The counselor's office was a small, cozy space, with a large window that overlooked garden. The soft hum of a water fountain in the background created a soothing environment . It was helpful to calm the turmoil I felt inside. Rawls squeezed my hand reassuringly as we sat down on the couch, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The counselor, a kind-looking woman with a gentle smile, introduced herself as Dr. Laura. She began by explaining the process of grief and how it affects each person differently. "I know this is hard for both of you," she said, her voice soothing. "But talking about it can help you heal and move forward." I nodded, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. Rawls sat next to me, his thumb tracing patterns on the back of my hand. The gesture was comforting, but the fear remained, that whispered doubt in my ear. Dr. Laura began, her eyes meeting mine with a gentle insistence. "Can you tell me about the moment you found
The evening began with lighthearted conversation. The dining room table was set with my mother's fine china. The aroma of roast chicken and vegetables filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of my mother's favorite candles. Mom and Dad sat at the table, their faces beaming with pride as they watched me bring out the plates of food. The clink of silverware and the murmur of their approval as they tasted the meal I had so painstakingly prepared filled me with a warmth that was bittersweet. I knew that the revelation we were about to share would change everything. The conversation flowed easily. The laughter was genuine, the kind that fills a room and makes you feel like everything is right with the world. But beneath the surface, I felt the tension coiling in my stomach, tightening with every passing minute. I have never been so scared in my life. Mary looked over at me, her eyes filled with love and admiration. "Claire, this meal is simply delicious," she said, patting h
I decided to visit Evie before heading to work. The mental facility had suggested that she was more lucid and calm in the early hours, and I did not want to miss the chance to see her in a calmer state. I wanted her to know how much i missed her, but I also wanted her to understand the necessity of her being there. The drive to the hospital was quiet, the early morning traffic was light. My mind was racing with thoughts of Evie, wondering what she would say, how she would react. I missed my little girl, and the ache in my chest was a constant reminder of her absence. I hoped that with time and the right help, she would find peace and come back to me. When I arrived, the receptionist checked me in, and I was escorted to Evie's room. The halls were painted a light shade of blue, designed to ease anxieties, but it did not do much for my own racing heart. I haven’t seen her in days and I was not sure what to expect. When I walked into her room, she was sitting up in bed, staring o
As soon as I walked into work, I see Thelma. I can't wait to tell her about my weekend. "Claire, you are in bright and early this morning. And that is a pretty big smile on your face." Thelma looked up from her a big smile on her face. She had been my confidant through all of this, and I could tell she could see the change in me. "I have something to tell you," I said, my voice filled with excitement. "Rawls and I are back together, and we are going to make it work, no matter what anyone says." Thelma's eyes widened, and she immediately stood up, rushing over to give me a hug. "Oh, Claire, I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed. "But what about your parents?" "It's complicated," I sighed, taking a seat at my desk. "They're still upset, but I can't keep living my life to please them. I need to do what's right for me and for Rawls." "Let's go to the park for lunch and you can fill me in on all of the details." "Yes, ma'am. I can't wait." Today was one of those days
As soon as I heard the backdoor, I was so happy Claire was home. "Baby, I'm in the kitchen. How was your day?" As soon as I look at her, I know something is very wrong. Her eyes are red and puffy, and she is visibly shaking. I rush over to her, wrapping her in my arms. "What happened? Are you okay?" "It was Jonathan," she whispers, her voice trembling. "He...he attacked me in the parking lot." I pull her closer, my heart racing. "What? Are you okay?" "I...I think so," she says, her voice shaking. "I kneed him and got away. But he's so angry, Rawls. So much angrier than I ever thought he could be." My protective instincts flare up, and I hold her tighter. "You're safe now," I murmur into her hair, trying to soothe her. "Let's go into the living room and you can tell me everything." We sit down on the couch, her voice shaking as she recounts the incident. I listen, my jaw clenched, as she describes how he grabbed her and tried to kiss her against her will. The room fee
When the nurse came in this morning, I was feeling a little bit better. They were cutting back on my meds. I was going to have a group therapy session today. Guess they want me to be lucid in order for me to bare my soul. The therapist, Mrs. Hennessey, reminded me of a grandmother. She had a gentle way about her that made it easier to talk about the darkest moments of my life. But today, she was going to get more than she bargained for. The group therapy was small, only five of us, all young women with sad eyes and no smiles on their faces. We all had our reasons for being here, our own demons to face. I was the quiet one, the one who didn't say much. But today, I had to tell them. I had to get this secret off my chest. Mrs. Hennessey, the therapist, sat in the circle with us. She had a gentle smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, like she had seen too much pain in her career. "Let's start with you, Toni," she said, turning to the girl with short hair that was dyed blue.
It took everything in me to not go to Claire's office and beat the hell out of Jonathan Cramer. How dare he try to lay a hand on my woman. Makes me wonder how many other women he has tried this with. The image of Claire's tear-stained face and her trembling voice recounting the assault played over and over in my mind like a horror movie. I know I had to be smart about this. I couldn't just go in there and start throwing punches. That would only make things worse for Claire. But the urge to protect her was burning a hole in my chest. I couldn't sit around and do nothing while that scumbag was out there, breathing the same air as her. I had to come up with a plan. As the day dragged on, I found myself unable to focus on anything but the rage simmering just beneath the surface. The office felt like it was closing in on me, each tick of the clock a reminder of the injustice that had occurred. I knew I had to channel this anger into something productive. After a restless lunch,
I had trouble sleeping most of the night. I am worried about Rawls doing something to Jonathan after what happened yesterday. I love him dearly for wanting to protect me, but I don't want him to do something that will land him in jail. Claire: Thelma, I need to meet with you before we get started with work. Thelma: What's up sugar plum? Claire: It's about Jonathan. Something happened and I really need to talk about it. Thelma: Ok. Meet me at the office at 730 and we can have time before anyone else gets in. I don't know what I would do without Thelma. She has been my rock and confidant through so much. Rawls wasn't going into later to the office, so I snuck in and gave him a quick kiss before I headed out the door. I thought he was asleep, but he was just pretending because he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me down on the bed. "Where do you think, you are going to so early, my love." He was kissing down my neck and his facial hair was rubbing on my neck and g
I had trouble sleeping most of the night. I am worried about Rawls doing something to Jonathan after what happened yesterday. I love him dearly for wanting to protect me, but I don't want him to do something that will land him in jail. Claire: Thelma, I need to meet with you before we get started with work. Thelma: What's up sugar plum? Claire: It's about Jonathan. Something happened and I really need to talk about it. Thelma: Ok. Meet me at the office at 730 and we can have time before anyone else gets in. I don't know what I would do without Thelma. She has been my rock and confidant through so much. Rawls wasn't going into later to the office, so I snuck in and gave him a quick kiss before I headed out the door. I thought he was asleep, but he was just pretending because he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me down on the bed. "Where do you think, you are going to so early, my love." He was kissing down my neck and his facial hair was rubbing on my neck and g
I had trouble sleeping most of the night. I am worried about Rawls doing something to Jonathan after what happened yesterday. I love him dearly for wanting to protect me, but I don't want him to do something that will land him in jail. Claire: Thelma, I need to meet with you before we get started with work. Thelma: What's up sugar plum? Claire: It's about Jonathan. Something happened and I really need to talk about it. Thelma: Ok. Meet me at the office at 730 and we can have time before anyone else gets in. I don't know what I would do without Thelma. She has been my rock and confidant through so much. Rawls wasn't going into later to the office, so I snuck in and gave him a quick kiss before I headed out the door. I thought he was asleep, but he was just pretending because he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me down on the bed. "Where do you think, you are going to so early, my love." He was kissing down my neck and his facial hair was rubbing on my neck and g
It took everything in me to not go to Claire's office and beat the hell out of Jonathan Cramer. How dare he try to lay a hand on my woman. Makes me wonder how many other women he has tried this with. The image of Claire's tear-stained face and her trembling voice recounting the assault played over and over in my mind like a horror movie. I know I had to be smart about this. I couldn't just go in there and start throwing punches. That would only make things worse for Claire. But the urge to protect her was burning a hole in my chest. I couldn't sit around and do nothing while that scumbag was out there, breathing the same air as her. I had to come up with a plan. As the day dragged on, I found myself unable to focus on anything but the rage simmering just beneath the surface. The office felt like it was closing in on me, each tick of the clock a reminder of the injustice that had occurred. I knew I had to channel this anger into something productive. After a restless lunch,
When the nurse came in this morning, I was feeling a little bit better. They were cutting back on my meds. I was going to have a group therapy session today. Guess they want me to be lucid in order for me to bare my soul. The therapist, Mrs. Hennessey, reminded me of a grandmother. She had a gentle way about her that made it easier to talk about the darkest moments of my life. But today, she was going to get more than she bargained for. The group therapy was small, only five of us, all young women with sad eyes and no smiles on their faces. We all had our reasons for being here, our own demons to face. I was the quiet one, the one who didn't say much. But today, I had to tell them. I had to get this secret off my chest. Mrs. Hennessey, the therapist, sat in the circle with us. She had a gentle smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, like she had seen too much pain in her career. "Let's start with you, Toni," she said, turning to the girl with short hair that was dyed blue.
As soon as I heard the backdoor, I was so happy Claire was home. "Baby, I'm in the kitchen. How was your day?" As soon as I look at her, I know something is very wrong. Her eyes are red and puffy, and she is visibly shaking. I rush over to her, wrapping her in my arms. "What happened? Are you okay?" "It was Jonathan," she whispers, her voice trembling. "He...he attacked me in the parking lot." I pull her closer, my heart racing. "What? Are you okay?" "I...I think so," she says, her voice shaking. "I kneed him and got away. But he's so angry, Rawls. So much angrier than I ever thought he could be." My protective instincts flare up, and I hold her tighter. "You're safe now," I murmur into her hair, trying to soothe her. "Let's go into the living room and you can tell me everything." We sit down on the couch, her voice shaking as she recounts the incident. I listen, my jaw clenched, as she describes how he grabbed her and tried to kiss her against her will. The room fee
As soon as I walked into work, I see Thelma. I can't wait to tell her about my weekend. "Claire, you are in bright and early this morning. And that is a pretty big smile on your face." Thelma looked up from her a big smile on her face. She had been my confidant through all of this, and I could tell she could see the change in me. "I have something to tell you," I said, my voice filled with excitement. "Rawls and I are back together, and we are going to make it work, no matter what anyone says." Thelma's eyes widened, and she immediately stood up, rushing over to give me a hug. "Oh, Claire, I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed. "But what about your parents?" "It's complicated," I sighed, taking a seat at my desk. "They're still upset, but I can't keep living my life to please them. I need to do what's right for me and for Rawls." "Let's go to the park for lunch and you can fill me in on all of the details." "Yes, ma'am. I can't wait." Today was one of those days
I decided to visit Evie before heading to work. The mental facility had suggested that she was more lucid and calm in the early hours, and I did not want to miss the chance to see her in a calmer state. I wanted her to know how much i missed her, but I also wanted her to understand the necessity of her being there. The drive to the hospital was quiet, the early morning traffic was light. My mind was racing with thoughts of Evie, wondering what she would say, how she would react. I missed my little girl, and the ache in my chest was a constant reminder of her absence. I hoped that with time and the right help, she would find peace and come back to me. When I arrived, the receptionist checked me in, and I was escorted to Evie's room. The halls were painted a light shade of blue, designed to ease anxieties, but it did not do much for my own racing heart. I haven’t seen her in days and I was not sure what to expect. When I walked into her room, she was sitting up in bed, staring o
The evening began with lighthearted conversation. The dining room table was set with my mother's fine china. The aroma of roast chicken and vegetables filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of my mother's favorite candles. Mom and Dad sat at the table, their faces beaming with pride as they watched me bring out the plates of food. The clink of silverware and the murmur of their approval as they tasted the meal I had so painstakingly prepared filled me with a warmth that was bittersweet. I knew that the revelation we were about to share would change everything. The conversation flowed easily. The laughter was genuine, the kind that fills a room and makes you feel like everything is right with the world. But beneath the surface, I felt the tension coiling in my stomach, tightening with every passing minute. I have never been so scared in my life. Mary looked over at me, her eyes filled with love and admiration. "Claire, this meal is simply delicious," she said, patting h
The counselor's office was a small, cozy space, with a large window that overlooked garden. The soft hum of a water fountain in the background created a soothing environment . It was helpful to calm the turmoil I felt inside. Rawls squeezed my hand reassuringly as we sat down on the couch, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The counselor, a kind-looking woman with a gentle smile, introduced herself as Dr. Laura. She began by explaining the process of grief and how it affects each person differently. "I know this is hard for both of you," she said, her voice soothing. "But talking about it can help you heal and move forward." I nodded, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. Rawls sat next to me, his thumb tracing patterns on the back of my hand. The gesture was comforting, but the fear remained, that whispered doubt in my ear. Dr. Laura began, her eyes meeting mine with a gentle insistence. "Can you tell me about the moment you found