CHAPTER TWO

64 18 37
                                    

Heterophemize
(v.) to say something different from what you mean to say

——— Annabeth's PoV / 2nd November, 2023

"Annabeth, honey, I need you to talk to me." I nod, to show her that I'm listening.

Helen convinced my Dad to force me into therapy. Like I need that.

"Hi" I tell her, and she smiles as she writes something down. Okay, but what could she possibly be writing down! "Said Hi in a low voice equals Is a depressed pig."

"What are you writing down?" I am a curious person, okay. I hate to not know.

"Probably not what you thought I am."

"Meaning?"

"I didn't write anything down, I just wanted to see how you would react."

"Are you even allowed to do that?"

"Well I just did." she cracked a smile leaning back in her chair, I can't yet decide if I love or hate her.

"So..."

"So?"

"What am I supposed to do now?" I did some research on how the first therapy session should go, but my mind is blank, I feel like a helpless puppy. I never feel like a helpless puppy.

"I have some questions for starters." I nod, yeah, questions are easy. She pulls out a paper as she starts asking.

"What brought you to therapy?"

"Well... I was forced here." I laugh, not because I think it's funny, but because I don't want to make this awkward.

"By who?"

"My stepmother...or rather, she convinced my father to force me. She knew I wouldn't do it if she asked me."

"Why's that?"

Because I felt like betraying my mother whenever Helen and I were laughing, whenever she taught me something, whenever we had the smallest moment, I remembered that I could have had this with my real mother.

And especially if it's something like therapy.

"I don't know." Why am I lying? Like seriously Annabeth.

"You sure about that?"

"I guess." she nods, clearly not believing me, she doesn't push tho.

"Next question?" I ask, trying to move on from the current conversation.

"What do you feel is wrong in your life?" She asked like it's the most normal thing to say, I laughed at that.

"Dam. That escalated fast." She keeps a straight face.

"Well, people usually have a mother."

"You have a stepmother." She points out like that means anything.

"Well lawfully yes, she is the wife of my father, the mother of my brothers, but still far from being mine mother."

Escaping our Shadow - Percabeth AUWhere stories live. Discover now