A Necessary Treatment

I've been caring for Alex since he moved in three months ago. At first, it was purely professional, a man in his mid-thirties suffering from a severe mental breakdown necessitating round-the-clock care. But as weeks turned into months, something shifted. I found myself enforcing routines with an uncharacteristic sternness, and the way Alex would look at me when he’s ‘in trouble’, a mix of fear and longing, brought out responses in me that were anything but clinical. One night, after a particularly trying session where he'd skipped his medication, I had to physically restrain him until he calmed down. It was necessary for his health, but the way his body responded to my touch... it was all too clear this wasn't just about treatment anymore.