One day I'll have it all. // Williamson

Games, heads and meetings

"How are you feeling, Valentina?" Dr.Cox asked, crossing his legs and his fingers on his lap.

I shrugged, scratching the back of my neck.

"Give me three emotions you felt the last few days."

"Mh... scared, happy, and sad." I replied.

"Alright. Why?"

I sighed softly at the question, my eyes instinctively rolling. "Can't we do a session like the last one?"

Dr. Cox chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow. "You mean an hour of you talking solely about Leah?"

I smirked, shaking my head slightly. "I mean, it was a pretty productive session, wasn't it?"

Dr. Cox leaned back in his chair, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm sure Leah would agree, but today, let's focus on you. So... scared, happy, and sad. Why those three?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of the question settle on my chest. "Okay, fine. Scared... because of my dad. I talked to him recently, and it's been... weird. I don't know what to expect, and I'm terrified he's only reaching out because I've made a name for myself now. Like, what if he's just playing nice for the wrong reasons?"

Dr. Cox nodded slowly, his face neutral but attentive. "That's a big one. It sounds like trust is a major factor here. After so many years of this... distanced relationship, it's understandable to feel cautious."

"Yeah, cautious would be the polite way to put it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "More like full-on paranoid."

"Fair enough," Dr. Cox replied with a small chuckle. "And happy? Where's that emotion coming from in the middle of all this?"

I couldn't help but smile as I thought of Leah. "Leah, mostly. I mean, being with her, going on that trip to Barcelona... it reminded me that there are still good things, even when everything else feels uncertain. She gets me. Like, truly gets me. And when I'm with her, I'm able to push aside all the fear, even if just for a little while."

Dr. Cox's smile softened. "She seems to be a huge source of stability for you."

"She is," I replied, nodding. "It's like, no matter what's going on in the outside world, Leah's my constant. And she's been so patient with me, especially with all the ups and downs with my ankle, and my dad, and everything."

Dr. Cox tilted his head slightly. "That's a good balance. Having someone who's there to support you, but also allowing you to process things at your own pace. And sad? Where does that come in?"

I sighed again, my voice quieter. "Viv leaving. Mostly. My ankle, too. My dog, also. I, hum... yeah, there's just a lot happening all at once," I continued, feeling the weight of everything as I said it out loud. "Viv leaving is hard for all of us. She's been such a big part of the team and... it's like losing a part of our foundation. Even if she's still going to be my friend, it's just not going to be the same, you know?"

Dr. Cox nodded, his expression empathetic. "Change, especially when it comes to something as integral to your life as your team, can bring a lot of sadness. It's a type of grief in a way—mourning the loss of what was familiar and stable."

"Exactly," I said, a bit surprised at how well he'd put it. "I'm not ready to face that yet, but I know I have to."

"And your ankle," Dr. Cox prompted. "That's still weighing on you, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I admitted, frustration creeping into my voice. "It's like... I know it's just temporary, but it feels like everything has been taken from me. Being on the sidelines, not contributing—it makes me feel useless. It's hard to watch everyone else out there, playing and pushing themselves, while I'm stuck. Even with Leah supporting me, I can't shake the feeling that I'm letting everyone down."