Choice

Chapter 9

When I got home that day, I entered the living room with my whole family and a lady in a business suit sitting waiting for me.

"What's all this?" I asked.

"Have a seat, Veronica," dad said.

"No! Not until I found out what's going on."

The lady stood up and introduced herself. She stood up and gave her hand out. "I'm Dr. Monroe, but you can call me Julia. I'll be you therapist for the next year."

"Oh, I forgot about assigning me to a therapist thingy," I mumbled. I shook her hand.

"We wanted you to do it at home so you can feel more comfortable," mom added.

Dr. Monroe turned to my parents. "May you leave us alone, please, Mr. And Mrs. James."

They nodded, gave me a little smile, and left.

"Have a seat, please, Veronica."

We sat.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"How do you think I'm doing?" I answered sharply.

"I don't know, that's why I'm here."

"I feel....guilty."

"About the crash?"

"No.. about wetting the bed. Of course about the accident."

"You seem angry. Have people been bothering you about this?"

I laughed. She looked confused. "What's so funny? What did I say?"

"I'm one of the most popular juniors at Jefferson High and I killed three people and didn't go to jail. I think being bothered by people is an understatement."

"Have you tried doing anything about it?"

"I want to fix my mistake."

"Oh, and how?"

"I-I don't know. Maybe apologize to the families."

"That's not enough, Veronica."

I scoffed. "Oh, yeah. When is it enough? Please doctor, enlighten me."

She leaned forward in her chair.

"You don't look like your sorry for what really happened. You still seem like a popular girl who only wants the the whole school to love her."

"I AM MORTIFIED ABOUT WHAT I DID! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?"

"But can you change yourself?"

I was shocked she said that I didn't know what she really meant and I think Julia realized that.

"You can apologize to people all you want, convince yourself that this is right, and it is, but you need to change yourself first. Fix yourself first before you affect others."

I was silent. Dr. Monroe look at her watch. "Well, it is time for me to leave."

We got up.

"I will see you next Thursday after school, okay."

I just smiled. Julia started to leave. On the way out she yelled, "Change you first in order to change others."

The statement resounded in my head.