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ELMIRA SAT IN THE WAITING ROOM of Dr. Solace's office, her foot tapping nervously against the tile floor. The soft hum of the air conditioning and the quiet ticking of the wall clock only amplified her anxiety. The room was sparsely decorated—just a few nondescript paintings, a stack of magazines on the coffee table. She had been avoiding this moment, but her mother's insistence had finally worn her down. Now, as she waited to be called in, a knot tightened in her stomach, twisting with each passing second.
The door to Dr. Solace's office creaked open, and a tall, middle-aged man with graying hair and a kind but weary face stepped out. His warm smile didn't reach his eyes; there was something in them, something Elmira couldn't quite place—something hidden beneath the surface.
"Elmira?" he said softly. "I'm Dr. Solace. Please, come in."
Elmira stood, her legs feeling like lead. As she walked past him into the office, she noticed a slight hesitation in his movements, as if he were holding something back. She dismissed it as nerves—her own or maybe his. After all, this was their first session.
The office was cozy, with soft lighting and shelves lined with books. A large window let in the afternoon sun, casting a warm glow across the room. Dr. Solace gestured for Elmira to sit on the sofa while he took a seat in a leather armchair opposite her.
"Thank you for coming in today," he began, his voice steady but calm. "I know this might be difficult, but I want you to take your time. We can talk about whatever you're comfortable with."
Elmira glanced up at him, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don't know where to start," she admitted, her voice hardly above a whisper.
Dr. Solace nodded, his expression gentle. "That's okay. We can take things step by step. Why don't we start with how you've been feeling lately?"
Elmira hesitated, then sighed heavily. "Lost. Confused. Angry. I don't know, everything just feels... wrong."
"Wrong how?" Dr. Solace asked, leaning forward slightly.
