Thread: Hysteria  [Father & Forbidden]

The song played in the background of his mind as he leaned back in his chair, idly flipping the pages of his upcoming patient's background and he could not for the life of him get it out of his head. He was an 80's buff, there was no doubt about that, and hearing the haunting notes of a Def Leppard song as he gazed at the sad eyes of the young woman in the dossier seemed to hint already at the emotions her gaze engendered inside of him. His own eyes held perhaps a measure of the same sadness, a loneliness that was bone deep, but it was not something he thought about overlong as he sat there. His fingers traced along the papers to once more review, his other hand coming to pick up his pen to make a few notations on the notepad next to him. His hand was sure and steady, the letters written in cursive and boldly expressed, the type of handwriting given to either the supremely confident or the quietly self-assured. Doctor Elias Preston was definitely the latter. Regardless of his abilities however, there seemed sadly little information about his upcoming patient. It was obvious trauma had occurred, a vague notation concerning hallucinations, and a small note with little detail concerning the death of her husband. It was the disgustingly shoddy workmanship he expected out of the State Hospital system and it was something that truly displeased him. They had placed her on suicide watch, leaving her alone and potentially drugged out of her mind, and had not addressed any of the underlying causes regarding why she was so troubled. Misdiagnosed, ill-treated, and tossed to the wayside. More than likely it had not done anything but worsen the symptoms. It was something he would have to address when he had her in his office, the State could only have held her so long, and now that they had released her at least she was coming to her appointed counseling services. Or at least that was what he hoped she would be doing. He looked up at the clock, making a small sound in the back of his throat as he did so, if she were already here and in the waiting room then he had kept her waiting far too long. Straightening he placed the folder down and stood up, for a moment looking over the room he stood in. It seemed more like comfortable study than a counselor's office. It had little to do with the idea of the job and more to do with comfort for the person he was working with. Long ago he had learned the fundamental fact that nobody would ever talk to a doctor, not truly, that they had to feel like you were a friend...either that or a stranger. Strangers though had little guidance outside of the office, but a friend could be called. A friend could be confided in. That is why he took so few patients and why his wait list was so incredibly long. Those handful of patients he kept on after first meeting them had long term results....their lives were better, and that is what mattered most to him. First impressions were always important and he knew what he looked like, knew exactly the kind that he gave off. He gave off the idea that he was a teddy bear. Six feet and broad shouldered, forty years of age and distinguished. His brilliant hazel eyes shone behind his glasses as he looked around to find her, the dark black hair on his head thinning just slightly and showing some grey at the temples. His beard was kept professional, the grey more prominent within it than in the hair atop his head. That frame held a heavy set man, muscled stature giving way more towards padding the older he got, and no matter how often he promised himself he would address the issue he always seemed never to do so. His clothing was simple professional, black slacks and a green long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves tugged up to his elbows. Looking around he smiled when he found her, his voice quiet and deep as he spoke. If you're ready we can begin...?