Marina One Shots

The Goddess and the Volcano

"This will be good for us" Carina says not sure if she even believes herself. She looks up at the building and then to her girlfriend, who looks hesitant. The couple stands next to one another in a parking lot, about to go into their first session of couples therapy.

"Well, I guess we should go in" Maya says. "Yeah, probably" Carina replies. Yet, neither of them move. They stand in the same position looking at the building for another good minute, in complete silence. Then, a stranger approaches them and asks, "Are you two going in or....." Both of them look at the stranger, and then to each other, "yeah um, we're just gonna head inside now" Maya says awkwardly as she leads them towards the front door.

"Which way bambina?" Carina asks. Maya pulls out her phone. "Apparently... we should go down this hallway, an elevator will be on our right, and we go to the....." Maya brings the phone slightly closer to her face "third floor".  They walk down the hallway, into the elevator, and press the 3.

The two women ride the elevator silently. Thoughts pile up in both their heads. Carina thinking why Maya is so tense and why even she chose to set up the appointment in the first place. Maya thinking if she wants to, should, or is even ready to, tell Carina the worries she has about their relationship.

They start walking down a hallway towards the correct room. Maya takes a second to stop and admire the gorgeous Italian lady by her side, dreading that she'll have to burden her with her insecurities. When they arrive at the door, they walk in and sit on a surprisingly comfortable couch.

                                           ***

"Hello, I am Dr. Hendrix, and you guys are Maya and Carina" she says pointing at each of women "right?" Carina nods in response.

"So Maya, you decided that you two should come in and see me. Could you tell me a little bit about your relationship". Carina silently laughs as if she heard a ridiculously stupid statement. The therapist notices and asks, "what are you thinking Carina?"

Carina turns her body towards Maya and starts "You never wanted therapy, you pushed away from it, repeatedly...but now....now all of a sudden you make this appointment and, and I just want to know....why?" Maya doesn't respond.

Dr. Hendrix explains, "Well some couples come here because one person needs to tell the other something. Being here, in the comfort of these walls, just makes the experience easier for both parties in the relationship." Carina glances over at Maya who starts playing with her fingers avoiding any and all eye contact.

Trying to deter the attention off of the therapists comment Maya says, "Why don't I just you tell about us?" She repositions herself on the couch "Uh we met a little under a year ago, and we have just recently moved in together."

Dr.Hendrix starts writing in her notepad. Not knowing what she is writing is killing Maya. "Um, what are you writing" Maya says nervously.

"These are just notes for me, no need to stress over it, pretend like I'm not even writing them" Dr.Hendrix says. But Maya can't let go of it, she starts to tense up a little bit.

"How did you two meet each other?" the therapist asks. Carina starts, "I am an OB and she is a fire captain-" Maya notices that Dr.Hendrix starts writing again and tries not to say anything but gives in "and....you are writing again."  The therapist looks up at her. "I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be thinking about it. Just- um- continue Carina."

Carina waits for a second and looks at Maya but then decides to continue. "I was with a patient in the ER, and she walked in with a nose in a plastic bag. And then a little later I came up to her in a bar and.....well it goes from there."

Dr. Hendrix asks, "What would you say the biggest breaking point of your relationship was." The couple look at one another, knowing that they both know exactly what the answer is. Ashamed, Maya says, "when I.... cheated on her." She immediately looks down at her hands. "I.....slept.....with.....Jack."

"Who's Jack?" says Dr. Hendrix. Maya says, "He's my ex-boyfriend..... who is also my co-worker."
"Was this a one time thing?" the therapist asks.

Maya's eyes widen and her head nods as she says, "Definitely, definitely a one time thing, and I-"

"Why'd you do it?" Carina says angrily as she cuts Maya off. "I mean we never really talked about it so, why- why'd you cheat on me.... with Jack of all people".

"Are we really going to have this argument right now?"

"Yes! I want to know why!!!"

"I don't even know"

"That's not good enough!"

"Carina-"

"No!- I was there for you. THE. WHOLE. TIME. When you told me to give you space, you ran off. And then slept with Jack while I was patiently waiting for you in your apartment"

"I DID IT...because I was mad and Jack walked in and sleeping with him felt like something that would calm me down. I know that's not an excuse but you wanted the truth so THERE IT IS"

"I just don't get it!......I was there for you in the beginning, when you told me you didn't want me. I was there for you the multiple times you yelled at me, when all I did was try to help you. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I am there.....all you do is push away-"

"THATS THE PROBLEM!!!" Maya's voice starts to get softer. "You are there for me...."

"What do you mean?" Carina asks although she gets no response.

Dr. Hendrix asks, "Maya, why is it a problem that Carina is there for you?"

Maya answers trying to hold back incoming tears,
"You are perfect, I mean look at you, you are this perfect, sexy, Italian, goddess. And I am.. this.. volcano that could erupt at any moment. One day...... you are going to be there for me, when I erupt, and I'm going to ruin everything. Just like my dad, I'm gonna lash out and we're gonna be over."

Silence falls upon the women until the therapist asks "Carina, did you know that Maya was worried about that?"

"No, I didn't... and Bambina" Carina turns to face Maya "you are nothing like your dad, and you're not going to be" she starts wrapping her arms around Maya for a big hug, "I'll tell you what, if you erupt, I'll stay with you until the lava becomes magma."

"I have no idea what that means" Maya responds laughing, trying to wipe the tears that dripped down her face.

"No need bellissima, it's a little fact I learned from a patient, just....... don't hide these things from me anymore."

Dr. Hendrix comments, "It seems like we made some real progress today"

"Yeah!" Maya says looking at Carina with the biggest smile "we did"