How I Sapphire Young fell in love with Alessia Russo

Chapter 54

Sapphire's POV:

The flight back to England was long and silent, but it gave me a lot of time to think. Alessia and I sat side by side, our hands occasionally brushing against each other. It was a small gesture, but it reassured me that we were still connected, still willing to fight for this relationship.

As the plane descended into London, I looked over at Alessia. She was staring out the window, lost in thought. I squeezed her hand, and she turned to me with a small, hopeful smile.

"We're going to be okay," I said softly. "We'll get through this."

"I know," she replied, squeezing my hand back. "One step at a time."

After landing, we collected our luggage and made our way through customs. The familiar sights and sounds of Heathrow Airport were comforting in a way. It felt good to be home, even if home was currently a place of uncertainty and tension.

Once we were settled in a taxi heading back to our apartment, I decided it was time to make a concrete step forward. I pulled out my phone and searched for reputable couples counsellors in the area. After a few minutes, I found one with excellent reviews and a specialisation in relationship issues similar to ours.

"Alessia, I'm going to make an appointment with a counsellor," I said, showing her the details on my phone. "How does this look to you?"

She glanced at the screen and nodded. "They seem good. Let's do it."

I called the office and was pleasantly surprised when they had an opening the next day. I booked the appointment and felt a small sense of relief. At least we were doing something proactive.

The next day, we arrived at the counsellor's office. It was a small, cosy place with soft lighting and comfortable chairs. The walls were adorned with calming artwork, and a faint scent of lavender filled the air.

We were greeted by Dr. Emily Harris, a warm and welcoming woman in her early fifties. She had a gentle demeanour and an aura of trustworthiness that put me at ease almost immediately.

"Welcome, Sapphire, Alessia," she said with a smile. "Please, have a seat."

We sat down on the couch, and Dr. Harris took a seat across from us. She looked at us with kind eyes, her hands resting gently on her notebook.

"Before we begin, I want to commend you both for taking this step," she said. "It takes a lot of courage to seek help and work on your relationship."

I nodded, feeling a mix of anxiety and hope. "Thank you, Dr. Harris. We know we need to work on things."

Dr. Harris smiled and nodded. "Good. So, let's start with understanding what brought you here. Can you both share your perspectives on what's been happening in your relationship?"

I took a deep breath and began. "Well, we've been having trust issues. There have been... incidents where I felt betrayed, and it's been hard to move past them."

Alessia looked at me, her eyes filled with remorse. "I've made mistakes, and I regret them deeply. I've hurt Sapphire, and I want to do whatever it takes to fix this."

Dr. Harris listened attentively, nodding as we spoke. "It sounds like there's a lot of pain and regret on both sides. Trust is a crucial part of any relationship, and it's clear that it's been damaged here. But the fact that you're both willing to work on it is a positive sign."

She then guided us through a series of exercises designed to improve communication and rebuild trust. One exercise involved sharing our feelings without interruption, focusing on active listening and empathy.