“No new progress?”
“Not yet,” I said.
Ailee stared down at her hands.
“Dr. Bord and I are trying to ‘open the lines of communication’ between myself and the other alters,” I told her. “So far, all we’ve managed is to leave notes for each other. It helps, but it would be better if we could talk in here.” I tapped the side of my head, much like the doctor had just done.
“What we’re aiming for is System Coordination,” Dr. Bord told her.
Ailee raised her head. “You want them to talk to each other. Work together.”
“Exactly,” she told her.
“Is there a cure for this?” The words burst from her, loud and a little bit angry. A flush crept up her neck to her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come out so loud.”
But my therapist took it in stride. “Depends on what you mean by a ‘cure.’ Our goal is to improve Tyler’s life functionality, not really to get rid of the alters. At least, not until they’re ready to go.” Crossing her legs, she leaned forward and rested her weight on her forearms. “Anything else you’d like to know? I can’t discuss everything, but I can do my best to make being with him as easy as possible.”
Ailee glanced at me again.
“She’s not with me,” I told Dr. Bord.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I assumed since you were here…”
“Willow called me. I just wanted to make sure he was okay.” And with that, she stood. “I should go.”
“Ailee, wait.”
“I can keep Snickers with me until you get out of here…”
“Ailee…”
“It was nice to meet you, Dr. Bord.” With a small smile in my direction and a steel rod jammed down her spine, she started walking toward the door.
“Ailee! Fucking wait a minute!”
I heard her footsteps stop abruptly, but she didn’t come back.
“Can I catch up with you later?” I asked Dr. Bord.
She gave me a knowing smile. “Of course. But I’ll see you soon. And don’t stress yourself out.”
“Absolutely.”
After she left, Ailee wandered back toward me until I could see her again. “Tyler, I don’t think there’s anything to say here.”
“Then why did you come?”
“What?”
“Why the hell are you here, Ailee?” Her trying to walk out on me like that had totally set me off. Not that I expected her to see me all banged up and have a complete change of heart, but I did expect…I don’t know…something. “Are you just trying to fucking torture me?”
That got her attention. “No, Tyler. That’s not what I’m doing.” Her voice had an edge to it.
“What are you doing, Ailee? I mean, I appreciate you helping Snickers. You know that. But you could’ve just taken him back to your place and called. So, I’m going to ask you one last time.” I paused for a breath, preparing myself for her answer. Good or bad. “Why are you fucking here? And please don’t give me anything other than honesty. I’m fucked up enough as it is.”
She didn’t answer, just stood at the edge of the curtain near the foot of the bed, head down.
“Ailee!”
