Perfectly Hopeless by Holly Hood

obvious?
     
     
     
     
     
    Henri concentrated on the ceiling in the doctor’s office. His fingers drumming a beat on his abdomen as he waited for the doctor. He couldn’t help but think about how redundant his life had become over the last several years. Appointments after appointments, and it never made the difference how many doctors he saw nothing ever changed. He wasn’t sure if it ever would. He had begun to accept that life didn’t always go on for everyone. Some people were meant to have it a little harder than others.
     
    The doctor tapped on the door. Henri sat up. It wasn’t who he expected.
     
    “ Henri. Nice to see you again.”
     
    Henri felt a bit awkward. This was Maven’s mother. The girl he was kissing in his bedroom and spending a lot of time with lately. He didn’t know how it happened. He never liked to get close to people. But she had found a way past the wall he built to keep people out.
     
    He wondered how much Dr. Wilder knew about him, if he should mention anything, or if he looked idiotic in his hospital gown, God how he hated the examination gowns.
     
     
     
    Dr. Wilder had to remind herself the rules spelled out in black and white. That the diagnosis for Henri was more or less set in stone and he wasn’t the type to talk about it. Never in all her career had she seen such special treatment be laid out for a patient. Most patients wanted to find a way to thrive. It seemed everyone was allowing Henri to give up.
     
    She began washing her hands. “How are you feeling?”
     
    Henri watched her every move. “Great.”
     
    She smiled attentively as she listened to his heart, held the same expression as she checked his blood pressure even.
     
    “ The medication you were given how is that working for you, Henri?”
     
    Henri pinched the bridge of his nose, squinting as if he was in pain. He hadn’t taken any medication in several months. He didn’t have a reason other than maybe depression. Which some would probably have told him was stupid. The medication was prescribed to help him fight depression. He wasn’t willing to numb his feelings. That didn’t change anything.
     
     
     
    ***
     
    Maven climbed the steps of Henri’s house. She wrapped on the door, but before any of his family members could get to it, there was Henri. After hours at the doctor’s office doing his best to make it through another appointment he was glad to see her.
     
    “ I brought lunch.” She lifted the picnic basket, Henri took it, heading down to the pond with Maven so they could eat lunch and hang out for the day.
     
    He thought she looked beautiful. She was wearing a yellow sundress. Her hair pulled up into a high ponytail that made her cheekbones even more prominent. As she took a seat in the grass she shook her bangs from her eyes and they fell perfect against the side of her face.
     
    He was happy to see her.
     
    “ What did you bring us?” He peeked into the wicker picnic basket. The kind he saw in the movies.
     
    “ Sandwiches. I’m not the best cook.” She grabbed one out. “And fruit salad.”
     
    Henri accepted the brown sack that contained one turkey sandwich just for him.
     
    “ Cheese and mayo.” She told him, watching him examine her handiwork.
     
    “ This is fine.” He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. Finally she started on her own sandwich.
     
     
     
    Henri crumpled his napkin lying back in the grass. Something was weighing heavy on his mind. He looked over at Maven. She took a bite of watermelon staring right back at him. After a few seconds she raised an eyebrow puzzled when he didn’t say anything.
     
    “ What?”
     
    Henri sat up. He took her hand, urging her to move closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her, closing his eyes as the warm air fluttered past them. He rested his chin on the top of her head glad he didn’t have to look her in the eye in a moment like the one they were in.
     
    “ So your parents are doctors.” He started with.