“I’m sorry, that information is incorrect.”
“What?!”
Zap!
“I mean, let me give it to you again,” I moan out, then provide the rest of the information, a broken man.
When the timer goes off, I hang up unceremoniously on Matilda, who I’m now fairly sure is an AI ghost in the machine. I didnotmanage to cancel my cable.
“That’s okay,” Eve says cheerfully. “These exercises are designed for frustration and failure.”
“I think he did well, by and large,” Graham says. Nomi chokes back a laugh.
“Is it over? I want it to be over.” I collapse my forehead onto my arms.
“Too bad, because we have one challenge left,” Eve says.
My head darts up. “What’s the third challenge, Eve?”
“The one that matters most,” she replies. “An appointment.”
Surprise crumples my forehead. “For real?” I turn to Nomi. “Dr. Srinivasan’s on board with this?”
“On board?” Nomi huffs. “He’s holding the remote.”
“Do you think I’m ready?” I thumb my chest. “BecauseIdon’t think I’m ready. We should cancel.”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid.” Nomi smiles apologetically. “But for what it’s worth, I do think you’re ready, Julian. You’re a great doctor who just needed a new perspective. You have that now, even if you’re still working on your temper.”
We walk in just before the last appointment of the day, Nomi, Graham, and Eve trailing behind me, giving me last-minute instructions,helping me into my doctor’s coat, and in Eve’s case, waving the remote ominously in my face.
“I’ve set it extra high, Julian, because these are high stakes. You got me?”
I nod, and she thumps my chest, hard. “Don’t fuck this up.”
I sob nervously.
Nomi spins me around to face her, inspecting my hair, then straightening my collar. The feel of her light touch on my neck, nails scraping gently down the skin there, sends the biggest zap through me yet. I want to grasp her by the elbows and pull her to me, holding her close so I can bury my nose into her long, wavy hair. I spent the afternoon being mildly electrocuted by this woman, and it’s the best day I’ve had in months. Years maybe. When was the last time anyone cared this much about me? Spent their time trying to helpme?
“You’ll do great,” Nomi says softly, still holding lightly on to my lapels. “Just remember to take a deep breath before saying anything, and if it still feels hard, picture Deborah as your patient instead.”
“Deborah,” I say, still lost in my inconvenient yearning to touch Nomi. “Why?”
“Because everyone’s a Deborah, in their own way. Everyone has a story. Everyone is struggling. We’re all just trying to make it through our lives as best we can.”
I frown, overwhelmed with the desire to stroke her hair.Do you have a story, Nomi? Are you struggling?
Dr. Srinivasan opens his office door and regards me coolly. “Julian.”
“Dr. Srinivasan.” I hold my hand out. “Thank you for the chance to come back today. I’m very sorry for how I’ve acted in the past, and I promise I’ll do my best.”
After a long beat, Dr. Srinivasan shakes my hand. “That’s good to hear. Now, who has the remote?”
“Here you go, Doc.” Eve drops it into his hand. “It’s cranked extra high.”
Dr. Srinivasan breaks into a diabolical grin.
“We’ll be in the waiting room, rooting you on, buddy,” Graham slaps me on the shoulder.
