The Misguided

The Therapist

CHAPTER 3 - The Therapist

Lilian was discharged after spending three days in critical care, her thoughts filled with no other than his propitious promise of going to couples' therapy, her only motivation through the soul-crushing treatments she had undergone at the hospital.

"How about we go to a session now? You suggested we should start." Lilian proposed the second she sat in the passenger seat after Daniel picked her up.

"Sure. Well, this should be fun." He murmured, unconvinced.

The moment they walked into the small clinic, they were greeted by the presence of Dr. Marco talking to the receptionist. He turned around, his frown instantly starting to smile the second he saw Lilian.

Dr. Marco is a youthful-looking man considering being in his late 40s. He has dark skin and brown curly hair, casting over his oval face; hazel eyes sparkle under the glimmering light through circular glasses. Dr. Marco's one of the most renowned Psychiatrists in Rural London for his extensive research in cognitive abilities while running his practice called "mind body and Soul" for the past ten years, providing patients with progress every visit. He's the only physician here, besides a few medical assistants, gracing patients' peace with a comfortable social environment.

He's been treating Lilian for quite some time now, ever since she rushed into an emergency the night her daughter passed. He's seen her at the lowest and highest and provided a crying shoulder through it all.

"Lilian! It's so good to see you!" Dr. Marco marched towards Lilian and enveloped her in his arms, a pat on the back with fatherly love. "Who's the guest here with us today?"

"This is Daniel Woods, my husband. I already talked to you on the phone about it yesterday, but," Lilian's gaze met Daniel's while their fingers intertwined, " We want to give couple therapy a try."

"Oh right, how could I forget! I'll let my assistant here provide you with options for the plans while I prepare my session with you that will happen in 5 minutes, on the dot." He exclaimed, checking the time on his electric watch.

"I'm so glad you are willing to take this risk with me," Lilian exclaimed." He always denied therapy and the efficacy of it. But today- he seemed hopeful and willing to try, reading an infographic on the wall.

The kind assistant gave them a tour of the place, accommodating Daniel, alongside a description and demonstration following each therapy forum.
After careful consideration, they selected a week-long trial for the emotionally focused couple therapy to try, ultimately deciding if this is a good fit for the specific faults in their relationship.

As Daniel took his wallet out of his coat pocket, something slipped and fell, meeting the ground with a loud thud. He adjusted his glance to face upwards, followed by a sigh. Lilian lowered her glance to see a black prepaid phone and grabbed it before he could respond. She smacked on the telephone repeatedly until the screen lit up after hitting the side button.

"Is that a burner phone?" Lilian asked; the warmth immediately meandered into anger. Seven missed calls were displayed from the contact,  "delivery man," Daniel's face began to flush.

He must've ordered a lot of food for the delivery guy to call him that many times...

Somehow, within the time of the passing wind- he changed. He became the same man she greets after his midnight trips, nothing like how he was at the hospital, pervading compassion and love, displaying an expression of degeneration towards her.

"Um, no," he responded hesitantly, snatching the phone out of her hand. " It's just for work, Lilian."