glassman sat in his office talking to Shaun's new therapist Melissa.

"Okay," Dr. Glassman said. "He's on his way up."

"I look forward to meeting with him," Melissa said. "I hope I can be a big help to him."

"You will be," Dr. Glassman said standing up. "I know you will."

Shaun walked into the office holding his hands together.

"Morning Shaun," Dr. Glassman said walking towards Shaun.

Melissa stood up.

"This is Melissa Boren," Dr. Glassman said. "The therapist that we talked about. And you agreed to meet with."

Dr. Glassman walked over to Shaun and tried to put his arm around him, but Shaun pulled away.

"Right Shaun?" Dr. Glassman asked.

"Hi Shaun," Melissa said. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hi," Shaun said slowly and nervously as he held his hands together and twiddled his thumbs.

"Dr. Glassman thought it'd be a good idea for us to meet before our first in-home session," Melissa said. "Just to make sure you're comfortable."

"I am not comfortable," Shaun said.

"Shaun, the…" Dr. Glassman said before taking a deep breath. "It's going to be fine. You two are going to like each other. Dr. Boren has a PhD in Cognitive Psychology. She can really help you but you have to give her a chance.

Shaun looked and Dr. Glassman and took several deep breaths. Dr. Glassman looked at Shaun.

"Okay?" Dr. Glassman asked.

Shaun nodded.

"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay."

Shaun walked out the door.

"I'm proud of you Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "I'm already proud of you."

Shaun walked down, the hallway taking deep breaths, walked into the elevator as a nurse was getting out, and ruffled his hair as tears fell from his eyes while the elevator doors shut. Dr. Glassman inadvertently caused Shaun to have a meltdown in the elevator.

THE END

BE SURE TO WATCH THE EPISODE "SACRIFICE".