Finding Forever (16 page)

No blinking. From what Taylor observed, Lily had a set of wide blue eyes that rarely—if ever—closed. They. Just. Stared. Like creepy doll eyes.

“You'll remember everything we discuss in this Delete Session,” Lily said. She sat across from Taylor, who was in a black leather reclining chair that reminded her of the dentist.

“A
what
kind of session?” Taylor replied.

“Delete Session, a healing therapy created by Dr. Kensington. It simply is the best method for overcoming traumas and helping you get past your addictions. You'll see. It worked for me and all the other helpers. The key to discovering your inner innocent child is the key to unlocking eternal happiness.”

Taylor guessed Lily was somewhere in her forties. Her middle-aged skin stretched back toward her ears like a creaseless latex mask, failing miserably at making her look twenty years younger but succeeding in making her look like a humanoid.

“You have the power to clear out any blockages in your mind that may be holding your life back—be it in your career, love life, your health,” Lily continued. “You can trust me, Taylor. Do you?”

“Yes,” Taylor lied. “I trust you.”

“Okay, then I can help you. First, close your eyes. And now, whenever I say the word ‘delete' in a therapy session, you will be able to remove it from memory. It will no longer have any power over you. That is the key to the Program.”

“What's the Program?”

“Helper George hasn't told you?”

“He did meet with me earlier this morning. But he didn't mention any specific program.”

“And what about Dr. Kensington?”

“Who?”

Lily tapped more notes into her tablet, a few seconds later adding, “I apologize for any confusion. But it's not my place to discuss the Program. I'm only a Helper.”

“Then if you're such a
helper,
you should help me understand.”

“The doctor can. It's not my place.”

“Which doctor?”

“Again, I'm sorry. I can't. As you will learn, Dr. Kensington believes there are two types of people in the world: Helpers and Hurters. It's important to know your role in this binary system. That's how you can be most effective in helping anyone.”

Taylor looked around the windowless evaluation room. Every wall was painted sky blue except the one to her right, which was a floor-to-ceiling mirror. She noticed the dark circles under her eyes and her ghostly skin tone in the reflection.

“Now if you would just close your eyes we can get started on the Work,” Lily said.

“Okay, let's do this.”

“Very good. So let's begin with you recalling an incident in your life that has had a negative impact on you. Any one will do.”

Taylor wanted to answer “being locked up in this ‘wellness' center in the desert by a bunch of lunatics.” Instead she said, “I remember not getting picked for the lead in
Annie
.”

“When was this incident?” Lily asked.

“Fifth grade, I think.”

“How did it make you feel?”

“Mad.”

“Why?”

“Because I deserved to get the lead. I was better than Ally O'Hara.”

“Why does it still bother you so much?”

“Because I believe in fairness, not in playing favorites. And I can't stand it when something is done that isn't fair. It demoralizes you.”

“You do understand that life isn't fair sometimes?”

“Of course, I do.”

Lily locked eyes with Taylor. “Then you must
delete
.”

Taylor let out a rush of air and stared back at her stiff “helper,” who hadn't moved from her cross-legged position. “Lily, I'm really sorry, but I don't think you need to lecture me about life not being fair. I don't see how that has anything to do with me proving that I am not a harm to myself or to others, which is supposedly the reason I am here.”

Lily stared back, stone-faced and emotionless. “Okay, let's continue. Please, close your eyes again. And remember that when I say ‘delete' you will wipe whatever we've been talking about from your memory.”

Taylor glared at her. “Fine.” She pinched her eyes shut.

“Now, do you think you will ever be able to think about that incident and not grow upset or agitated?”

“I'm not upset or agitated by that incident.” Taylor fought hard to keep her eyes closed. “It just bothers me that it was blatantly unfair. I'm only upset that you are trying to make some big deal out of this, especially when the bigger deal is that you people are trying to make me feel like I'm out of my mind when, clearly, I am not.”

“Taylor, I am merely the Helper, and part of the helping process is to identify and delete negative influences that may have led you here. That is my only goal. I have no intention of upsetting you any more than you already are.”

Taylor realized she probably had already said too much. “You're right. I'm sorry. I do trust you.”

“Okay, good. Now close your eyes.”

She closed them again, though under silent protest.

“Okay,” Lily said, “now when I snap my fingers, I will say
‘delete,' and you will visualize that memory of not getting the lead role in the play disappearing from your brain's desktop and being put in the trash.”

Lily snapped her fingers and said with all the personality of a computerized GPS voice, “Delete.”

The two of them sat silently for several seconds, until Lily said, “Now you may open your eyes. Do you feel refreshed?”

“Totally!” Taylor opened her eyes, flashed her multimillion-dollar smile, and stretched her arms over her head. She yawned. “Totally rejuvenated.”