Lost In Silence - Chapter Four.

[Dr. Lilith Sternin]

Well, here's chapter four. It's kind of an important chapter... I can't believe I didn't post it.





Chapter Four.


Madison watched as the boy brought the two coffees back to the counter. "And how much will that be?" She started sifting through her wallet, appearing to take the money out, when her hand slyly knocked it to the floor. "Oh, clumsy me." She bent down to retrieve it, all the while looking up to confirm her suspicions of the watchful eyes carefully examining her. Standing back up, she smiled sweetly at the young man. "How much did you say it was?" She perked up again. "It's on the house." He blushed as he handed her the hot beverages and large cookies. "Oh, thank you!" She graciously accepted, picking up the food in one swift swoop and making her way to the nearby table before he had time to realize what had just happened.

"How on earth did you manage that?" Lilith stared at the young girl, trying to masque the laughter that was dying to surface. "What did I tell you? It works like a charm! It's all in the timing... I can teach you... it takes practice, but I'm confident you have what it takes." She grinned, obviously quite proud of her accomplishments. Lilith didn't know whether to admire or fear the girl's pride in such a calculating and manipulative behavior. One thing she was sure of -- the kid was extremely bright to contrive such a scheme. This one perhaps not as elaborate as some she had shared before displaying her artful skills, but good enough all the same.

"Am I to assume you do this quite often?" Lilith tried not to smile, deciding it was best not to encourage the practice.

"Eh..." She shrugged. "I am going to be a poor college student as of the fall... gotta have some resources." That did it. Lilith finally laughed. "Of course."

"So, anyway... enough about me." Madison sipped her mocha casually. "We came here to discuss you, or rather, for your therapy session. So, go ahead," Maddi crossed her legs, putting on the most serious face she could conjure up. "I'm listening."

This little display amused Lilith, and for a moment, there was something oddly familiar about Madison. Her stance, her expression, her all around presence... as if an alarm set off in Lilith's subconscious. In a brief moment, the young woman who entered her office several days earlier transformed into the spitting image of the beloved child who was ripped from Lilith's life many years ago.

"Magdalen..." Lilith whispered, a little louder than intended.

"What?" The girl retorted, obviously confused by Lilith's sudden outburst.

"Magdalen..." She examined the young lady's features, paling as she took on an even more deathlike complexion. It was quite obvious Madison was becoming more and more uncomfortable. Lilith caught sight of this and quickly looked away, trying to recompose herself. "My daughter." She whispered, trying to compensate her behavior with the explanation Madison came there to hear.

"Your daughter?" Madison was careful, afraid of stepping on dangerous territory. The doctor just nodded, bringing her attention back to Madison. "I wasn't aware you had a daughter..." She said, cautiously. She then caught glance of a single tear slowly making it's way down Lilith's cheek. The pain in Lilith's eyes was a pain Madison was all too familiar with.

"Maddi..." Her voice was soft, a bit shaky. "I've never told anyone this before. It's a secret I've carried with me for many years now. It's just... it's very hard for me to talk about."

"It's okay, take your time..." Was all she could say, without feeling like a complete moron. Here she had been whining about her problems to this woman, when she had so much emotional baggage just waiting to surface herself. Madison had just assumed this woman who had been counseling her had it all together. As naive an assumption it may have been, Madison still felt dumbfounded as she tried to console her doctor by putting an arm around her shoulder.

"My little girl... she's been missing the past fifteen years." Madison handed her a tissue, as she listened, at a complete loss for words. Lilith sniffled, wiping some tears as she continued. "It's been so long, you'd think the pain would have numbed by now, but... no matter what I do, she's just always there... in my thoughts." Lilith paused, looking up at Madison. Her heart raced as she pondered the prospect of her daughter seated right beside her, after all these years. Could it be? Could her sweet little girl really have come home to her? Lilith could feel that she was setting herself up for disappointment with each passing moment, but it was a risk she felt she had to take. Her heart quenched as she instinctively brushed a strand of hair from Madison's face and looked her directly in the eyes as she spoke.

"There is no greater pain than that of losing your child. And I'm sure, without a doubt, that your mother misses you greatly. That's why I'm going to do everything within my power to help you find her." She smiled warmly as she caressed the young girl's cheek. "And then some."