Chapter 73 - Just a glass of water

As Shen left the room and Lina was left alone with Dr. Hayama, her heartbeat sped up considerably.

She was feeling confident enough to confront her problems just a moment ago, but now that her husband's protective arms were no longer around her, she felt anxiety creeping up.

Dr. Hayama's gaze was like an x-ray. He scanned her body language like he was inside her mind and it made her uncomfortable.

"Madam, you need to relax. You're fidgeting and your shoulders are hunched. Are you feeling a shortness of breath?"

His voice was soothing and stable, as if providing physical support.

"Uhh...yes, a little."

Dr. Hayama reached out and enveloped her fidgety hands in his big ones.

His hands were slightly rough and calloused as if from long days of labour. But they were steadfast and his grip was tight.

Lina wanted to pull her hands back. Was this part of her therapy?

His eyes were glued to her face, but she had trouble looking him in the eyes as he continued speaking to her.

"Madam Moshi...you will have to trust me. Take deep breaths, please."

As Lina forced herself to breathe deeply and slowly, following his instructions, her heartbeat returned to its normal pace.

"Are you feeling slightly better?"

"Yes, doctor."

After withdrawing his hands, Dr. Hayama scanned his little notebook.

"Now, let's start from the beginning."

Lina nodded.

"What is your name?"

"Lina Moshi."

"Your maiden name, Madam."

"Uh...Lina Mito."

He made a slight scribble in his notepad after her answer.

Lina shifted uneasily in her seat.

Noticing her movement, Dr. Hayama stopped writing and looked up.

"Do I make you feel judged, Madam?"

Lina: "..."

Dr. Hayama shot her an easy-going, charming smile.

He put his notepad away, decidedly to stop scribbling.

"Madam, how about I talk about myself a little, if it helps you ease the tension."

In saying so, he stood up and poured two glasses of water. He took a sip from one glass as he turned around and passed Lina the second glass.

"Here, have some water. It will help calm your anxiety."

He took a sip in front of her to set her mind at rest and partake in a simple and small activity together. He was building a bridge, showing her he meant no harm.

This girl really was like a wounded bunny, shy to the touch of a stranger.

Lina took the glass, but kept it in her hand and stared at it.

Dr. Hayama chuckled lightly. The sound of his laughter reverberated through the warm chamber. Mei would have been melting at her knees. But Lina was still wary.

"Let me tell you a story."

'He's trying to break the ice,' Lina thought to herself, so she stayed quiet and listened.

"There was once a young boy who was born to a happy, normal family. He grew up securely with two loving parents who provided for him and cared for him like he was the most precious thing in the world. Their world was perfect and nothing could go wrong."

Lina's mouth suddenly felt dry. She reflexively took a sip of water, still watching Dr. Hayama reciting the story in his deep, low, cello-like voice.

"This boy felt as any child would from a secure family...like nothing could destroy their little world or touch them because he was protected by his parents. Parents..."

As he repeated the word 'parents', Lina's head suddenly felt heavy.

His voice felt soothing, like a lullaby.

Her eyelids grew heavy.

"Then one day, this boy returned home from school to find his home empty. He called for his mother and he searched for his father everywhere, but he couldn't see them..."

Gradually, the room started to spin and Lina felt weak. She felt like she was floating outside her body and couldn't control her movements.

"As the boy grew more frantic, and began to cry, he realised that his parents were really not home anymore."

Lina's body dropped sideways on to the sofa, as if in a deep trance.

She saw the blurry image of Dr. Hayama getting up from his chair and kneeling down next to her. As he bent over her, to position her properly on the sofa, she smelt the faint smell of cigars mixed with his cologne.

It made her more dizzy than she already was.

Dr. Hayama continued talking as he helped her limp body into a comfortable position on the sofa.

"Everyday the boy waited at his doorstep for his parents to return, and everyday he'd fall asleep still waiting. A week later, the boy was at death's door, having starved himself waiting. Three men in suits came and took him away."

Lina's mind became extremely blurry at this point.

An image of a burning house entered her mind. Her heartbeat quickened as she saw a small girl crying in front of the burning, exploding building.

Lina wanted to run to this child and pull her away, out of harm's way but somehow she couldn't reach her no matter how hard she tried to approach.

The little girl was wailing, screaming for her mother, but nobody came to help her.

Lina's eyes teared up, and she began to panic for the child.

If she didn't move quickly, she would die and be crushed under the burning house.

The little girl had big doe-like brown eyes that were moist from the weeping. She reminded Lina of someone.

"MOVE! RUN! Please go, or you will get hurt!!!"

Lina began yelling to the girl.

But it seemed the girl couldn't hear her.

Suddenly her eyes flew open. She was lying on a sofa, her face covered in cold sweat.

She got up with a start and looked around.

Dr. Hayama was sitting on the chair in front of her.

His expression was solemn.

He got up and walked over to her with another glass of water.

"Madam, here, drink some water."

Lina pushed the glass away furiously.

"What did you do to me?!"

Dr. Hayama looked puzzled.

"I didn't do anything. Madam, I was slightly worried, but you seemed to have passed out from exhaustion."

Lina looked at him disbelievingly.

Exhaustion?!

She was sleeping and eating just fine!

"You're lying! You put something in the water!"

Dr. Hayama smiled amusedly.

"Madam, I drank the same water as you. Here is your glass. I'm sure you and your husband can get it tested if you wish."

Saying this, he handed her the glass.

"Mrs. Moshi, you've been out for less than five minutes. I couldn't have switched the glasses without anyone outside noticing."

Lina thought about what he said.

Was she being too distrustful? Maybe she had collapsed because of low blood pressure or something.

She would go straight to the hospital and get her blood tested. If this doctor drugged her, she would find out immediately.

But she didn't want to worry Shen with this right now.