Chapter 1
The room was small, its grey walls peeling to reveal a worn white underneath. Despite its dullness, the thick walls muffled the outside world. I lounged on a beautiful blue couch that added a splash of color to the otherwise dull space. Straight ahead, a coffee table sat cluttered with notepads and pens, remnants of previous sessions.
“Elmer, pay attention,” my therapist, Mr. Gable, said, his impatience evident.
I shifted my gaze to him. Mr. Gable was a middle-aged man, slightly chubby, with thinning hair and rectangular glasses perched on his nose. His expression was perpetually grumpy, not what I had expected from someone in his profession. I often wondered how he had ended up here, helping people like me when he seemed to struggle with his own demons.
“Yes, I’m listening,” I replied, forcing myself to focus.
My eyes wandered to Mr. Gable’s cat, a striking white creature with fluffy fur. The cat often ignored me, but today it locked its piercing gaze onto mine, as if it could see into my very soul. There was something majestic about it, a calmness that sharply contrasted with the tension in the room.
“Elmer,” Mr. Gable interrupted my thoughts again. “From what I gather, you might be experiencing hallucinations.”
“Hallucinations? No, Doctor, I assure you I’m not,” I shot back defensively.
“Remember the golden toad you claimed to see in your garden?” he prodded.
“Oh, that! I tried to get my camera, but by the time I returned, it was gone. What about it?” I asked, struggling to maintain my composure.
“Well, I researched it, and the species you described has been extinct for years,” he said, clearly exasperated.
“EXTINCT?! There’s no way I saw that!” I exclaimed. My mind raced, clinging to the certainty of what I had witnessed. This old man won’t believe a word I say.
This session left me drained. Therapy was supposed to alleviate my worries, not amplify them. As I left, I spotted “Little Tastes,” the café I loved. Timing couldn’t be better I was craving something sweet, a temporary escape from reality.
“Welcome!” chirped the girl at the counter, her bright smile almost infectious.
“Hey… Can I get the strawberry shortcake?” I muttered, trying to suppress my awkwardness.
“Sure! It’ll be ready in a minute. Please, take a seat,” she replied cheerfully.
I nestled into a corner booth, the window providing a view of the bustling street outside. “Why do I always feel so awkward?” I whispered to myself, fidgeting with my fingers.
Moments later, the cake arrived, a perfect slice adorned with strawberries. One bite melted in my mouth, soothing my frazzled nerves. Just then, I spotted Candor, my only friend in this chaotic world, walking into the café.
“Hey, Elmer!” he called, extending his fist in greeting.
“Hey, Candor,” I replied, bumping his fist.
Candor was tall and striking, with deep hazel eyes and dark hair that fell over his forehead. We had become fast friends, bonded by our shared introversion and an unspoken understanding of each other’s struggles.
“Shelly invited me to her party next Saturday,” I said, attempting to sound casual.
“Shelly? You’re actually going to her party?” he scoffed, sliding into the seat next to me.
“Yeah! I want to try socializing and maybe make some friends,” I countered, though the words felt foreign.
He rolled his eyes. “Socializing? Do you even know how to do that?”
I nudged him playfully. “Oh, shut up, Candor.” We both laughed, the sound easing my anxiety, though a nagging doubt lingered.
