Princess Charming (gxg)

Part 47

TW: This part does discuss the topic of parental abuse. 

When it reached Wednesday at 12:30 PM, the time that I had to leave for my therapy session, my palms were sweaty and my heart was racing. 

"It's going to be okay." Hallie said to me as she gave me a hug before I left, "They are just there to help you. Not to judge you or make you feel bad about anything." 

"Thank you." I said, giving her a hug back. 

When I pulled up to the therapy center, I sat in my car for a moment before I walked in. 

This will help you. It is for your own good, Alina. 

I walked into a waiting room with many plants and paintings that were all in neutral colors. I walked up to the desk and there was a woman behind it with long, curly red hair. 

"How can I help you?" she asked me, with a warm smile. 

"My name is Alina Koval." I said, "I have an appointment with Michelle at 1 PM." 

"Oh, yes! Hi, Alina. My name is Julie, we spoke on the phone. Did you fill out any of the paperwork online or do you need to fill it out here?" 

"I filled it all out online." I said, handing her the papers that I had printed out the night before and filled out. 

"Thank you so much for that, Alina. Michelle will be with you very shortly. You can take a seat, also feel free to make yourself s cup of coffee or tea." Julie said, nodding her head to a Keurig on a coffee cart. 

I was too nervous to drink a cup of coffee or tea. I sat in one of the chairs in the waiting room, and three minutes later, a tall woman with a honey blonde bob came out. 

She looked at me and gave me a smile, "Alina?" 

I stood up, "Yes." 

"My name is Michelle, it's nice to meet you. Come on back." she then motioned for me to follow her, back into an office. The office had a plush, comfortable looking chair- which I figured was for Michelle, and a couch right across from the chair, with a coffee table between. 

"Take a seat on the couch, get comfortable." Michelle said, taking a seat on the chair. I sat down on the couch, and she took out a notepad and a pen. 

I looked at her while she spoke to me. "So, Alina. What brings you to therapy today?" 

"Um, I've been struggling lately. I am doing a bit better now, but therapy was recommended to me." I said back. 

"Have you ever been in therapy before?" Michelle asked me. 

"A few years ago, when I started at the college I graduated from, I went to a therapy session on campus. But I only went once. I felt worse afterwards." 

"What made you seek therapy back then?" Michelle asked me. She had a warmth about her that was making me feel more comfortable to speak to her about all of my issues. 

"Well...it's kind of a long story." I said. 

"I am all ears- for as much as you are comfortable sharing with me today." Michelle said. 

So I told her about Jocelyn. About first meeting her, and then getting married right after high school. I told her about how the marriage felt like a dream at first, and then the abuse that followed afterwards. 

I felt my voice get shaky as I told Michelle about the events that led to Jocelyn's death. And receiving the phone call that she had died. 

"Right when I saw the call coming from a number I didn't have saved, I knew something terrible happened." I said, "I know that call was to tell my that my wife had died- but I honestly thought that my life was completely over that day as well. I truly thought there was no moving on from that. That I would never find happiness or joy, ever again. There are no words to describe how hopeless I felt- not even just that night, but for a long time after that. Every single day I felt completely worthless."