Nobody else, but she is there, on the beach. Sitting on the sand. Just to clear her mind and to fill it up with calmness.

She looked at the dawn sky. It looks like a painting of a lazy artist. Its beauty inspired her mind.

The whole night she was there, watching the Moon, the stars, the waves..

The cool sea breeze, blew in off the sea, touched the warmth of her cheeks.. It ruffled her hair..

The night under the sky, on the sea shore, washed out all the pain and sorrows from her heart.. It was enough to lessen her grief.

She stood up after the sunrise. People are already there to watch the sunrise. Soon after some time, the beach will be crowded and noisy.

"I hate to be in a crowd.." she murmured.

'brrringggg! brrringggg!' her mobile phone vibrated.

"who is there to call me now?" she took the phone and looked at the screen, 'Prof. Smith'.

"Hello.. Mornings Professor." she attended the call.

"Mornings Maria. I hope you are doing well."

"Yes Professor. By the grace of God, everything is fine."

she looked at the ring, on the third finger of her left hand, with a sadly disappointed face.

"Good. By the way, I need your help today.. You knows, I'm out of station and I won't be available for two weeks.."

he paused for a few seconds and then continued.

"I want you to take care of a patient. I'll arrange the needful.. It's something really important for me.. Just take care of him for the next two weeks.. I think, it's a kind of Schizophrenia."

She was listening to him silently and the last words from Prof. Smith made her face curious.

"Schizophrenia?" she tried to remember about it.

"um.. Unknown cause.. Incurable.."

"Yes Maria, the same." Smith replied in a very satisfied tone. "And, yeah! It's incurable, but treatment could help the patient from chronic situations."

He stopped for a while. Maria understood that he's going to say something really important.

"Maria, I can't handover such an important case to anyone else.. You are sensible.. You can understand situations.. After all, you are an EMPATH.."

The last words of Prof. Smith remembered her about her responsibilities to the society. 'Yes, he's right.' she thought. She knows how much he trust in her abilities and skills.

"Alright Professor.. I'll take care of it."

She checked the time.

"I'll be there in the office at 10 am.."

"wow! I'll be really thankful for that Maria.. I'll mail you his details.. You can use my consultation room instead of yours.. Will come back to you in the evening.. Have a good day.."

"Sure Professor.. I'll check it.. And have a good day to you too.." call ended.

She looked around.

"Oh! I've to go before it's going to be a noisy place."

She took her sling bag from the sand, looked at the morning sun for a while and rushed out of the beach.

9:30 am.

Prof. Smith's consultation room..

Maria looked through the glass window, thinking deeply..

A reference book is lying on the table, opened.. There were an article on the title, 'Schizophrenia- causes and treatments'.

She heard a knock on the door.

"Yes, come in, please."

The receptionist opened the door with a worried face.

"Sorry, I know you are busy, but.. Jason is here.. And.. he is drunk."

Her words spread the worry to Maria's face.. She sat down on the chair with a heavy heart, putting her head on hands.. She remembered last day's evening, which filled her eyes with tears..

Few moments later..

She went out, straight to the reception. There she saw, her fiancée, sitting on the sofa, with red eyes.. He still carries a bottle of whisky on his hand.. Few buttons of his shirt are untied.. Bad hair.. Shoes and pants are covered in mud.. A whole weird look.

"Oh, finally you came out, huh?" He asked sarcastically and glared at her with his narrowed red eyes.

Maria said nothing. She looked at him with no emotions on her face. She seemed to be calm and quiet, which in turn ignited his anger more. He stood up, drank some whisky from the bottle and moved towards Maria.

"Jason.." she called him with a soft voice.

"Please.. It's my office. You can't come here like this. Now, go back home, please.. Let's meet later."

"You.." he pointed his forefinger towards her face.

"..the dirty ***********.."

Maria shocked at this sudden reaction. She turned her head to the other side with eyes closed.. She felt uncomfortable with his foul language..

"Mhm.. Are you feeling awkward, uh? Why did you run away yesterday? You can't attend my calls.. You can't come with me to the parties.. You can't come to my home.. You can't do what I want.. But, you have enough time to sit here.. With the professor.. Treating the mad or what to say for that... Umm.. Some mentally unstable people.."

"Ooohhh..." he looked around bowed a little and covered his mouth with hand sarcastically.

"I should haven't said that. It is not fair.. It's the peace land of people.. The official place of all the angels on earth.."

Maria looked at the other people who gathered there. She understood the complexity of things.

"Jason, better you leave right now.. Otherwise, securities will help you to go out."

It was a warning for him.

He stood straight, placed his hand on her shoulder and casted an evil look at her. She felt disgusted in the dark smell of the whisky and the nasty smell from his body. She looked at him with mercy.

"Oh, so you are trying to scare me, uh? Look my darling..! I don't want to tame you, lassie.. You know.. You know what I want.. You can run away anywhere you want..."

He stopped for a while, he took her hand on his and rubbed her engagement ring. Then he whispered her,

"only after our marriage!"

She continued looking at him like nothing affected her mind. It amazed him and he continued in a threatening tone.

"Oh, it may be nothing for you.. But, today evening, you must be there at my home.. I got the permission from your mom.. Don't worry lassie, she will call you soon.. You - must be - there."

He stepped back from her and pointed at her as a warning. Maria sighed, she ignored his actions and waited for him to leave the office.

"Maria.." the receptionist walked towards her.

"We should have called the police. Are you okay?"

"Oh, Clara, No.." Maria looked at her. ".. And it's okay.. I'll be fine.. I'm sorry for this annoyance.. I haven't expected this."

"you should have rejected him Maria.. His proposal.. Everyone knows he is not suitable for you." Clara looked at her sympathetically.

Maria smiled at her and shook her head. Clara amazed at her.

"Of course Maria.. How can you avoid all these things? Everyday he is making problems.. Don't you feel angry?"

"Clara.." Maria touched her cheek with a smile. "I'm dealing with people who needs my help. If I'm not strong enough, I can't help them. Jason needs my help in certain areas.. Just never mind.. Leave it.."

She went back to the Professor's cabin leaving the surprised Clara behind her..

Maria sat down on the chair.. Leaned back..

"Yeah.. I should keep calm.. I should keep calm to all my problems.."

She took a framed photo from the table..

A man playing with a little girl.. He sits inside a small tent with her.. Lots of paintings and drawings are scattered around them.. The girl seemed to be very happy and comfortable with him..

Maria's eyes filled with tears and a single tear dropped on the photo.

"Dad.."