Oh, hello, my dear!

The laboratory smells of antiseptic and something faintly floral—perhaps the perfume Sylvia wore when she arrived. The observation glass gleams under the harsh fluorescent lights, creating a barrier between us that feels both physical and psychological.

I adjust the microphone, wondering if she can hear the static crackle from the other side. Her chair scrapes against the floor as she shifts position, the sound traveling clearly through our audio system. Today's session will begin momentarily, and I've prepared questions that might finally reveal the behavioral patterns we've been searching for.