The Clairvoyant

2

Two days later, I found Zoe basking in the sun in the corridor, clad in the hospital's standard striped gown, her legs covered with a blanket that draped onto the floor, giving her a whimsical, mermaid-like appearance.

She looked peaceful, her large, dark eyes gazing out the window.

"How have you been these past couple of days?" I asked, feigning friendliness as I checked her eyes for any signs of distress.

Zoe didn't answer my question directly. Instead, she tilted her head and said, "Doctor, your home is beautiful. From your bedroom balcony, one can see a lush lake and vast forests."

I chuckled, dismissing her comment. My apartment was in the heart of downtown, surrounded by nothing but concrete and the constant flow of traffic.

"There's even a sculpture in the middle of the lake," she continued, unfazed. "And your wife, she's stunning, smiles like a movie star. Does the tattoo on her collarbone spell her name in English?"

I froze for a moment, my signature on the paperwork suddenly sloppy.

I crouched to meet her gaze, my voice low. "Where did you learn about this?"

Zoe's eyes gleamed in the sunlight, squinting like a cat. "I told you, I can see."

I ushered her into my office and locked the door, trying to appear calm despite the tension. "Explain how you know this," I demanded, leaning back in my chair, not offering her a seat.

She played with her hair, her tone both mysterious and playful. "I touched you, so I saw what you did."

I scoffed, "So, I'm supposed to believe you have some sort of clairvoyance? Think I'm a fool like you?"

Grabbing the phone, I called the head nurse, accusing her of negligence for allowing a new patient to wander off.

The head nurse was initially surprised but assured me that Zoe hadn't left the hospital these past two days, as she was under constant watch.

Hanging up, I saw Zoe's smug expression. "Anyone I touch, I can see what they've done, even their connections," she claimed.

She raised an eyebrow, "That's why I was sent here. My family's afraid of me because I know all their secrets."

I swallowed hard, unable to discern the truth in Zoe's expression.

The phone rang, breaking the tension. An urgent call from the ward required my attention.

Before leaving, I pointed at Zoe, "Stay here until I get back."

I shut the door firmly behind me, confident in my control over the hospital.

Rushing back thirty minutes later, I admit, I was nervous about what I'd find.