An Innocent Affair
Character: Raymond Lam
I’ve been doing this for years, and I’ve helped so many individuals feel better about themselves, being a psychiatrist isn’t that stressful of job. It feels great, but sometimes it keeps me away from what matters most in life, love...my family. I never thought things could become like this...I never thought I’d end up doing things that could potentially hurt my family, my wife...
My wife and I, we’ve been married for a little over eight years now...we could’ve had a child who would be turning seven this year...but...she died inside her mother’s womb...my wife’s womb. I don’t blame my wife for the loss of our child, in fact I know that she was in even greater pain than I was when it happened, but there was nothing neither of us could do. We lost our child before she could see the wonders of this world, yes, I could have had a daughter who would be turning seven.
They say having a child brings the two parents together, but facing the loss of a child doesn’t really help in that way. My wife started to drift apart from me, she felt guilty for having lost our child even though it was obviously not her fault. We had gone shopping for baby clothes and as we took the escalator down, there apparently was a robbery. The robber rushed down the escalator along with the security guards and ended up knocking over my beloved wife, thus, causing the loss of our child. The doctor told us that my wife couldn’t bear another child after that incident and well...now I’m just sitting in my office waiting patiently for my next patient to come in instead of calling home and asking when my wife will go and pick up our little sweetheart.
My next patient, she’s special to me not because she’s beautiful but because she’s so innocent. A tragedy had occurred in her life when she was in her twenties causing her now to have the mental capacity of an eight year old while being trapped in the body of a thirty year old woman. She takes life so light-heartedly and is amazed by absolutely everything. Sometimes it feels as though God has brought her to me to fill the void in my heart that was meant for my own daughter, but it’s not the same.
After the accident my patient lost her memory, lost her ability to function at the mental capacity that she should be functioning at and relied solely on her younger brother because a few years prior to her accident the two of them had already lost their parents. His entire world ended up revolving around her and her world was dependent upon him...until she met me. For some reason I offered all the help I could give her, and I ended up giving her all of my time and now...her world...is me.
Macy walked in holding the file of the following patient, a young woman by the name of Charmaine Sheh. Her case was brought to Dr Lam’s attention after the previous doctor who was working on that case until he immigrated to another country. Being the student of that previous doctor, Dr. Lam felt as though he should take the case and has been looking after this young lady for almost a year now.
Macy placed the file upon Dr. Lam’s desk...
Macy: Dr. Lam, should I call the last patient in, or do you want to go out there and call her in yourself?
Raymond: I’ll do it.
He followed his secretary out of his office and into the waiting area where his patient and her younger brother were sitting.
Charmaine had a huge smile on her innocent face as she saw Dr. Lam coming out of his office to greet her.
Charmaine: Dr. Lam!
Raymond walked over: How are you today? Everything’s going well?
Charmaine nodded in excitement: Are we playing games today?
Raymond shook his head: Not today...but we’ll do something even more fun
Charmaine: Yay! Him, did you hear that? Dr. Lam said that today I get to do something even more fun than playing games
Her younger brother nodded
Raymond: Why won’t you leave your sister here with me...and take Macy to dinner or something
Him’s face turned red
Raymond chuckled: I knew that there was something between the two of you a while ago, so you don’t have to be embarrassed. Have fun...and I’ll drive your sister back once we’re done with today’s session
Him: Are you sure? I could come pick her up...and
Raymond shook his head: It’s fine, don’t worry about it (He turned to look at Macy) Don’t stay out too late though, we have a 7:30 appointment tomorrow
Macy: Don’t worry Dr. Lam, I’ll be on time like usual...and I’ll be able to make you a nice cup of coffee before your first patient comes
Raymond smiled: It was definitely a good idea hiring you, well you two have fun.
Raymond walked Charmaine into his office and closed the doors behind him.
Charmaine: So, what games are we going to play today? Are you going to take me to the park and let me go on the swings... (she put a finger on her chin) maybe you’re going to take me to the amusement park because I’m such a good little girl...and then (she gasps in excitement) you’re going to let me eat cotton candy and buy me ice cream!
Raymond laughed at the overly excited Charmaine who was now literally jumping up and down in pure excitement from her vision of the session she was going to have with him.
Raymond: I’m sorry, but not today...I was actually planning on taking you shopping
Charmaine: Shopping? For toys?
Raymond shook his head: Not for toys...
Charmaine pouted and took a seat
Raymond: I was thinking of getting you a beautiful outfit, a nice new dress...maybe a purse...whatever you like
Charmaine thought for a moment: A new dress sounds good...but I still want a new toy...
Raymond: How about...a new dress...and a big teddy bear?
Unexpectedly Charmaine got up from her seat, ran over to Raymond and gave him a big hug. He wasn’t sure how to react to her spontaneous act...but decided to hug her back...and unexpectedly a smile crept upon his face
Finally Charmaine freed herself from the embrace with a slight blush on her face. Raymond assumed that Charmaine was embarrassed by her action, which was completely normal and didn’t depend upon what mental age group she belonged to. To him she was as true and as pure as any other child...with the only difference being the fact that she was radiant and he felt himself being drawn even closer to her as they spend more time together.
A little while after the two of them headed out the office, Raymond closing the doors behind him and locking the place up, while the energy filled Charmaine was already prancing ahead. Raymond caught up to her and led her to his car, and off they went on yet another interesting outing.
He parked his car along the side of the road and the two of them got out. Immediately Charmaine walked over and grabbed onto his hand, like she would do if she was out with her younger brother. She was told by her younger brother that she should hold someone’s hand when she’s out so that she wouldn’t get lost, and it became a habit.
Raymond looked down at his hands, which intertwined with hers...this wasn’t the first time she held his hand, but everytime she did...he felt a little something. Only seconds later did she let go of his hand and ran towards the glass window of a shop and stared intently at a beautiful night gown. Even though she was ‘young’ she still admired the beautiful dresses that women who were her age physically would wear.
Raymond: Do you want to take a look?
Charmaine: My brother says we can’t afford dresses like that...
Raymond: I can, and...I’ll be paying...so, let’s go in
It seemed as though her eyes sparkled as they filled with excitement when Raymond told her that they could go in and take a look...
Raymond walked over to one of the female staff and asked her if she could possibly get Charmaine the dress that was on display in the window. Moments later she came back with the dress in what she assumed to be Charmaine’s size and handed Raymond the dress.
Raymond: Try this on...
Charmaine: Are you sure? (she looked at the price tag) But this costs so much...and my brother says...
Raymond: It doesn’t cost to try something on now, does it?
Charmaine shook her head and followed Raymond’s order to try on the dress. He waited for her patiently while browsing through the other selection of dresses that the store had. When she stepped out of the change room, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her...she was, beautiful
Staff: Sir, your girlfriend looks amazing in the dress...
Raymond: She’s not my...she does look amazing...
Staff: You two look really good together
Raymond smiled and walked towards Charmaine
Charmaine: I look so silly in this dress, don’t I? I think it’s a bit too much for my age...I’m only eight...and you don’t see other eight year olds dress like this, do you?
Raymond: Well, other eight year olds aren’t as special as you, are they?
Charmaine looked in the mirror and saw her reflection standing next to Raymond’s...
Charmaine: You look like a prince today, wearing all white...
Raymond: And you look like a princess in that dress...
Charmaine smiled brightly: We should get married, when I’m older...then
I can be
your princess, and
you can be
my prince charming
She started giggling to herself and walked back into the change room to change into her normal outfit
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I hope you thoroughly enjoyed my first chapter...this was yet another scheduled update...remember to comment folks...I'll definitely try to find time to read all your comments and take in everything that you write. Well, comment and I'll be back in a week's time!!!