• "Well, I think that's enough for today," said Alex, snapping shut his notebook and standing up. "I'll be back tomorrow."

    "Bye, bye!" said Henrick, "Good luck with your thesis thing!"

    When Alex had gone, Henrick went back to work on his latest project, a painting of a cat wearing a dress made of melted clocks.

    "What a hideous picture!"

    Henrick froze, but he didn't turn around. He already knew what he would see.

    "Cats only have two ears, you know."

    "It's... It's surrealism." In his mind's eye, Henrick saw the long, blonde hair, the light dangling from his forehead like the one's angler fish have...

    "I see the psychiatrist left. About time. He's a total git."

    "He's my friend." But mostly, Henrick saw the smile. The horrible, horrible smile.

    "You're friend? Ha! He's only talking to you so he can graduate. To him, you're only a project."

    "That's not true." The large grin that seemed to say, I know all about you. I know what you love, and it's not safe from me. I can easily make you suffer, and enjoy it immensely. And on top of it all, I have sharp teeth.

    "Just you wait. As soon as that psychiatrist finishes college, he'll stop coming. Just like Nicolai will."

    "Stop."

    "Just like Lambda will."

    "Stop!" Henrick turned around and there he was, grin and all.

    "Don't worry," he said. "I'll never leave you."

    The door opened. "Excuse me, I forgot my jacket."

    Henrick spun around.

    "Is everything alright?" asked Alex, closing the door behind him. "You look upset."

    "I'm fine." Henrick smiled. "I was just working on a painting."

    "Of course," said Alex, retrieving his jacket. "You went insane so you could be happy, right? Must be nice."

    "Alex?"

    Alex paused, hand on the door. "Yes?"

    "Sometimes." Henrick stared at the spot where Schadenfreude had been. "Sometimes I wish I was sane."