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    WHAT’S YOUR NAME?

    My name? I’m sure you want my name. I thought these things were supposed to be anonymous?

    They are. I just want to know what to call you.

    Marie. Call me Marie.

    Why that name?

    You’re analyzing my name? This was a mistake.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    You’re back.

    Yeah. So?

    So there must be a reason you want to talk to me. What’s going on in your life, Marie?

    That’s a loaded question, Doctor. Gotta be careful with questions like that. You just might get an answer.

    Isn’t that the whole point of asking a question? To get an answer?

    Not always.

    What do you mean?

    I don’t know. I’m just saying that not everyone who asks a question wants an answer.

    Why do you think that is?

    ...

    What was that noise, Marie?

    I’ve got to go.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Where did you go last time, Marie?

    Nowhere.

    Why did you have to leave?

    I just did.

    You’re avoiding the question, Marie.

    Do you smoke?

    What?

    Do you smoke?

    No. I think it’s an unhealthy habit. Why?

    So do I. Have you ever been burned by a cigarette?

    No.

    I have. Funny thing about cigarette burns is that they never really go away. They’re always there, and even if they don’t hurt, you imagine they do.

    Why?

    Those scars never go away.

    Are you alright, Marie?

    I have to go.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    What do you want to talk about today?

    I don’t care.

    Alright. Why do you always leave around the same time everyday?

    Don’t waste any time, do you Doc?

    No, I guess I don’t. Do you want to answer the question?

    Not really.

    Why?

    Again with the ‘Why’s. Do you ever take something as it is?

    No. Why don’t you want to talk about it?

    Talk about what?

    You’re avoiding the question again.

    Really? No kidding.

    Hmm. Sarcasm. Classic evasion technique.

    What?

    You’re using sarcasm to get me to leave the issue alone.

    Your PhD tell you that?

    Hostility. Another evasion technique. Whatever it is must really bother you. What is it?

    I don’t want to talk about it.

    That’s not true, or you wouldn’t be talking to me now.

    ...

    Marie?

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Are you married?

    Yes.

    Got any kids?

    Not yet. Why do you want to know?

    No reason, really.

    There’s a reason for everything, Marie.

    Not around here.

    What does that mean?

    It doesn’t matter.

    Yes it does. What did you mean by that?

    One thing you gotta learn here, Doc. Reasons don’t explain everything, and everything don’t explain the reasons.

    I’m not sure what to make of that.

    Now you know how I feel.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    You don’t get it.

    Get what?

    You’re so high on your pedestal.

    Why are you angry?

    You think everyone can be helped. Everyone can be saved. It doesn’t work that way.

    Why not?

    You look down your nose at people and analyze them and think they can be changed. Then you go home at night and toast yourself a job well done while those same people are at home dealing with the same things you thought you helped them with, only then it’s ten times worse because they were sure they could get away from it all. All because you hoped you could make it better.

    It’s all I can do. There’s nothing wrong with hope, Marie. And bitterness only robs you of happiness.

    It’s not bitterness that robs me of my happiness, and hope shut it’s door on me a long time ago.

    Marie...

    I’m gone.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Do you feel better today, Marie?

    I never feel better, Doc.

    I could help you.

    Sure you can.

    Why do you find that amusing?

    Think about it, Doc. What does it say about you that you sit around all day trying to solve everyone else’s problems? What about yours? What’s going on in your life, Doc?

    This isn’t about me.

    Am I making you uncomfortable, Doc? I’m asking you your own questions and you don’t like it? Why is that, Doc? I’m worried about you. Doc.

    Is this making you feel better, Marie? That you have the power now and not me?

    ...

    ___________________________________________________________________

    You know they say Fortitude is a virtue?

    Who does?

    Some religion.

    Ah.

    Strength. Courage. Resoluteness. Endurance.

    Marie, are you crying?

    I don’t understand that.

    What’s going on, Marie?

    Do you think God lets people into heaven for enduring?

    If you tell me, I can help you.

    I don’t think so.

    Don’t hang up, Marie.

    ...

    ___________________________________________________________________

    What’s happening, Marie?

    Did you know that when you’re worried you add my name to everything you say?

    Why are you talking strange, Marie?

    There you go again. That must really annoy your friends.

    I’m sure it does. I’d like it very much if you could ignore that for the moment and tell me what’s happening to you.

    Nothing that I can’t handle.

    You didn’t sound like you were handling it before.

    It won’t happen again.

    Why?

    Because I have to handle it.

    I don’t understand, Marie. Why?

    Because I want to go to heaven. I think I might have to make the trip soon.

    ...

    You okay, Doc?

    Marie, I think God would understand if—

    Marie, what was that? Are you alright?

    Marie?

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Marie, this Doctor Hanson. I’m sorry I traced your phone number, but I need to talk to you. Could you please call me back? You know the number.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Marie, this is Doc again. I know that you want to be anonymous, but I think you need help. I’m worried about you. Please call me back as soon as you can.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Marie, please. Are you alright? You don’t even have to talk to me, just leave a message. Let me know you’re ok. Please.

    ___________________________________________________________________

    Marie, I don’t know if you can hear this, but I got your address and the police are on their way over. Just hang on till then.

END