El gato por ir a verla ~~
"But I can't go on without her." He responded as he sobbed, sluggishly holding his phone while a lively children's song played continuously in the background. It is the only thing that reminds him of his loved one, so he listens to it all the time even during our session.
Se ha caído del tejado ~~
"…" I looked at him. The first moment he walked into my office I assumed that the client lacked not just sleep but had been troubled for quite a time, which was obvious in his swollen eye bags, poor grooming, flat and dysphoric affect. But one thing I knew for sure after our first session, he knew what he wanted. "I'm listening."
"Please help me! I'm begging you!" he cried and leaned closer to me. This is the fourth session we have had since he first came to me, and he keeps reiterating the same request.
Maramiau, miau, miau, miau ~~
"Mr. Alexis, I can see that you and you two have been very close, and you loved her so much, but how will it make her happy if you'd do that?"
Se ha caído del tejado ~~
"I just know it! She's very lonely right now! I know it! Please! Help me!" He begged as he burst into tears, kneeled and grabbed my hands.
He is hopeless.
"You know I can't do it by myself!" he added as he gripped my hands tighter.
I looked him in the eyes. This guy… what he's asking me has long been decided.
"You are brave and strong, Candace have always sided with you even when you lost confidence in yourself, but she… she always believed in you, Mr. Alexis." I said with my eyes locked on his eyes to sympathize with him. He slowly loosened his grip and backed up to sit. "What do you think Candace would want you to do?" I calmly asked.
The office was filled seemingly with long silence even with the jolly music playing in the background. Alexis timidly wiped his tears off his face, took a deep breath and looked outside, slowly back at me with still teary eyes, then looked down on his feet. Despite the continuous playing of the nursery song, the silence echoed much louder inside the office.
Se ha roto siete costillas ~~
El espinazo y el rabo ~~
Maramiau, miau, miau, miau ~~
El espinazo y el rabo ~~
After approximately nine minutes of pure solemn contemplation. The galloping silence was broken when the sound of an opening door took over the melancholic atmosphere. Thereafter, two men came in with one of them holding a white folded paper on his hand. The other guy looked directly at me as he entered through the door, and he appeared like he was looking for someone and he finally found that guy—alas! that guy was me.
Ya lo llevan a enterrar ~~
"Uhm… Mr. Alexis, could you excuse me for a second?" I said and calmly stood up.
Just as I was approaching the guys who entered my office, I took a deep breath, fixed my shirt then greeted them.
"Good afternoon officers! How can I be of help to you fine gentlemen?" I greeted them with a smile and reached for a handshake.
The other guy holding the folded paper shook my hand as he grinned then handed me the paper he was holding. What he said right after handing it made me skip a heartbeat.
That confident smile on my face was instantly replaced with confusion and ire.
My eyes widened as I unfolded the paper handed to me by the police officer "An arrest warrant?" I asked. What the hell is going on!
"Mr. Paul Engañar, you are being arrested for the crime of murder." He stated as he walked closer towards me and cuffed my hands behind my back.
I resisted to be cuffed for a moment because of dire skepticism but I almost immediately decided to give up later on. What was happening was not making any sense.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?"
I was stunned by extreme confusion and disbelief that I was not able to respond any more words.
The police officers escorted me, both grabbing my arm as if I were a high-profile criminal.
Before we completely exited the office, I took a glance back at Mr. Alexis, who was as well shocked by the sudden occurrence of the events. But I was only able to stare at him and smiled a little bit to look like I was signaling him "I'm okay".
By the time I was taken outside my office, the bright shine of the afternoon sunlight dazzled, that compelled my eyes to squint.
"Who exactly did I murder?" I asked with an edge of utter disbelief in my tone of asking. I was asking this because I have no idea whom I have committed a crime against, nor have I even done any illegal activities.
The two officers just kept escorting me towards their patrol car and ignored my question. Even so, I kept on asking them until I began to find the situation ludicrous and started snickering.
I heard the other police officer said, "This guy got a few loose screws, no wonder he commits to such crime." as he opened the car's door and seated on the driver's seat. His partner opened the door at the back seat and assisted me to get in then he got in on the front seat.
The police officer started the car and for a while he looked at his partner before leaning back to look and answer what I had been asking them.
He glared at me with a very sharp look before saying, "Walpol." As he was about to drive, he cracked an annoying grin insinuating that I'm in hell of trouble.
I was left speechless.
Walpol… I know him!
He is my client!
With all rights reserved.
"Estaba el Señor Don Gato" – Traditional Spanish nursery rhyme. Public domain.