It's a long story

Chapter III: settup

A week or two has passed since the last chapter.

I was standing in the cafe serving my last order before I went on break, Mills was meeting me for my lunch break. After I was finished I made myself an americano and sat beside her at a chair in the corner.

"So, how's therapy going? Any progress?" She asked whilst leaning over the table to stir her latte.

"I think it's going good, I don't really have anything to compare it to." I said as I sipped my drink.

"The sun shone through the window and the cafe was almost empty except for a few people studying and a really noisy party in the back.

"Is it hard-I mean- in your sessions, are you...pushing yourself really hard so that it's actually difficult?" She asked .

"I guess? I don't know, it isn't so bad"

"It should be, you should cry every time... are you? Crying-i mean." She asked

"Why? I don't."

"Crying means your digging really deep, the deeper you dig, the better it is for your anxiety."

"What do you usually talk about?" She asked as she blew on her drink before sipping it.

"My health, we talk about how I'm constantly afraid it's gonna happen again."

"What?"

"About a year ago I-I out of nowhere went into shock. They said I was in a coma because of it for three days. I've been in and out of hospitals and clinics ever since, but, no one knows why it happened."

"Jesus! That must have been horrible"

"It was."

"But it doesn't make you cry?"

"It makes me terrified, not sad"

"What makes you sad?"

"Well, there were things I've had happen to me in the past."

"Like what?"

"I don't really want to talk about it..." I stated whilst rubbing the back of my neck.

"Don't talk about it to me, to your therapist, she will help you." She said as she took my hand in support.

"Your so kind Mills."

"Thank you. Hey, why don't you come over after you get off?" She asked

"Okay" I said.

A lady came over to me.

"Excuse me miss, do you work here?" She asked her arms crossed

"Yes"

"Those people in the corner are being insanely loud."

"Okay, I'll ask them to keep it down, thank you."

Honestly it was bothering me too. I hadn't noticed but I had been talking pretty loud in a desperate attempt for Mills to hear me.

I walked over to the guys table. There were five of them.

"Pardon me, but as an employee I'm required to ask you to keep it down during the daytime because there are people studying here and I have gotten a complaint. Sorry." I said in my most understanding voice.

"Amira?" William said. Honestly I hadn't noticed that he was sitting there. Which I was really surprised about because all the other girls were sure as hell noticing it.

"Will!" I said giving him a friendly smile.

One of the boys nudged William.

"Oh! Erm, Amira there's something I wanted to ask you."