"Mira,"? Clara called out in a barely audible voice.
Mira's head jerked up and slowly gave Clara a half-smile. " It's nothing Clara. . . actually, I have not fully recovered yet."
Clara stared into her eyes not fully convinced and sighed inside. At least her friend's aura had improved so she did not probe further.
Jack came back to the ward and walked toward Clara. " The doctor wants to perform some physical examinations on you, " he said softly with a smile.
" Huh?." Clara was baffled for a second. Why would she need a physical examination,? she frowned and nodded slowly before getting down from the bed then headed toward the bathroom.
She took her bath and changed into a new hospital gown then followed Jack out of the ward.
"Walk carefully and if you're tired, tell him to carry you!" Mira shouted after them and Clara chuckled. It was not like she was feeling very weak.
As they entered the doctor's office, Clara saw a young man probably in his late twenties or early thirties sitting behind a table and seriously immersed in the book in front of him. He looked up from his work and Clara found his features familiar but couldn't discern where she had seen him before.
After exchanging pleasantries the doctor gestured her to sit with a friendly smile and Jack went outside to give them privacy.
" Miss Clara. . . right," The doctor said and opened a folder which he pulled out of the table's drawer. "During the diagnosis, we noticed some sleeping pills in your body. . . have you been feeling down,. . . depressed or hopeless much of the time."
Clara looked down and fidgeted with her fingers before nodding her head slowly. It was true that she had been losing sleep recently as the nightmare kept coming to her so she resorted to sleeping pills as she had to wake up early in the morning for work. However, it did not help much with the nightmares.
The doctor stared at her worriedly and sighed seeing that his assumptions were right, then said, " Okay Miss, I will refer you to a psychologist as you're suffering from depression. But thankfully, it is still in a minor stage."
Clara looked up with a gasp, not expecting her situation to escalate in such a manner. ' I have to see a psychologist.?' She looked down and thought worriedly.
When the doctor noticed her hesitation he sighed and quickly added, " You see, you need to receive treatment early as it could affect your daily life and mental resilience in the future."
" Okay, " Clara muttered with a half smile after some seconds and the doctor sighed in relief then gave her some instructions.
Clara sauntered out of the doctor's office with sagged shoulders and Jack strode toward her with a frown.
" what is wrong, " he asked worriedly, noticing the gloomy atmosphere around her.
Clara looked up with distant eyes. " Jack, do I have to see a psychologist,"? She muttered absentmindedly and walked forward with a hand splayed on her chest. What was happening to her, is falling in love this painful?
Jack's brows knitted not anticipating the words she just uttered. He watched her turn away and sighed. " Clara, the ward is that way."
Clara came back to her senses and followed the right direction and Jack followed her, wondering what could be the cause for her depression.
They both entered the ward and Mira quickly walked to her and escorted her to the bed.
" What happened.?" Mira went to Jack who was now sitting on the couch and whispered, " Why does she look down."
Jack slowly shook his head and said, " I don't know what the doctor told her. . .". He looked toward Clara who was now fast asleep on the bed which could be due to the medicines she took earlier and sighed.
" Ohhhh. . ." she nodded and also sighed and went back to the chair then Jack continued working on his laptop.
Some hours later, Mira stared at Clara who was still sleeping, and told Jack to go home as it was already late.
Jack wanted to argue but gave up as he knows Mira would not go back on her word. He called his assistant who came some minutes later with food and they both say good night and left after he gave Clara a last look.
********
__ City X __
Carl walked out of a hotel where he had a meeting with one of his business partners, with his assistant who was scurrying behind him with a satchel. For the past two weeks, they had been attending business meetings without a pause and David felt like he could collapse any moment while wondering how his boss could keep up with that without getting tired because he also noticed that he was in a bad mood recently.
" Send the contract to my email, " Carl turned to him and suddenly said before adding." and the new blueprints."
" Yes Sir." David nodded and sank into deep thought. The money that the construction company from overseas had requested was very expensive beyond his expectation." However__" he quickly added and turned to Carl.
" No problem, " Carl cut him off and said curtly then they walked toward the parking lot.
Carl's attention was on his phone before he glanced at the roadside through the rearview mirror and suddenly noticed a girl coming out of a grocery shop ahead.
His forehead settled into a frown and he asked David to slow down the car. ' why is she here?.' he pondered while studying her back view.
David was surprised at his boss's unusual instruction and he quickly reduced the car speed while taking a peek at the rearview mirror wondering what was wrong with him.
The car slowly approached her and Carl watched in anticipation then the girl coincidentally stopped and looked around to hail a taxi.
When he saw her face, his heart sank, then rested his back on the chair with a sigh before ordering David to drive faster.
David was baffled again but quickly obliged and increased the car's speed wondering why his boss had been behaving wildly for the past few days.
Carl sighed inside and rubbed his forehead thinking he had started hallucinating again.