Moving On

Chapter Six

It was a month after she graduated when her mother came in her room with a mail.

"It's for you." It was her grant to change her last name. This was something Anaya has been thinking about for a while, but never had the courage to do. Anaya always thought that maybe her father would try to reconcile with her and Niani but it was not going to happen, so she changed her last name to McCee. She did not want to be connected to the man who could not careless for her or her mother. Niani will always love Anaya's father, for her, he was the man that gave her Anaya, she chose to respect that sentiment by keeping "Mason" attached to her name but for Anaya, it was a reminder of the man who was supposed to be there for her when she was a child, but failed to do so. Niani understood this,and gave her blessings to Anaya to change her last name. Changing her name was also a way for Anaya to honor Adam, and the life they would've had. Adam would always be her first love, and this way, he would always be a part of her.

Later that week Anaya also received the license to open her own practice as a therapist, her dream really was coming true.

It was a process for her to set up her office at the practice, but Anaya got a lot of help. She got help from professors from Stanford, and the doctors she worked for before. And soon enough, on her 25th birthday, Anaya opened her practice, McCee Counseling.

On the day she opened, Anaya waited for someone to come in. She knew it could be a while before she would get a real patient, but she was nervous. About two hours later, Anaya was sitting on her table, until her receptionist came in the room to tell her she has a patient.

"Send him in." Anaya was very nervous, it was her first patient. She had etiquette training and hands-on experience with counseling, but this was her own practice so she was way more nervous than she'd ever been. Anaya got up to get her notepad, and a pen. She barely heard the young man come in, and after she had everything she needed, she was ready.

"I'm sorr-" Anaya looked up at saw him, Justin. She was about to apologize to her patient for being such a mess, but when she saw Justin, she almost couldn't speak. All her feelings came rushing back, surfacing. When she saw his face, she choked up with emotion."What are you doing here?"

"I came to congratulate you."

"So you're not my first patient?" She joked to ease the tension, Justin laughed.

"No, I heard of the opening of this place, I work for a private practice a few blocks down. I thought I'd come and say hi. I didn't know you changed your last name."

"I did, I was supposed to be a McCee by now."

"Your late boyfriend?" Anaya nodded.

"Adam McCee, yes." Silence.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Justin..." When her voice trailed off, he stepped closer to her.

"Look Anaya, I don't know what happened between us, but I only know that the minute you pulled away from me, I felt it. And all I ever thought about for the past year was you. What happened?"

"Nothing happened, we just got busy, we lost touch. Things like that happen, it's not a big deal. I'm happy you came to say hi, but I have a lot of things to do, if you'll excuse me."

"Of course, you're doing what you know how to do best, avoiding your feelings."

"What feelings?"

"Anaya I know you felt something for me, I know it wasn't just me. I just don't understand why you can't be honest with me, with yourself."

"I didn't feel anything for you beyond friendship."

"Look me in the eye." She wouldn't. "Look me in the eye Anaya and tell me you never felt anything for me." She looked at him, but didn't say anything. Justin just shook his head.