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Ricky Desmond · (07-29-2013)

The white framed front door swings opens. Ricky Desmond takes a deep breath and a sigh before strolling out of his luxury mansion, brief case in hand. He hadn't been to work since the black mail began and he was not even the slightest bit tempted to go in. His decision to appoint Giles interim manager was one that kept playing on his mind but he was currently thinking of much larger problems. The words that mysterious man said echoed around his head 'Insomnia, Underlying Anger Issues'. They tormented him from the evening of that scare, Frederick returned to work yesterday though and that relieved Ricky slightly. He had always been loyal to Ricky and Ricky certainly approved of loyalty.

Today was not about going to work or appointing a permanent manager. Today was about finally clearing the problems in Ricky's mind. Today was his first appointment with a shrink. The weather was overcast and Ricky was dressed accordingly in a suave blue Ventuno Suit and black leather shoes that were slick, sleek and shiny. The street seemed to be closing in on him yet he did his best to shake that off. As Ricky eventually reached the centre of the city, the people rushing through the streets were staring at him. In his mind at least. Visions of Isabelle amongst the crowds begun to haunt him, as the faces of ordinary people morphed into the dazzling face of his beautiful soul-mate.

His breaths grew shorter, and more desperate as if he was being choked. Grasping his neck he undid his purple tie and undid his top button, gasping for air. Leaning against the wall he saw the building he needed to get to and he stumbled towards it desperately. People rushing past, avoiding him made his panic much worse but he eventually landed outside of the building relieved.

The foyer had a typical red carpet and cream walls. The receptionist was not attractive at all, not even office hot. She had a wart on the side of her chin, weight about 15 stone and stood at 6 foot four. She took a seat and stared at Ricky rudely. When she spoke, she spat, and her voice was deep and croaky. By the second the receptionist became more and more toad like.

“Have you got an appointment sir?"

“I am here to see Dr. Quinn.”

“Third floor, first door on your left.”

So Ricky made his way to the elevator that just like the street had earlier seemed to him to be closing in around him. A deep sigh of relief came when the doors open and Dr. Quinn was waiting, standing outside his office. He was much more casual than Ricky imagined, he just worse blue jeans, some trainers and a Fred Perry polo shirt. He signalled for Ricky to come in after him and pointed to the sofa where Ricky sat immediately.

“Please, make yourself at home, get comfortable. We have a lot to go through and this is not going to be at all easy to hear.”

This did not help Ricky's state at all. He sat on the red leather sofa facing Dr. Quinn who was sat on a black leather chair.

“Please, Dr. Quinn. How can I stop having these images running around my head?”

“There's a lot we can do. First of all though you need to understand and accept the most evil truth that you never wanted to hear. How old do you think you are?”

“I am 23. Everyone knows I am 23.”

“Check your identification more closely if you would Ricky.”

Ricky pulled his wallet from out of his jacket pocket, and stared down at the ID card for a belonged period of time in disbelief. Date of Birth, 17th of February, 1985.

“You are 28 Ricky. You managed to suppress five years of life without even realising it. You created imaginary fantasies and dreams that never actually happened in order to be rid of large amounts of guilt and pain. Your body did it as a defence mechanism but it is an immediately rare case. Your doctor and I discussed this at length and it seems there is no other way than you finally understanding the truth.

On the phone you told me you were black mailed by three mysterious men with the things that went missing in your office. What did you believe those documents said?”

Ricky was puzzled by this, and he looked into Dr. Quinn's brown eyes, it was immediately clear that this was certainly not a sick joke.

“Those files and papers stated who I really was, and what my real name used to be because of my time in Britain I wanted a change.”

“You were right that those files did state your name change. Only, not the honest reason why your name changed. You had your name changed because you went to prison Ricky and you didn't want anyone to know of your dark past. Only, some people around you did know who you were. Except, they were always too frightened to say or do anything. People are scared of you because you are fierce, but they are much more scared of you because of your past. This is something that you need to understand for you to move on.

You blocked out five years of your life and you need to understand why. How do you think you became so good at fighting?

Did you really think the thugs in prison would let a pretty boy like you out of their grasp? Only, these men never did get their hands on you Ricky. You wouldn't let them. You are right in what you said about yourself. You're a natural fighter and a lot of men learnt that the hard way.

All of these memories and images have not started coming back to you because you loved her Ricky, although you truly did. There is much more behind these images. Dark reasons.”

Ricky sat in awe. Disbelief. The walls were crumbling in on him and a tear began to trickle down his face as flash backs of prison came haunting back. 5 years staring at the same three walls and the same metal bars with the slightest beam of light to keep all hope together.

“Ricky, you set up a dating agency long before you went to prison. Your best friend who is ironically still your assistant manager, Giles promised to you and to us that he would look after that agency until you were finally released back into your glorious lifestyle. You are lucky to have him as a friend and you don't even realise it. He was the one who kept you on your feet and in your glory.

Why do you think you always wanted to set up a dating agency though Ricky?... That's where you met Isabella, a petty dating agency. Your friends made an account for you as a joke only suddenly it was not a joke any more and it was much more serious. Not only did you love her but you loved all dating agencies for helping you find her.

Now Ricky, tell me what happened to Isabella?”

Ricky took a deep breath, his words slowly trembled out of his suffering lips as tears continued to roll down his face. He whelped as he tried to tell the overwhelming story.

“The manager of my dating agency killed her in Alley Pond Park when I fired him. That memory stays true like no other so do not tell me that is a lie as well.”

“It was a lie. Your love is what killed her Ricky. Alley Pond Park was not the venue of her death but rather your favourite spot when you both came on holiday here together. She loved you more than anything in the world and you loved her.

Love is a cruel thing Ricky and what you did was out of kindness not in terror. Only that is the problem. Your kindness and your love cost you 5 years of your life and is the reason why you have insomnia and underlying anger issues. Yes, part of the reason is due to your mental health anyway but the reason is that you have mainly been living a fantasy this whole time.”

“What happened?”

“What do you mean what happened?”

“What happened to Isabella? Why do I feel this guilt?”

“You pulled the plug Ricky. You pulled the plug.”

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