The Clinic Novels & Stories

The first session was manageable. I had prepared for it the way I prepare for everything, which is to say I researched it thoroughly and then set the research aside and dealt with what was actually in front of me. The clinic is on the west side of the city, forty minutes from the penthouse by car, in a building that also houses a dental practice and a physiotherapy center. Unremarkable from the outside. I appreciated that when I chose it.

“Do we know who he was?” “Not yet. I’ll have them pull his records.” Steve put the phone away. “The clinic is easier.” Dan nodded. “I’ll handle it.” ⸻ The fertility clinic was across town, tucked between two larger medical buildings on a busy avenue. The reception area was quiet, washed in soft lighting. Photographs of smiling couples and newborn babies lined the pale walls. Somewhere behind the desk, a printer whirred before falling silent. Dan approached the receptionist and showed his identification.

Enough to remind me. I reach for my phone. Three messages. All from him. I open the first one. We need to talk. Of course. The second is just my name. The third, a missed call. I stare at the screen for a few seconds, thumb hovering like I might respond, then I lock it and drop it back on the table. The cool glass surface presses against my palm. Not now. Maybe not at all. _ The clinic is already in motion when I arrive. It always is at this hour. Voices overlapping, doors opening and closing, that quiet urgency that comes with people trusting you with things they care about. The familiar smell of antiseptic and clean fur fills the air.

The word planted makes my throat tighten. The attendant’s face goes stiff. “The clinic will determine.” “No,” Rook interrupts, calm as snowfall. “The clinic will treat her. Security will determine intent.” We turn another corner and the clinic rises ahead, stone building with frosted windows glowing softly from within, like a lantern designed to look comforting. It isn’t comforting. It’s too quiet, too controlled. Too ready. At the entrance, two guards stand at attention. One of them steps aside when Rook approaches.

Finally, two best friends have mended their broken relationship. The room filled up quickly. People from the neighborhood curious about the new business, stopped by, chatting with us and grabbing donuts. A couple of local doctors I had networked with also came to discuss referrals. Maya’s nurse friends arrived at the clinic, oohing and aahing over the setup. “This clinic is so you, Liv, so cozy,” one said.

I promised. We pulled into the private entrance of the clinic, a sleek, glass-and-steel building that catered to the city’s elite. It was the only place where the Varek name bought total silence. Bart was already there, standing by the door with two of my best security men. He gave me a sharp nod as I stepped out and walked around to open Nyla’s door.

Just then, a patient behind her leaned forward and whispered, "Dr. Miller, it's almost my turn. My head's still killing me." I stopped wasting words and physically pushed her toward the door. "Get out!" In the end, Faye walked off with the medication without paying a single cent. I thought that would be the end of it. However, the next day, when I rolled up the clinic's metal door, I stumbled back a step at the sight before me. The clinic entrance was swarmed with people. It was so packed that I could barely see the street. Nearly everyone in town had shown up, young and old alike.

“Out here?” She looked around at the forest surrounding us. “We’re literally in the middle of nowhere. No wonder the drive took forever.” She frowned at me. “What kind of clinic is this?” I stayed quiet. Her gaze shifted toward the name carved into the archway. “Asclepius,” she read softly. “What kind of clinic is this?” I looked directly at her. “It’s a psychiatric clinic, Rebecca.” Her entire body stiffened. “A psychiatric clinic?” she repeated slowly. “For who?” Her eyes widened slightly. “For you?”

I surprisingly raised my head. Perhaps because she spoke out about the burdens in heart, her health was also improved, she seemed to be more and more comfortable. Every day, she whispered in my ear, saying half-true and half-false words: - Doctor, I'm not an expert, but seems that you want to make a national reconciliation, doesn't it? Are you sure you understood the customer's request? - I did some online research about your clinic. Do you know why he chose this clinic? - This place is very famous for the treatments, which break the rule, in both good and bad meaning, almost like following the customer's request, regardless of the principals.

She never expected that it would turn out to be a clinic. A new clinic was great news, as it meant that the residents of prosperous County would have access to more medical resources. However, when Dr. Ticko entered her field of vision, the smile on Ivy's face instantly froze. "Hello, everyone. We are an affiliated clinic of the City A First Hospital, and we will have access to all the medical resources of the City A First Hospital. Their doctors will come here to work every week, all for the purpose of improving your well-being."