Laying back on the cool, leather couch in a seemingly all beige office, Alice began to weep. James slowly looked up from his note pad and asked calmly, “Let’s go over what happened from the beginning, alright Alice? Now you said you and your fiancé broke up. What would you say led to this event?” Through short sniffles, Alice began, “Well I found out a terrible secret. The man is a sociopath, and clearly a spawn of the devil. I couldn’t stay with someone like that. He’s pure evil.”
“Pure evil,” James muttered to himself as he was reviewing the notes that he had on Alice. She was a regular patient of his who has surely been through a lot but tends to have commitment issues. This is the second fiancé that James had heard about during their time together. She had a rough childhood with absent parents due to various circumstances. They had been working through her attachment issues for months but there was always something else that Alice wanted to talk about. Something that weighed heavy on her heart and so she would vent. At this point, James didn’t mind. This was his job after all.
“Could you explain this secret that he had? Before that, let’s practice our breathing exercises so that we can fully walk through these events,” James said as he instructed Alice to breathe in and out until she was calm enough to begin speaking. “Well, it’s just that you think you know someone. You know? Like you date them and they mean the world to you. Then you find something that they have been hiding and you begin to question if anything was real. He was such a sweet man. He supported me and cared for me, but,” Alice paused before continuing, “But then you see them for who they really are and it is just so disgusting.”
James waited to make sure she was done before saying, “I can understand the betrayal you must feel, Alice. Sometimes people tend to keep parts of themselves hidden for good reason and it can be scary once revealed. Clearly this was something serious because you broke up. Now, I hope this isn’t the case, but is the secret dangerous? There is confidentiality in our sessions but if there is something truly threatening then we will have to fill out a report. If it puts others in danger. Is his secret dangerous, Alice?”
“Dangerous? Of course it is. He’s evil! Just the worst,” she exclaimed while working herself up into a panic again. “Okay. It’s going to be alright Alice. Breathe,” James said calmingly. Then he went to his desk and grabbed a form from a folder. “Before we begin, I’ll need you to fill this out to allow me to release some information to the authorities to start a proper investigation. Can you do that for me?” Alice nodded and then took the form and filled it out. Taking the pen and paper back, James asked, “Alright. Let’s start at the beginning. When and how did you find out this secret?”
Alice drew in a deep breath and started by saying, “Well, it seemed like a normal day. I had gotten home from work and it was his off day. He actually cleaned the house and prepared dinner. Which was just so sweet. It was a stressful day at work but it all just seemed to melt away when I saw him. Especially since he cleaned. I am usually the one that cleans so it was such a thoughtful gesture. Before dinner, I had to go wash up and go to the bathroom. That’s when I found the clue to who he really was.”
“He had left some sort of evidence in the bathroom? Is that what you’re saying?,” James asked. Alice nodded and continued, “Yeah. I would say the biggest piece of evidence there is. You see, I had to use the bathroom and was scrolling on my phone, as one does. I didn’t notice it at first, but when I reached for the toilet paper, something was off. I was grabbing for a sheet but there wasn’t one. That is when I noticed. He put the roll on backwards.”
James’ jaw dropped at this information, but Alice continued, “I mean, what kind of monster puts the roll on like that? And he was sleeping in the same bed as me! I rushed down the stairs with the roll and asked him if this was a joke. He was shocked that I found his little secret and tried gaslighting me. He was trying to play like he didn’t know what I was talking about. That’s when I started panicking. He was caught and he knew it so he was trying to back peddle by saying it wasn’t even a big deal. Who even does that? I packed up my stuff and left for a friend’s place. I mean. He’s evil. He should be placed in jail or something.”
James’ pen dropped out of his hand in shock as he mumbled out, “The toilet paper roll?” She responded with, “Yea, the roll. Only sociopaths put it on backwards like that. I was afraid for my life. The fact that he tried saying it ‘wasn’t a big deal’ must mean he has some narcissistic tendencies too. Like, what the heck?” James grabbed the release form that was filled out and ripped it up, causing Alice to gasp. Then he looked her in the eyes and calmly said, “Get out, please. I am releasing you. Find another therapist. We didn’t go our full time so I won’t charge you for today, but leave.”
Alice got up and said, “Oh I see how it is. You’re one of them too, huh? Got to protect your friend. This is wild. You better lawyer up, James! This is illegal!” He just calmly walked to the door and let her out before closing it and calling down to security. He explained that if she stayed to escort her out of the building and that if police were needed, that he would explain the situation to them. Then he let out a deep breath before going to the bathroom, revealing a backwards toilet paper roll…
About the Creator
Robbie Nagle
Hey there. Welcome to my page. I have recently started walking out the path to writing my first novel. To allow myself other creative outlets, I’ll be using this to post some poetry and short stories that may or may not be in future novels.
Keep reading
More stories from Robbie Nagle and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Some Glitch
It happened so quickly that I’m unsure that it was real. One moment, I was walking down the cold streets of New York City. The sound of construction. The smell of hot dog water. Then, for just a moment, I felt sand give way under my feet. The warmth of the sun on my face. The sound of waves cashing in front of me, followed by the scent of salt water. For a moment, I felt like I was on the beach of some paradise. I just told myself to keep walking. That it was a glitch caused by stress.
By Robbie Nagleabout a year ago in Fiction
Peanuts and Crackerjack
Bottom of the ninth inning. The game is tied with two outs, two strikes and a man on second. I tap the bat on home plate. The rigid vibrations it creates reminds my aching digits that this isn't over. The practice swing only adds to the heft of mental burnout... Man on second, willing to chance it. Pitcher eyes him but doesn't give in to the dangerous bluff. I kick up dust, readying the peculiar stance I've had since the days of little league. The bat lays stiff upon my cramping shoulder. Pain has no reason to be acknowledged; it's a fleeting afterthought. The sun sits passed high noon, but the stadium lights are on anyway. They trick my brain into believing they are the cause of this sweltering heat. Sporadic clouds are motionless, they too, don't want to miss this exhilarating predicament. Anticipating the next pitch, intensifying roars from the crowd rumble the stadium... Behind me, the crafty catcher adjusts his stance and spits to the dry dirt. Behind him, the staunch umpire doesn't flinch or even blink; he knows how important his call will be. The pitcher winds up, his grip tells me its gonna curve. The release is fierce! Beads of sweat from his hair and face disperse in every direction as the force of his might is unfailing. My left leg lifts—an instinctual move that will increase the power of my swing. It's all down to my two, bloodshot eyes. They lock onto the speeding, white dot as it instantly becomes the target I intend to destroy. The swing is late, but I manage a solid tip. The ball is taking a fast bounce toward the pitcher who is recovering from the almighty throw! Man on second leaves in a desperate rush! I fling the bat to the side with a sense of urgency and make a mad sprint to the only destination I have—first base. Three defenders race inward to be the first to retrieve the skidding ball. Man is almost on third! I watch the open glove of my adversary, wondering if I’ve done enough to win this race. I switch my attention to his eyes, looking for a clue, some kind of reaction that tells me the ball is in the air and heading his way. All I see is frustration. The deafening roar of the crowd spikes! Something happens that I can’t see! My opponent abandons his post right as my left stride touches the bag. I waste no time turning my head to see the pitcher laying on his stomach, pounding the mound with an open glove. He misses the opportunity to out me and the ball has quickly bounced past him. Excitement grows! This isn’t over yet... It's become an imperative fight to tag out the runner heading homeward. The catcher falls to his knees in obvious despair as he watches my teammate make the run of his life. He knows it’s going to be close when he sees the shortstop fumble the ball a second too long. I jump up and down with no plans on leaving first base. All my chips are on the speed and agility of the active runner. His cleats dig into the dirt, trailing a dust-filled cyclone from the rapid and strenuous strides. With a thrusting dive and an outstretched arm, he lands on his chest to begin the crucial slide to home plate. The shortstop fires the ball to the catcher! It immediately begins closing the gap! Nail-biting doesn't begin to describe the anxious vibe permeating the stadium. The bench begins to celebrate even before he reaches the plate. Forty thousand cheering fans reach maximum crescendo, filling the air with a glorious sound. Everyone knows how this story will end… My teammate is met by the entire bench as his fingers inch across home plate, instantly followed by the unmistakable motion of the catcher's glove attempting to tag him out—its milliseconds too late. The ump swings his arms outward, officially calling him safe.
By Lamar Wiggins7 days ago in Fiction
Adventures Await
In the bustling heart of New York City, where the streets pulse with energy and the skyscrapers reach for the heavens, lies a world of endless possibilities. This is where our story begins, with a group of friends gathering in a cozy café on a crisp autumn afternoon, their minds abuzz with excitement for the adventures that lie ahead.
By Mayowa timilehin4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (1)
Why am I smiling so hard right now? 🧻 Great work!