The Patient, by Mark Tulin – Friday Flash Fiction

The Patient, by Mark Tulin – Friday Flash Fiction
— www.fridayflashfiction.com/longer-stories/the-patient-by-mark-tulin

The Patient, by Mark Tulin
21/1/2019
 
It was time for the patient’s therapy session. I was the psychiatric aide who strapped her to the chair, making sure the buckles were tight enough so that she didn’t slip out. The doctor told me that the patient’s alter personalities could be violent and surprisingly strong, so I had to be on the alert.

At first, the patient seemed harmless. She spoke softly and appeared timid. There was no sign of resistance. The use of restraints seemed to be a needless precaution.

“I don’t want to be a bother to you, doctor,” she said. “I’m sure other people need your help more than I do.”

For the next fifteen minutes, the matronly patient was compliant.

“I’m going to help you integrate all of your personalities,” said the doctor, “so that you could function normally.”

The doctor began to hypnotize the patient, slowly moving his middle two fingers from side to side as her eyes followed

“You will be a healthy, whole person," the doctor kept chanting.

After an awkward silence, her face slowly took on a grotesque, contorted look and the mood in the room became tense.

“I’m afraid that will never happen, doctor,” the patient said with mad confidence.