Together
Again
by Katie
PART 16
Madison awoke the next morning, to the blaring sounds of her alarm clock. As she groggily
turned over, she lazily slapped the SNOOZE button because the thought of waking up at 7:30
on a Saturday morning didn't help to make her any happier and the noise of some random
radio guy talking about how some rapper got caught with drugs didn't help either.
She finally woke up roughly ten minutes later when her head felt like the world was
shaking her…or just the feeling of her mom trying to get her up.
"Honey, you have to get up. I'm about to go to work and you have to be downtown in
less than an hour. Remember, you have to go see Dr. Dumont today."
The sounds of what seemed like "No, I don't want to get up. Just five more
minutes," echoed from underneath the sheets that Madison had pulled over her head to
avoid the bright light.
"Now come on, it won't be that bad, I promise."
As Madison slowly began to wake up, all she could think was, "yeah right. It won't be
as bad? Give me a break."
After pulling the covers off of her head, she sat up and asked politely, "So what'd
you do with Katie all day yesterday?" She wasn't trying to be nosy, or at least not
too nosy. Plus it was a completely reasonable question.
"Now Maddy, where's the sudden interest in Katie and I coming from?" She
paused. "We spent the day helping Riley with her science fair project thank you very
much. I would love to stay here and discuss why you're so against me being with Katie, but
as I said before, I have to go to work and you have to get up!" Jessie quickly leaned
over, gave Maddy a hug, and then proceeded to leave the room when Madison stopped her.
"Hey Mom," she began.
"Yeah sweetie?" Jessie had stopped midway up the stairs and turned around
towards her daughter.
"I like Katie, I really do. I just don't want her to hurt you like she did before,
that's all." Maddy sheepishly stared down at her sheets for while before getting up
and heading towards the shower. Leave it to Jessie and Madison to leave such a
powerful conversation wide open.
After Madison got out of the shower, she just threw together something to wear. She ended
up with a pair of faded jeans, old vans, and a black tee with The Smiths on the front.
Maddy threw her hair up in a loose ponytail, grabbed her varsity jacket, a blueberry
muffin and an orange juice, and made her way out of the house…
Day with the therapist; that could change everything…(Madison's POV)
After I parked "Jenny" (my black BMW bug) in the very cement filled parking
garage I head out towards the street. Within a few minutes I came upon an extremely large
office building with the words "Hanson & Associates" in big bold black
lettering. I glance down at my hand and the same words repeat. This must be the place
then, I think to myself and slowly begin to go inside. Feeling incredibly energetic, I opt
to walk the ten flights of stairs instead of waiting in a stuff elevator; plus I could use
the exercise. With muffin and juice in hand, with my backpack on strapped over my left
shoulder, I start the climb. Oh yeah, I also have my headphones on, listening to Maroon 5.
Wow, this office must have cost a fortune. "Futuristic" doesn't even begin to
describe this office. It's very sleek and stylish; you almost wouldn't believe that it was
a place where "crazy" people would come to "sort out there problems."
I go up to the receptionist's desk and sign myself in. I neatly scribble "Madison
Walker 8:30" on the first available line and sit down.
There must be a lot of people here today because it's already 9:47 and I have yet to be
called in. Damn, I think my batteries are dying. Oh well, so much for not being completely
bored out of my mind. I scrounge through my bag to only find my wallet, my cell phone, a
couple of pens that are running out of ink, my now dead c.d. player with headphones, my
planner, and of course, Carrie's journal. Now how'd that get in there?! I seriously
thought I left it on my dresser. Ever since I received the journal, I have become almost
obsessed with it. It's really weird to think about someone obsessing over a book, but I
just can't stop reading it. Not because I actually want to, but because it's almost like
something's forcing me to. Have you ever done something that you can't explain why? Well,
welcome to my world. I pull it out of my bag; I can almost feel the tears beginning to
form behind my eyes. "Control yourself Maddy,
please, don't cry in front of a room of strangers, you're stronger that that."
Before I have a chance to a) start crying and/or b) start reading the journal, I hear my
name being called, most agitated it sounded every time I heard it. Time to get back to
reality.
"Madison Walker?" The receptionist pauses and looks around and hearing no
response she continues. "MADISON WALKER???"
I definitely stand up and start walking towards her. "I'm here, I'm here. You don't
have to scream it." I also mumble a few minor swear words, just loud enough so I
could hear, not here.
"Come this way." She led me into a, oh great, another waiting room. This
is JUST what I need on a Saturday morning. She tells me to take a seat and the doctor will
be with me shortly, she's finishing up with a patient. All right, I'm so close to walking
out. As I glance at my watch, it reads a little under 10. This is getting a little
ridiculous now. Just then, two people emerge from the room. One I presumed was Dr. Dumont
and the other to be her patient. I almost started to laugh out loud when I saw the patient
was one of the richest businessmen in the New York area. Now what could he be going
through that was so bad? Whatever, I guess that's something I'll never understand about
the wealthy. They work so hard for the things
that won't give them happiness.
"I'll see you next week Mr. Potter." Without even 30 seconds of silence she
turns her attention to me. Here we go…
"Madison Walker, right?" She asks as she motions me to go inside her office.
"Yeah, that's me alright." I don't mean to be sarcastic or anything, I just
can't help it. I'm very skeptical towards therapists, but for some reason, this lady
doesn't cross me as the type who'll completely waste my time. We'll soon see…
[If only she knew the connection between Dr. Dumont and her mother. It is in fact a
small world after all...]