บท 13: WHERE ALL ENDS!!!

The Next day, sterile white walls of the infirmary seemed to press in on Lisa as Dr. Marsh entered the room the next day. Lisa, still grappling with the remnants of her vivid hallucinations, turned her head towards the doctor, a flicker of fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

"Lisa," Dr. Marsh began gently, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "I wanted to talk to you about something important. Remember yesterday, how you told me about Luka?"

Lisa nodded hesitantly, a knot of apprehension tightening in her stomach.

"Dr. Marsh," she started, her voice barely a whisper, "is something wrong with me? Was Luka...not real?"

Dr. Marsh placed a comforting hand on Lisa's arm. "There's no easy way to say this," she began, "but the Luka you described, the one you met on the hike, in the park, the one you spent the night with...he wasn't real, Lisa. He was a product of your imagination."

Lisa's breath hitched. Denial threatened to take hold, but a tiny seed of doubt had already been planted during their conversation the previous day.

"But...but how?" she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Everything felt so real. The conversations, the warmth, the..." Her voice trailed off, unable to articulate the depth of her emotional connection to the imaginary Luka.

Dr. Marsh took a deep breath. "Let me explain what we've pieced together," she said. "According to you yesterday when I activated your sub-conscious mind. You, Selene, and Noah went on a hike. During the storm, you mentioned hearing a voice that led you to a cave. However, what actually happened was that you found the cave on your own and discovered dry sticks inside."

Dr. Marsh Then continued and pulled the bag from the evidence box. "This is the backpack we also found inside the cave. You also took out the lighter and lit the dried sticks. It contained food rations, enough to last a month or more, and a business card with a name of Luka."

Lisa stared at the evidence bag, a cold dread settling in her stomach.

"Now, about the park meetings," Dr. Marsh continued. "Unfortunately, security footage from the park shows you alone. It appears your conversations with Luka were a product of your hallucinations."

She went on to explain about the innkeeper, the CCTV footage from Lisa's apartment, all evidence pointing towards a meticulously constructed reality within Lisa's mind. As Dr. Marsh spoke, a part of Lisa's world crumbled. The memories, the emotions, all felt so real, yet the inconsistencies, the gaps, became painfully clear under Dr. Marsh's calm, logical explanation.

"Lisa," Dr. Marsh said softly, "it's understandable that this is overwhelming. You created Luka to fill a void in your life, to combat loneliness. But it's important to understand the distinction between reality and imagination."

Lisa, overwhelmed by the revelation, shut down. The world spun around her, and the carefully constructed world with Luka started to crumble. She couldn't grasp the truth, the very foundation of her reality crumbling beneath her feet.

A primal scream erupted from her throat, a desperate attempt to drown out the harsh reality. Panic surged through her, and she lunged towards a nearby object, her mind reverting to the coping mechanisms of the past.

Dr. Marsh, anticipating this reaction, had quickly alerted the security guards stationed outside. They rushed in, swiftly restraining Lisa before she could harm herself.

The struggle was brief, but it left Lisa drained and emotionally depleted. Exhaustion finally overtook her, and she slumped back onto the bed, tears silently streaming down her face.

Dr. Marsh later emerged from Lisa's room, her face grim. Selene and Lisa's parents awaited her, their faces etched with worry.

"Dr. Marsh," Selene spoke first, her voice trembling slightly, "how is Lisa?"

Dr. Marsh sighed. "Unfortunately, Lisa is struggling to accept reality," she explained. "She had a breakdown, and it's clear she needs further medical attention."

"Do you think she needs to be hospitalized?" Lisa's father asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Dr. Marsh nodded. "At this point, it's the most responsible course of action," she said. "We need to create a safe environment where she can receive intensive treatment and slowly learn to differentiate reality from her hallucinations. There's no set timeframe, but I assure you, she's not alone in this."

Selene embraced Lisa's parents, offering them what little comfort she could. They all understood the painful journey ahead, the hope for Lisa's recovery intertwined with the harsh reality of her condition.

Disoriented, Lisa blinked awake. Gone were the sterile white walls of the hospital room. Instead, she found herself sprawled amidst a seemingly endless field of vibrant wildflowers, their sweet fragrance filling the air. Butterflies danced in the gentle breeze, and a sense of serenity washed over her.

Hope flickered in her chest. Could it be? Was she dreaming?