The Man Who Smiled Too Much
CHAPTER 3: “Cracks in the Mask”
//It was raining the next time Mikhael showed up.//
*He didn’t bring an umbrella. His hoodie was soaked, water dripping from his hair onto the office floor. But he didn’t care.*
*Aurora handed him a towel without a word.*
*He said, rubbing the back of his neck.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Didn’t know weather could be this dramatic.”
*She offered a small smile.*
Aurora Sinclair
“Or maybe it’s matching your mood.”
*He flopped into the chair with a sigh.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You always gotta go deep, huh?”
*Aurora didn’t answer. She just waited.*
*For the first time, he looked tired. Like, exhausted. Not just physically—emotionally drained. He didn’t make a joke this time. He sat there, staring at the floor.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You didn’t sleep”
Mikhael Hayes
“Didn’t want to”
Aurora Sinclair
“Nightmares?”
Mikhael Hayes
“Yeah. Loud ones.”
Aurora Sinclair
“Do you remember them?”
Mikhael Hayes
“But I don’t want to talk about them.”
Aurora Sinclair
“I won’t force you.”
*That silence stretched between them again. Heavy but honest. Then he spoke.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Do you believe people can forget things on purpose?”
Aurora Sinclair
“It’s a defense mechanism. Our brains sometimes block out what’s too painful to remember.”
Mikhael Hayes
“Cool. So I’m not crazy.”
Aurora Sinclair
“You’re not”
*He let out a shaky breath.*
Mikhael Hayes
“I think... something happened. Back then. Like, really back then. But it’s like a fog. And when I try to think about it, it feels like I’m gonna choke.”
Aurora Sinclair
“That’s your body protecting itself”
Aurora Sinclair
“But it also means there’s something there. Something that wants to be seen.”
*Mikhael leaned forward, fingers clenched.*
Mikhael Hayes
“What if I don’t want to see it?”
*Aurora’s voice softened.*
Aurora Sinclair
“Then we take it slow. One step at a time. I’m not here to drag you into anything. I’m here to walk beside you when you’re ready.”
*He looked up at her, eyes red-rimmed.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Why do you care?”
Aurora Sinclair
“Because you deserve to be helped. Even if you don’t believe it yet.”
*Mia, Scarlett, and Stella were sitting with Aurora at her apartment, wine glasses on the table, soft music in the background.*
Stella Taylor
“So? How’s therapy guy?”
*Scarlett raised an eyebrow.*
Scarlett Lewis
“Ooh. That face. You’re invested.”
*Aurora said too quickly.*
Aurora Sinclair
“He’s… complicated.”
Mia Thompson
“Complicated hot?”
Aurora Sinclair
“He’s charming, flirty, but there’s so much pain underneath. I can feel it. And sometimes, when he lets it slip… it’s heavy. It hits me.”
Scarlett Lewis
“Do you like him?”
*Scarlett asked, tilting her head.*
Aurora Sinclair
“It’s not about that. He’s my patient”
*But deep down, she knew something in her had shifted.*
*Mikhael sat on the floor of his bedroom, old photos spread out around him. One of them caught his eye. A younger version of himself, standing beside someone whose face he couldn’t see clearly. It was blurred, water-damaged. But it made his chest tighten.*
*He touched the photo, fingers shaking.*
*"Why can’t I remember?" he thought. "Why does it hurt so bad to try?"*
Gabrielle Clark
You okay? Haven’t heard from you today.
*He stared at the message but didn’t reply.*
((Screaming. A door slamming. A woman crying.))
((A sharp sound—glass shattering. Then silence.))
？？？
“Mikhael, don’t look.”
*For the first time in weeks, the smile never came back.*
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