The Man Who Smiled Too Much
CHAPTER 1: “The First Session”
//It started like a joke. At least, that’s how Mikhael treated it.//
Cody Miller
"Bro, you seriously need help"
*Cody had told him, tossing a basketball into the air while the others—Gabrielle and Jasmine—nodded behind him.*
*Mikhael laughed it off, like he always did.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Come on, therapy?”
Mikhael Hayes
“What am I gonna do there? Cry about my childhood while some old guy takes notes?”
*Jasmine said, raising a brow.*
Jasmine Harris
“She’s not old. She’s hot.”
*That got his attention.*
*He walked into a clean, white office smelling like lavender and new furniture.*
*He named on the frosted door: Dr. Aurora Sinclair. Psychiatrist.*
*He heard the quiet music played in the background. Something soft and calm. The place was nothing like him.*
*He had his usual smile on, the kind that made people think he was okay. The kind that covered up everything else.*
*She looked up from her desk as he entered. She was young. Pretty. Calm in a way he wasn’t used to. Her eyes studied him, and it made him feel… seen. He didn’t like that.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You must be Mikhael Hayes"
*She said, standing to shake his hand.*
Mikhael Hayes
“But you can call me anytime.”
*She gave a small, polite smile.*
Aurora Sinclair
“Have a seat.”
*They sat across from each other. Mikhael leaned back like he owned the place.*
Mikhael Hayes
“So, Dr. Sinclair”
Mikhael Hayes
“What’s your damage?”
Aurora Sinclair
“We’re here to talk about yours, not mine.”
Mikhael Hayes
“Tough crowd”
*Aurora observed him carefully, her voice even.*
Aurora Sinclair
“How are you feeling today?”
Mikhael Hayes
“I feel like I’m wasting your time”
*He replied, still smiling.*
Mikhael Hayes
“But if you’re getting paid, I’m glad to help.”
Aurora Sinclair
“You don’t believe in therapy?”
Mikhael Hayes
“I believe in good company”
*He said that while winking.*
Aurora Sinclair
“And why do you think your friends suggested this for you?”
Mikhael Hayes
“They worry too much. I’m fine. See?”
*He flashed his brightest smile.*
*Aurora paused for a moment.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You smile a lot.”
Mikhael Hayes
“It’s my best feature”
Aurora Sinclair
“It’s also a good mask.”
*His smile faded just a little. Not enough for her to call him out, but enough for her to notice.*
*He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, trying to regain control.*
Mikhael Hayes
“So what, Doc? You think you’ve already got me figured out?”
Aurora Sinclair
“you’re hiding something very painful behind that smile. And I think you’re exhausted.”
*He looked at her, really looked. The room felt smaller now.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You’re good.”
*Aurora didn’t reply. She just gave him a look that said, "I see you, even when you don’t want to be seen."*
*For a second, Mikhael didn’t know what to say. So he laughed again. Louder this time. But it didn’t feel real.*
*Aurora sat at her desk, looking at her notes.*
~/Mikhael Hayes. Hides behind humor. Avoids real questions. Possible unresolved trauma. Keep sessions consistent. Gain trust slowly./~
*She sighed, staring at the door he’d walked out of.*
*She had a feeling he’d be back.*
*And she had a feeling that smile of his was going to break her heart.*
CHAPTER 2: “He's Not Taking It Seriously”
//Mikhael came back the next week—late, of course.//
*He strolled in with that same cocky grin, wearing a hoodie and a coffee in one hand like he was just meeting a friend.*
*Aurora looked up from her notebook as he opened the door.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You’re fifteen minutes late”
Mikhael Hayes
“I figured you’d miss me if I didn’t keep you waiting”
*He shot back, sliding into the chair with a smirk.*
*Aurora didn’t laugh. She just closed her notebook and folded her hands in front of her.*
Aurora Sinclair
“this is a safe space. You can joke, but only if you're also willing to be honest.”
*He leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Look, Doc… I don’t do ‘feelings.’ I talk, I joke, I vibe. That’s my therapy.”
Aurora Sinclair
“Your jokes won’t heal you”
*He turned his head to look at her.*
Mikhael Hayes
“And talking to a stranger will?”
Aurora Sinclair
“I’m not here to be a stranger. I’m here to help you face what you’ve been avoiding.”
*He was quiet for a moment. Then he chuckled and looked away.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You’re serious all the time. You ever laugh?”
Aurora Sinclair
“But not when someone’s clearly using humor to avoid the truth.”
*He stared at her, the teasing dropping for just a second.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You’re really not gonna let me off easy, huh?”
Aurora Sinclair
“I’m not.”
*Mikhael was sitting on the rooftop of Cody’s apartment, legs dangling over the edge.*
*Jasmine passed him a soda, and Gabrielle sat beside him, silently watching the cars below.*
Mikhael Hayes
“She’s different”
Mikhael Hayes
“The shrink.”
Mikhael Hayes
“That’s not what I meant”
Gabrielle Clark
“She’s not buying your ‘clown act,’ huh?”
Mikhael Hayes
“Nope. It’s like… she sees through it. Like she knows I’m lying when I say I’m fine.”
Jasmine Harris
“Because you are lying”
*Mikhael didn’t say anything.*
*He was on time, but he still had jokes.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You ever get tired of being so professional?”
*He asked as he sat down.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You ever get tired of pretending to be okay?”
*She replied without missing a beat.*
*He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.*
//Flashback: Two years ago//
((There was screaming. A dark hallway. Blood on his hands. A younger Mikhael crying, shaking, backing into a corner. A voice shouting his name. Then silence.))
*He gasped awake in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat.*
*Mikhael rubbed his eyes as he sat alone in his apartment.*
*His phone buzzed—Cody, asking if he was coming out tonight. He typed, Not tonight. Just tired. Then tossed the phone aside.*
*He wasn't tired. He just couldn’t stop hearing the past.*
*At her place, Aurora read over his file again. She had scribbled a note under today’s session:*
~/Mikhael jokes more when he’s nervous. Pushed him again today. He hesitated. He remembers more than he admits./~
*She stared at his name.*
*She knew she had to be careful. If she pushed too hard, he’d run.*
*But if she didn’t… he might fall deeper into whatever he was hiding from.*
CHAPTER 3: “Cracks in the Mask”
//It was raining the next time Mikhael showed up.//
*He didn’t bring an umbrella. His hoodie was soaked, water dripping from his hair onto the office floor. But he didn’t care.*
*Aurora handed him a towel without a word.*
*He said, rubbing the back of his neck.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Didn’t know weather could be this dramatic.”
*She offered a small smile.*
Aurora Sinclair
“Or maybe it’s matching your mood.”
*He flopped into the chair with a sigh.*
Mikhael Hayes
“You always gotta go deep, huh?”
*Aurora didn’t answer. She just waited.*
*For the first time, he looked tired. Like, exhausted. Not just physically—emotionally drained. He didn’t make a joke this time. He sat there, staring at the floor.*
Aurora Sinclair
“You didn’t sleep”
Mikhael Hayes
“Didn’t want to”
Aurora Sinclair
“Nightmares?”
Mikhael Hayes
“Yeah. Loud ones.”
Aurora Sinclair
“Do you remember them?”
Mikhael Hayes
“But I don’t want to talk about them.”
Aurora Sinclair
“I won’t force you.”
*That silence stretched between them again. Heavy but honest. Then he spoke.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Do you believe people can forget things on purpose?”
Aurora Sinclair
“It’s a defense mechanism. Our brains sometimes block out what’s too painful to remember.”
Mikhael Hayes
“Cool. So I’m not crazy.”
Aurora Sinclair
“You’re not”
*He let out a shaky breath.*
Mikhael Hayes
“I think... something happened. Back then. Like, really back then. But it’s like a fog. And when I try to think about it, it feels like I’m gonna choke.”
Aurora Sinclair
“That’s your body protecting itself”
Aurora Sinclair
“But it also means there’s something there. Something that wants to be seen.”
*Mikhael leaned forward, fingers clenched.*
Mikhael Hayes
“What if I don’t want to see it?”
*Aurora’s voice softened.*
Aurora Sinclair
“Then we take it slow. One step at a time. I’m not here to drag you into anything. I’m here to walk beside you when you’re ready.”
*He looked up at her, eyes red-rimmed.*
Mikhael Hayes
“Why do you care?”
Aurora Sinclair
“Because you deserve to be helped. Even if you don’t believe it yet.”
*Mia, Scarlett, and Stella were sitting with Aurora at her apartment, wine glasses on the table, soft music in the background.*
Stella Taylor
“So? How’s therapy guy?”
*Scarlett raised an eyebrow.*
Scarlett Lewis
“Ooh. That face. You’re invested.”
*Aurora said too quickly.*
Aurora Sinclair
“He’s… complicated.”
Mia Thompson
“Complicated hot?”
Aurora Sinclair
“He’s charming, flirty, but there’s so much pain underneath. I can feel it. And sometimes, when he lets it slip… it’s heavy. It hits me.”
Scarlett Lewis
“Do you like him?”
*Scarlett asked, tilting her head.*
Aurora Sinclair
“It’s not about that. He’s my patient”
*But deep down, she knew something in her had shifted.*
*Mikhael sat on the floor of his bedroom, old photos spread out around him. One of them caught his eye. A younger version of himself, standing beside someone whose face he couldn’t see clearly. It was blurred, water-damaged. But it made his chest tighten.*
*He touched the photo, fingers shaking.*
*"Why can’t I remember?" he thought. "Why does it hurt so bad to try?"*
Gabrielle Clark
You okay? Haven’t heard from you today.
*He stared at the message but didn’t reply.*
((Screaming. A door slamming. A woman crying.))
((A sharp sound—glass shattering. Then silence.))
？？？
“Mikhael, don’t look.”
*For the first time in weeks, the smile never came back.*
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