Lost Causes

This month Dr Max is troubled by the reappearance of a patient who resists all help

- Max

I was having such a good night until she had to come along and spoil it all for me. I watch her talking to my friends at the other end of the table and get up under the pretext of going to the bar. I’m sure she doesn’t recognise me, but I don’t want to risk it. From a safe distance I watch her: she hasn’t changed. She puts her head coquettishly on one side and smiles. She’s good at it, I’ll give her that. Of course, they give in. Having got what she wants, she heads back out into the night. I return to the table. “Where’d you go?” asks one of my friends as he puts his wallet back in his pocket.

“How much did you give her?” I ask, smiling.

“Who? That girl? I gave her five pounds. Why? You know her?”

“She used to be one of my patients,” I say, ashamed that I hadn’t had the courage to remain in my seat while she was here.