Teachers Tapestry

Fifty-one

The first day back has been okay, nothing has really happened.

I spent all of yesterday with Valentina. We cuddled and talked for some of the night before she took me home.

I told her about how I was starting therapy. She said she was so proud of me. And she was there for anything else, that I may need. Even if it was for me to come over and simply just sit with her afterwards.

Yesterday we also came up with a solid system for our bracelets, two taps for an "I miss you." And one for a piece of encouragement.

I've got therapy today. I'm skipping out on maths with is amazing because I don't like maths anyways.

Colton drove me to school in the morning, and now he's picked both me and Kinsley up.

"Where are we going Colton? Am I going to see miss Roberts again? Today was finger painting and I like that. But also the paint is cold." Kinsley asked in the backseat.

"Do you remember what we talked about pumpkin? About going to talk to a therapist?" Colton asked Kinsley from the drivers seat.

"Is that the doctor that can help with my feelings?"

"That right. Thats where we're going today." Colton said.

"Oh, does it hurt? I don't like the doctors."

"No pumpkin, you're going to talk. And maybe do some more drawing." Colton smiled at her through the rearview mirror.

"Yay! Can I keep them?" She asked excited about the drawing part.

"I'm sure you can." He answered.

The rest of the ride was Kinsley talking about her and Nala hiding behind the slide at recess and all the new kinds of maths they were learning. Like how to add and subtract big numbers with two digits.

When we arrived, Kinsley became reluctant to go inside, but I made a promise that when she was done I'd be outside the door since Kinsley's appointment is half an hour longer than mine and Colton also said we could go get ice cream.

We sat in reception waiting and instead of Kinsley talking like normal, she sat silently. I could tell she was growing nervous. She always did during something new and unfamiliar to her.

"Collette Hollis?" The receptionist called.

"Remember, just talk. If it doesn't work out, that's okay kiddo." Colton said with a smile before I got up.

I walked to the receptionist and she smiled at me.

"You can go in, Malorie will see you. Room five." I nodded and headed into room five.

The space was big. There was a nice view of the town from her window. I could see above the trees and into some of the strip. The windows offered a lot of light. Her office had a cozy feel to it. There were lit candles, a long couch with neatly folded blankets and two stuffed animals on either end of the couch, an elephant and a turtle. She had plants. Many plants. And little signs of encouragement on the wall. Her desk was tucked away in a corner separate from most of the main room.

"Collette, hello." She waved at me as she stepped away from her desk.

She was a tall woman, maybe in her late forty's or early fifty's. She had short blonde hair that was just about touching beneath her shoulders. She had blue eyes and high cheekbones. She was wearing a black pants suit with a white blouse and a pair of heels. Somehow her outfit was professional but not to the point of intimidation but a sense of comfort. She looked almost like Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson mixed together.