Everyone deals with life differently. I'm more of the type to bottle things up. Of course some would say that's not healthy and it may not be, but that's all I've known up to this point. Every now and then, it boils over and for days I'm lost waitin...
Author POV Kina grabbed her usual catfish plate from the little mom and pop shop down the road before returning home. She pulled her car into the garage and took the lift up to the top floor to her cozy loft apartment.
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(Image of Kina's apartment, imagine the walls are a rich navy color)
After eating and a little television, Kina decided to shower and head to bed. She didn't realize how draining her first session was until her body hit the cool sheets of her bed. She snuggled up to her body pillow and quickly drifted off to sleep.
-In her dream- Kina (8 years old) is sitting in her father's living room with her younger half sister Briana watching tv. They sat on a mattress on the floor that served as their bed when they came to visit. After an hour or so of cartoons, Kina turned on the stereo and they began to jump and dance on the mattress. They were home alone so it was there only chance to cut up before Yvette, their father's girlfriend, came home from work. Briana cries out and falls to the floor holding her foot. Kina rushes to her and tries to figure out what happened. There's no blood but she had to have stepped on something. Kina pulls back the sheets and pillows to see a 9mm pistol hidden in the mattress. She takes it and moves it to her father's room under his pillow. Hearing the door swing open she runs back over to Briana to make sure she's ok. Her father walks into the house with Yvette in tow. Yvette is sporting a fresh black eye and made no eye contact with the girls opting to head straight for the kitchen. Kina's father walks over to them in a foul mood and begins to yell at them for making a mess of the sheets and pillows on the mattress. Kina speaks up to avoid them receiving a whooping for it.
K- Daddy, Briana hit her foot on something on the bed. Can I show you?
He eyes Kina carefully before following her into his bedroom. She walks over to his bed and pulls the gun from under the pillow telling him she hid it to keep Briana from playing with it. He snatches it from her and tucks it into his pants, covering it with his shirt.
K- Daddy you aren't a monster. You don't need that.
Her father looks into her eyes and begins to walk towards her. His face begins to morph into something that would win the envy of all horror films. Kina begins to run towards the front door. Once outside all she sees is pitch black. She keeps running in no particular direction, just trying to escape. She can hear his feet running after her. He yells 'Get back here' and 'Don't you run from me' as he chases after her. Kina speeds up. Her chest burns as she pushes her body to get away. She feels a hand grab her by the back of her shirt. The monster her father had become turned her around and threw her to the ground. As he loomed over her, all she could do was say 'You're not a monster' over and over as her body shook with fear. She closed her eyes just as he swung to hit her.
-End of dream-
Kina awoke with a start. She was covered in a cool sweat and had tears running down her face. She sat up in bed, moving her back to the headboard. She tried to catch her breath, but it was too much. She drew her knees in to her chest and sobbed until she had let it all out.
Once she felt able to function, she got up and removed her sweat covered sheets. After remaking her bed with fresh linen, she went to take a shower and get ready for the day. She had therapy later that day, but her errands would come before that. Freshly dressed in an Adidas jumpsuit and a pair of high tops, she headed out for groceries.
Her day wasn't very eventful. Just kind of going through the motions to get by. She stopped by a park after all of her running around was done. It was a normal thing for her to sit in the park listening to music. She'd people watch and imagine what their lives must be like. The man in the business suit walking through the park to the metro station, the mother pushing her kids on the swings, the little kid that falls and scrapes his knee but his dad is right there to help him back up and dust him off.... So many different people. All seemingly happy while Kina feels immune to the sensation.
She looks down at her phone and realizes it's time to head to her appointment. She makes the walk back to her car and takes off. She arrives seeing Charlotte chewing away on a piece of gum just like last time. She signs in and takes a seat waiting to be called back.
Dr. Lynn POV Doc- Ok Larry. Today, you'll be apart of Kina's exercise for her session. The sense deprivation tank is normally how this starts just to get the patients to open up without much interference from us. Just follow the instructions on this clipboard and you'll be fine. Don't worry, you'll do fine. Just remain aware of her reactions.
I hand Larry the clipboard with Kina's file and the instructions for her session. He looks nervous, but judging from how he was with her during her first session, I'm sure I made the right decision. I walk out into the waiting room to give Larry a second to gather himself. I see Kina staring at her phone in a seat in the corner. I definitely saw that one coming. In her initial evaluation, I noticed how much she likes space and being in her own little world. Hence the reason for today's exercise.
Doc- Kina, you came come on back. She looks up at me and slowly rises from her seat. Her vibe seems a little off so I mentally note to look for indications as to why while I observe today. We walk back to the session room. I sit her on a barstool in the middle of the room before going to get Larry. I give him an earpiece so that he can hear me when I feel the need to interject but don't want Kina to be aware of it. He looks at it confused until I speak into the mic at my desk to test it. The sound comes from his earpiece but not in the session room. I ask if he's ready and he nods. Well here we go I think to myself. I walk with Larry into the session room. Kina looks up at us but observes Larry a lot closer than she does me. I sense his discomfort under her gaze but nonetheless he continues to walk towards her. He takes the seat I placed in front of her.
Doc-Kina, this is Larry, my assistant. He will be facilitating your sessions from now on. Are you comfortable with that? She nods softly while fiddling with her fingers. She's nervous. Doc-Ok well I will be just in the observation room through the window. If at anytime it becomes too much or you no longer feel comfortable, just tell me. I will be able to hear you. Ok? She nods again. I look over at Larry who I can tell at this point has his work set out for him and give his shoulder a reassuring pat before going back to the observation room. I get my note taking material ready and stare into the room as Larry reads over the clipboard. He looks up at her.
Lar- Hello Kina...
A/N: Cliffhanger!!! I know it's a little early for the foolery but I just wanna keep you on the edge of your seats for a little bit. How are we doing at this point lovelies? What do you think this session will entail? Let me know in the comments. Vote and Comment! I love hearing from you guys. All criticism is welcome.
