Before my shift started today, I decided that I would pay a visit to Dorothy's office to speak with her about taking Brandon out to the garden.

I didn't know if it would work, due to his outbreak just three days ago. But it was worth a try...

Standing outside Dorothy's office, I carefully knocked on the door while I swallowed hard. The thing I was going to ask her about actually made me quite nervous.

Even though Brandon behaved kind of good when he was around me, I didn't know how I was going to convince Dorothy about that without mentioning something about him having feelings for me, or about the kiss.

No matter how my words would come out, I had promised Brandon that I would try my best to get her to agree to take him out in the garden...

After being approved to get inside, I opened the door and stepped inside the abnormally big office.

"Beverly?" Dorothy said with a surprised, but friendly voice.

I walked over the room and I sat down in front of her where she sat by her desk.

One last time I thought about what to say to get the best response from her, then I opened my mouth to speak.

"I wanted to speak with you about Brandon," I said, using my friendliest voice.

She looked up at me with a curious face before she turned into concerned.

"Is everything okay? Did he do something to you?" She said with the most strict voice.

I immediately shook my head and shrugged before I continued to answer her.

I was still afraid of her.

"No. Actually... he's been very good lately, he talks to me and manages to stay calm during our sessions. He's not showing any sign of aggression at the moment and I think it's important to show him that he's behaving the right way. Also, I heard about nurse Browne and the tub situation - so I understand if you're doubtful. I just wanted to let you know that he's doing really good in the sessions with me,"

I explained myself carefully and accurately to get her to understand and maybe even feel a little bit of sympathy.

She played around with her pen for a couple of seconds. Her eyes were seriously stiff and she bit her lip while it looked like she was figuring out what to say.

"So how do you want to show him that really? You want to give him some type of reward, for behaving?"

Dorothy's words were skeptical and I began to lose my hope of succeeding. That was exactly what I meant and I didn't want her to think that I was stupid or that I was treating him differently from the other patients, but getting a reward for doing something good was in fact a perfect way of manipulating a person to keep doing the same.

"Brandon's been here for a while now, and he's not been outside ever since he arrived. I was just thinking about taking him out in the garden? Some fresh air could help his treatment and if he's already mad, I don't believe the constant time spent inside makes it any better,"

I noticed that I suddenly sounded kind of determined and reasoned. I didn't want to speak to her like she was the one who was wrong, but I did indeed want to convince her. For Brandon's sake.

Dorothy bit her lip once again and tensed her eyes into mine. Her eyebrows creased which highlighted the wrinkles in her forehead.

I got a little bit withdrawn and felt ashamed for speaking that way to her. She was still my chief and no matter what I said to her, her words were always the last.

"Are you sure that he's behaving? That was not really what I experienced this Saturday..."

Her statement made sense, but did she really think that I was lying to her?

Sure, I was exaggerating a bit while explaining how good his behavior was because it wasn't indeed the best, even if our last meeting just yesterday went better than any else. But still, I was eager about getting him out. After all, his bad behavior was also because of me, so he didn't deserve to be punished for it.

"I am sure. Yesterday he told me everything about his past, he even confessed that he regrets what he's done. I know, it's unbelievable, but that's exactly why I want to reward him,"

With one last time of trying, I convincingly answered Dorothy's question.

Her eyes widened a bit while she listened to me and she raised her eyebrows. Now her wrinkles were even more visible than before.

Her otherwise severe, angulate face now looked hilarious because of her expression.

She sighed out loud and leaned forward onto her elbows on the desk.

"You can take him out this afternoon, two hours maximum. But if he even as much as twitch, you force him into his cell again. Make sure no other patient is out there as well, if he's getting out it's just you and him, and a guardsman of course,"

I couldn't help but smile when I listened to Dorothy. She was actually allowing me to take him out?

The serious atmosphere between us got a little bit easier the second she gave me what I wanted.

"And I don't want you to make a scene out of this, Beverly. Make sure that no other patient from ward 5 gets to know this, and don't let Brandon think this will be his new habit,"

I nodded my head ardently while I got up from the chair in front of the determined woman.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Schwartz!"

"Well, get out then. Your shift starts now doesn't it?" She said with her rude, ironic voice and I followed her orders.

My heart was pounding with happiness of adrenaline as I walked my way out.

I couldn't believe I convinced her.

Brandon was going to be so happy about it.

I believed that this would mean so much to him. I couldn't even imagine staying inside for so long without even a little breath of fresh air.