Sarah, being treated for clinical depression.

Sarah glanced nervously around the room. She had long grown accustomed to hospitals and clinics, but today she was more anxious than usual. In her battle with depression, she'd blown right through the early treatments of antidepressants and lifestyle changes to the more **** measures. She'd tried transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine, even ECT, and nothing had taken away the fog of dysthymia. She was even considering a cingulotomy when her psychiatrist had mentioned this new treatment.

"Phenomenological Anesthesia", they'd called it. It sounded made-up to her but people swore by it. One man had gone from weekly suicide attempts to being a respected community organizer, and a woman with crippling agoraphobia was now an accomplished kayaker. The doctor gave her this ****, she spent a week feeling better than she ever could have imagined, and by the time she came back down her mood will have leveled out to leave her free from the noonday demon that had stalker her since she was fourteen.

Zack reached over and squeezed her hand. Her boyfriend had been there through all of it, even the worst times. She could recall many times laying in bed in tears, begging him to leave her because she was toxic, a waste of space, a burden. And he calmly and patiently stuck by her through all of it. Canceled dates, embarrassing public breakdowns, entire weeks of near-catatonic despair- he had managed to be there for her. Now, allowing herself to get her hopes up just a little, she smiled at him.

"Ok, Ms. Garcia. How are we feeling today?" Dr. Simon asked as he strode into the small room confidently. From their first meeting, he had been a reassuring presence- it felt like he was in control but also kind and gentle. He had explained the whole process to her at their consultation last week; all that was left was to start the treatment.

"I'm ok, better than usual. To be honest I'm very nervous about this whole thing."

He chuckled softly. "That's completely normal, dear. Don't worry, the procedure is very simple and soon enough you'll be feeling just fine."

Zack squeezed her hand reassuringly as a nurse started to prepare an IV.

"Alright, the drip is starting now. You should begin to feel the effects within five minutes." The doctor turned to Zack. "Shall we go over it one more time?"