Chapter 5 5

Benjamin

I felt a different pressure in my chest, as if I hadn't done everything I could and was now being punished for it. I had already been standing in front of Valentina's building for two hours, my car was starting to make me claustrophobic. Alex wasn't very happy when I told him to leave, but I wouldn't leave until I felt comfortable enough to do so.

The tapping on the window startled me, I looked out and saw my friend Italo. I unlocked the door and he came in with bags of food.

- Since when did Alex decide that I need a psychiatrist? - I asked, trying not to get angry. His annoying eyebrow was raised.

- Do you really want me to answer that? - he questioned. - He is on a stakeout in front of his employee's building.

- How can I help you, Italo?

I was distressed by that situation. I was born in a family dominated by women who are treated like queens.

- You hate me to analyze you, so don't give me the opportunity," he said, opening his bags.

He handed me a bag of fries and a hamburger.

- I'm serious, Italo.

- So am I. - He retorted. - Your security guard pulled me out of bed at the crack of dawn to babysit a big guy. - He filled his mouth with drool. - You can't put yourself in this situation without her asking.

- She doesn't even know she needs help. - I protested.

Italo shook his head.

- You are a man raised by women, in your family they are not born, they grow out of the ground like weeds. - He snorted.

- I dare you to say that around them. - I challenged.

- I haven't gone crazy yet, at least I don't think so. - He laughed. - Your father is a saint.

- A passionate man. - I shrugged.

- I'll never be able to understand love, what a silly feeling. - He rolled his eyes bored.

- The heart is just an organ, with many useful muscles that keeps us alive.

- Is this what you tell your patients?

- Of course not. - He laughed. - We're not talking about them now, I want to talk about you.

- Are you going to tell me how to help Valentina?

- Don't be an idiot, you can't help a person who doesn't want help.

I assume, I predicted that answer.

Italo was not a man tied to feelings, he understood the logic of things, his mind was incredible, capable of things that I could not even begin to understand. I still didn't understand why he had decided to become a psychiatrist, or rather, I knew. According to him, with his disunited and mean family, he needed to be his own analyst, or in this case, psychiatrist.

I unwrapped the burger and took a good bite, wondering what I should do that night.

Would I leave or stay?

What else might happen?

I didn't know, but Valentina's voice told me to wait. I knew as soon as she answered the intercom that something very bad was happening, but she still denied my help.

Beloved God, all she had to do was ask and I would help her. I would take her to a safe place and not allow anyone to hurt her. I stood there, trying uselessly to convince Italo that even if someone doesn't ask for help, it doesn't mean that they don't need it. A difficult thing to do, since he liked to explain everything scientifically. However, my friend had an open mind to understand.

- Explain to me what fear is," I asked, believing that I would win this argument.

- It is an emotion that is expected by both humans and animals.

- An emotion? - I asked, and he filled his mouth with potatoes.

- Don't give me that nonsense about emotions," was difficult to understand.

- Don't talk with your mouth full.

He swallowed and laughed.

- What can I do? I didn't have a mother to educate me.

- You are such an idiot.

He ignored me.