Dark Rainbow

4. Rach

My thoughts were interrupted by Gage’s call.

“Hi…”

“Hello, Reen. It’s me, Gage.”

“Yes, I know that,” I laughed after hearing Gage’s rather official introduction.

“Wow, I never knew you had premonition abilities, hahaha.”

“Haha. So, Gage, packing done?”

“Yeah, all done. Just the PC and a few pieces of furniture to take down. Otherwise, all good. And you? Well, I’d like to know more about you.”

“Yeah, about that… I wanted to apologize beforehand. I lied about my name. It’s not Reen. My name is Rach. Rachel.”

“Okaayyy… Rachel. So, why Reen? I mean, I understand you’re not obligated to use your real name, especially in chat rooms, because of privacy. But Reen? Any specific reason for the name?”

“For privacy as well as security, you know, just in case. Ah, no, no reason. I just like that name from a series I watched way back.”

“Eh…?”

I couldn’t control my laughter any longer after hearing his response.

After a while, we found ourselves chatting about all sorts of irrelevant things. Gage openly told me about his family. He came from a normal, simple family. His father had passed away when he was fourteen, leaving behind his mother, his older brother, and him. His brother was ten years older than him and worked as a chief supervisor. He was unmarried, while his mother was a homemaker and part-time tailor.

Gage himself had started working when he was fourteen while continuing his studies after his father’s death. It was a simple life in a small family, but he had dreams and was always eager to learn and gain knowledge.

I could feel how open and truthful he was. There was no hesitation in the way he talked about himself, as though he had no reason to hide anything.

So, I decided to share a little about myself too.

“Gage… I want to tell you something.”

“Shoot it. I’m listening.”

I took a breath before saying, “My actual name is Rachel. Rach, as everyone calls me. I’m not a CA, but a registered nurse currently looking for a job.”

There was no sound from the other side. Not even a breath.

For a moment, I almost thought the line had disconnected. Worse, I wondered if he had hung up.

“Gage? Are you there?”

Before I could say another word, I heard him.

“Ya, yes, I’m here. Wow… so Rachel, a registered nurse. That’s beyond my qualification.”

I laughed when I heard him.

“No such thing. And I’m sorry for not revealing it sooner. I’m just…”

He continued my sentence.

“Being precautionary? I understand. Well, what does the name Reen mean then? I mean, why did you choose it?”

“It’s nothing. Just a name I fancied from a book I read a long time ago. I’m sorry once again. Aren’t you upset or something?”

“Nah, Rachel, no. Well, of course, I feel a little dumb, hahaha. But no, I’m good. Don’t overthink it. But I’m curious. Why are you looking for a job? As far as I know, nurses are in demand, right? Where did you study? I know one nursing college just beside my workplace here. Any possibility you graduated there? You know, I’ll smack my head if you did and I actually missed you, hahaha.”

I laughed at his wild imagination. Then I took a deep breath before telling him the reason. I paused for a moment, wondering whether it was really reasonable to tell him.

Eventually, I decided to just tell him, without any inhibition.

“Yes, true. It’s a demanding field. I studied nursing at Hospital Alexander in my hometown while being bonded with them for five years. So, no need to smack your head, hahaha.”

“Wow, that’s great. Your ambition was to be a nurse, something like that, I assume? Are you still attached to the hospital?”

I looked at the flowers while my grandma fussed around them. I smiled, but my mind was miles away from the scene in front of me.

“No. I chose nursing to escape home. And no, I’m no longer attached to the hospital. I broke the bond after two years of serving.”

This is already much smoother. I’d make only light adjustments for natural flow, grammar, and emotional pacing while keeping your dialogue and meaning intact:

Rach

After a moment of silence, I heard him speak.

“Schizophrenia? Rach, I’ve heard about it in movies, but… tell me, if you’re ready to open up.”

“Yes, I am ready. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

I took a moment before continuing.

“It was a sudden psychotic episode caused by several factors—genetic and biological factors, or a sudden trigger from past events. That’s what happened to me. Mine was caused by years of emotional and mental pressure that had accumulated deep inside me, until something suddenly triggered it.”

“Fuck.”

It was the first time I had heard Gage curse. It wasn’t loud. It sounded more like a quiet hiss, as if the word had escaped him before he could stop it.

“Rach… how did you manage it?”

I smiled faintly, though a dull pain spread through me. Every time I recalled those moments, it felt as though a heavy, stone-like weight settled in my chest.

“I had a breakdown all of a sudden. I went to the same hospital I was attached to for medical help. The doctor assessed me and immediately admitted me to the psychiatric ward.”

I paused, allowing myself a moment to breathe.

“I had worked in the psychiatric ward during my training days. I had even hoped to be attached to that department after a few years. But I never expected to return there this early… as a patient.”

Gage remained silent for a while. I could hear his breathing on the other side of the phone. He seemed to be processing everything I had just told him.

Then he took a deep breath.

“Rach, is it too much if I ask what triggered you that time? What actually was the root cause that led you to that situation?”

He paused before adding gently,

“Only if you’re comfortable sharing. If not today, then some other day. I can wait. If you want to tell me, I’ll listen. If you don’t, there’s no pressure.”

His question took me back to those moments. One by one, the memories came rushing back, flashing through my mind like fragments of a forgotten nightmare. The incidents I had buried deep inside began to surface, slowly unboxing everything I had left unsaid for so long.