Assistance Required

Safety Net

TW anxiety, mention of suicide

Fri March 5

Virgil sighed as he entered the waiting room. He really didn't want to do therapy today. Way too much happened this week and he didn't want to deal with it. A part of him thought about just skipping, but Logan walked him down to the office to make sure he showed up.

Virgil bounced his leg as he waited. He didn't want to be here. Why did he have to be here? Couldn't he just go back to sleep? A nice nap before work sounded perfect.

"Virgil?"

He looked up to see May standing in the doorway. Virgil deflated before he stood up. They walked back to May's office. She closed the door behind them as Virgil sat down. He grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it as May sat down across from him.

"So," she started, "have you done any art this week?" Virgil shook his head. "Okay, well, I know last week seemed to be kind of a bad week. Would you say this week was worse or-"

"Worse, definitely worse."

"Okay, what made it worse?"

Virgil stared at the floor as he hugged his pillow. He could feel May staring at him as she patiently waited for his answer. He sighed.

"I'm getting fired."

"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"The company got bought out and now they're changing the staff."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Have you started looking for new jobs yet?"

Virgil shook his head as tears pricked his eyes.

"No, I haven't done anything."

"Well, just because you haven't worked towards getting a job doesn't mean you haven't done anything."

"I barely got my homework done this week. I didn't even finish my graphic design project!"

"What did you get done this week?"

"What do you mean?"

"Name something you actually did get done. Just because you didn't do everything you wanted doesn't mean you didn't get anything done."

Virgil paused for a moment.

"I guess I got my reading done for geology and I have most of my Spanish done, but I haven't started on the homework for Monday yet."

"Well, you still have all weekend to get it done."

"I guess," Virgil said.

"Okay, what about your painting class?"

"I didn't get that homework done either."

"You still have some time this weekend to get some stuff done."

"I still have to go to work this weekend! I haven't lost my job yet!"

"You still have some time. Just focus on one thing at a time. You said you have all of your geology reading done?"

"Well, not Tuesday's reading but I usually get that done on Monday."

"Okay, maybe it would help if you tried making a schedule. You're doing your reading on Monday. What do you think you can start on today?"

"I don't know if I can finish anything today."

"You don't have to finish the project, just get it started. What do you think you can start today?"

Virgil thought over all his work.

"I guess... I could do some Spanish today. Roman usually helps me when I'm lost since I suck at it."