Team Sparia

Chapter 32 - "O Romeo Romeo where art thou Romeo?"

Spencer's POV
"I want to try something new." Dr Sullivan places her notebook down on the coffee table and sits further forward on her chair.
"Okay?" I ask curiously. Dr Sullivan had helped me with small affairs in my life that caused me small problems but I had a suspicion that this was going to be different.
"Lie down and close your eyes." She orders which I raise an eyebrow at. "Just do it Spencer." I roll my eyes but follow her instructions, laying my feet on the couch and lying on my back facing the ceiling with my eyes closed. "Take a deep breath in..." She coaches and waits for me to obey. "And back out again." I breathe out, I was starting to feel relaxed. "Now I want you to clear your mind of all thoughts." Dr Sullivan continues.
"Done." I respond.
"You're in the alleyway where you were stabbed." Dr Sullivan says and the image materialises before my eyes almost like I'm there, even though I know I'm not, I'm lying on a couch. "Spencer, steady your breathing." Dr Sullivan's voice interrupts my momentary panic of being back in the alleyway.
"I don't want to be here." I whimper. I want to open my eyes but, at the same time, I don't, I want to get better, I want to face my fears.
"You're in a safe environment Spencer, nothing can hurt you, just remember that and you'll be fine." Dr Sullivan reassures and I feel like I nod my head in response - though I'm not certain.

"Tell me what you see?" Dr Sullivan asks.
"I'm in the alleyway, where I was stabbed, it's dark and cold." I say looking around at my surroundings.
"Is he there?" Dr Sullivan asks the dreaded question.
"Not right now." I reply taking deep breaths like Dr Sullivan had told me. Suddenly, I'm at the opening of the alleyway my legs moving and my hand attached to another. I look to my right and see Aria - her eyes uncertain of the narrow shortcut I had suggested. "Aria's here, I don't want her to be here." I panic wanting to stop my feet but failing.
"It's okay Spencer, your mind is just recreating the events, my hope is that you can correct what happened and rid yourself of any unresolved feelings." Dr Sullivan reveals.
"I don't want to do this. Wake me up." I continue down the alleyway with Aria in tow.
"Calm down Spencer, you're okay remember, Aria isn't really there and you can't really be hurt." That didn't make it any better. It was like my nightmares, which even though they weren't real, I was still haunted by them. Just then the man enters the alleyway, wearing the characteristic black hoodie, shielding his face from my vision. My breathing increases noticeably and I feel a new sheet of sweat coat my forehead. Aria's hand grips mine and I feel trapped. "You're in control of the situation." I hear Dr Sullivan's voice say.
"No, no, I'm not." I say my words fast obviously panicked. The man steps in front of us stopping me in my tracks. "He's here." I say breathlessly.
"What are you afraid of?" Dr Sullivan asks through the fog of my mind.
"Are you kidding me? He has a freaking knife!" I yell in disbelief. His eyes flicker to Aria and I tense automatically seeing the shine in his eyes and knowing exactly what he was thinking. No matter what, I won't let him hurt Aria. It's my job to protect her. I swallow the lump of fear in my throat and begin the breathing exercises that Dr Sullivan had told me to do. This isn't real, he isn't real, you can do this Spencer. "What's happening?" Dr Sullivan asks carefully.
"I won't let him hurt Aria - I can't let him hurt Aria." I say determined. I see the shiney knife in his hand and instinctively, I ball my hand into a fist, pull back and strike him right in the jaw. I feel his jaw crack under my boney knuckles and he crumples to the floor. I shake my hand out, not for any specific reason since I hadn't literally punched him.

My eyes snap open and I sit up quickly almost head butting Dr Sullivan as I do so. "Are you okay?" She asks sounding concerned. I look at my fist that showed no sign of bing injured - nor did it hurt in anyway.
"Yeah." I sigh pushing my hair back. "It felt food to punch that guy in the face." I laugh.
"You were in control of the situation." Dr Sullivan says crossing back over to her chair, she must have got up during the exercise. "During the actual event you had no control, which isn't easy for you, by doing this exercise you were able to control the events."
"I do hate to give up control." I say sitting upright to face Dr Sullivan.
"You were afraid of losing Aria more than you were afraid of being stabbed, although, I'm sure that knives still cause you some discomfort?" Dr Sulliivan asks.
"I guess, but it's getting easier, I think this is helping." I confess.
"Have you had anymore nightmares or flashbacks?" She asks.
"A couple nightmares, no flashbacks. It's been better since we got Romeo and Aria and I have been better than ever." I say happily.
"What about sexually?" Dr Sullivan asks out of the blue. I almost fall off the couch at the question stuttering a couple times in surprise.
"W-what do you mean?" I ask stunned.
"Are you and Aria sexually active?" Dr Sullivan doesn't even bat an eyelash.
"What kind of question is that? Is this really that important?" That was kind of personal.
"I'm not going to judge you Spencer. It's not a crime to have sex with your fiancé." Dr Sullivan peers up from her notebook.
"It's going... Fine." How are you supposed to answer a question like that?
"Have you had sex since the accident?" She continues.
"Yes." I answer quickly.
"Excessively?" She asks scribbling words down.
"Um, not particularly, why? Is this really necessary?" I ask feeling flustered.
"That's fine. You haven't been tempted into taking drugs again?" Dr Sullivan asks. Drugs and sex in one sitting, great.
"Not for a long time." I reply. The clock chimes snapping me out of my thoughts.
"I think we made a lot of progress today Spencer. I'll see you next week?" Dr Sullivan asks following me to the door.
"Yeah, I should get home." I say. I had plans and I needed to get home before Aria did from work.
"Take care." Dr Sullivan says as I walk out of her office with a small wave as a goodbye.