Chapter 1. Shades of Change

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The soft and oversized leather sofa had rounded buttons, they were digging into his back.  He kept shifting and wiggling. 

"It's warmer here today than usual.  Could you turn the air conditioning up?"

His request was answered in a conventional and monotone voice.  "It is the same temperature in here as it has been every time you've come."

He stretched his legs and pointed his toes;  this put both of his feet in a direct ray of afternoon sunshine. It beamed through the tall windows in long streaks across the richly decorated office.

Forth lifted his head from the pillow. He peered sideways and backwards in order to see the doctor comfortably seated in his own tufted leather chair.

"Why don't you tell me more about your feelings for this good-looking guy you keep seeing around the corner from your office."

He grumbled and replied sounding harsher than he intended to.  "Jeez, feelings?  I didn't say I had feelings for him.  I said he was sexy and interesting." 

Doctor Aksorn was jotting notes on his paper pad. He looked over his filthy glasses. "Forth, I need you to focus. If you don't want to talk about the boy, just relax, and tell me why you're so angry with your father."

Forth felt like he'd gone over this with the doctor a dozen times. "You know, I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for him. I'm fine. You said it yourself, there's nothing wrong with being gay,  and it's not something that can be cured with an injection."

He was still twisted and looking at the rather slovenly older man. He raised one eyebrow. "At least not the kind of injection you get from a doctor."

Dr. Aksorn's hair was silver at the temples and was always a mess.  His shirts were forever wrinkled. His office was clean but he played no part in its upkeep. There seemed to be a cloud of dust that swirled in the air around the man.

The Dr. set his pad and pen down;  the pen rolled and fell on the floor.

"Mr. Kreepolrerk, I'd appreciate it if you refrained from your lewd remarks. You're wasting my time and yours if you continue to avoid what you're here for."

Forth sat up and then picked up the pen. He reached out and offered it to the doctor.

"Yeah,  what am I here for anyway?  I can't be fixed,  you already told my dad that.  What am I talking to you for?"

"Forth,  I'm the one who asks the questions here,  remember?"

The doc's voice changed and for the first time ever,  he sounded empathetic. "I'm thinking that I can help you and your father come to an understanding."

That intimation was cold comfort for Forth.  Dissuading his father had not proved possible in over four years.  Even an 'understanding' sounded out of reach and too good to be true.

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