7 Minutes ✧ Syndisparklez

Caraway

~~Dr. Michael Caraway~~
A physician and a group counselor. His office was decorated with framed awards and gold-plated plaques. He was a bit of an oddball, but I'm the fool that hired him. I was desperate.
Jordan was depressed, Tom was always aggravated, Alice was pregnant and unsure how to tell them, and I-
Well...
I wasn't quite sure why I was going to this group therapy session. I like to internalize my feelings; I hated being a bother to other people. I didn't want to open up about Oliver or the rape. I'd rather be at home, snuggled up in a blanket with a warm cup of tea. Perhaps I was there for moral support; perhaps it was because I set up the group session. Either way, much progress was made at these sessions.
Looking back at them now, I'm very grateful we went. I can't imagine what would have happened if we refused to seek help.

"Ah, the Mulaney party! Welcome, welcome, please take a seat. Make yourselves comfortable, why don't'cah?"

"Dr. Caraway-"

"Please," he interrupted, ignoring my offer at a handshake. "Call me Mike."

"...Mike-" I corrected myself, leading the pack into the dimly lit room. "Thank you for meeting with us."

"My pleasure! You must be the lovely Ingrid," he said, gently placing a kiss upon the top of my hand. "And the ever so gorgeous Ms. Alice."

"Oh, why thank you," Alice grinned from ear to ear, wildly blushing as he kissed her hand the same way he kissed mine.

Tom scowled at Mike, visibly upset that I dragged him along.

"'M Tom," he grumbled, leading Jordan to the couch with him. Jordan shuffled his feet across the creaky floorboards, his face glazed over; colorless, expressionless.

"Of course, how could I forget about Jordan and Tom, pleasure to meet you both."

On the website where I hired Mr. Caraway, I was required to give a brief description for the each of us. I told him the minimal amount of information. I figured we would cover most of the "get to know you's" during the meetings. Besides, it didn't feel appropriate to casually type the fact that Jordan was kidnapped and I was raped in a friendly email. That's why I'm paying him to be here; so we could get that stuff off our chest in person.

"So, now that we all know each other," Mike said, ironically. We all know each other, yeah right. He doesn't know the half of it. "Let's begin."

His cheery demeanor had completely disappeared, his face transformed into hard stone now. He had a stern look, and yet- he still had a certain softness about him that made me feel comfortable to share stories with him. Must be part of the reason why he got such great reviews.

Despite his comforting look, however, no one volunteered to speak.

"Perhaps we should start with how we're currently feeling," Mike explained, clearing his throat. "Tom-"

He glanced up, his brows furrowed in disgust.

"Your arms and legs are crossed. You're a very closed off person, Tom-"

"I am not-"

"You don't like me, Tom, and that's completely understandable. However, I want to reassure you I'm here to help."

"Okay, who the hell do you think you are? You seriously think you can just invite us all in like this is some god damned family reunion, and then look at the way I'm sitting and tell me how I'm feeling. By the way I'm fucking sitting?"

"Tom, please-" Alice tried to interrupt. I stayed silent; Jordan remained numbed.

"This is very well, Alice. Tom needs to get it off his chest. All this pent up anger must be coming from somewhere, now, mustn't it, Tom?" Mike shined a toothy grin toward Alice and I.

Tom scoffed, uncrossing his legs and arms; instead, he placed one of his palms on Jordan's thigh, snapping him out of his trance. Caraway seemed to make note of this.

"You've adopted this aggressive persona to protect your boyfriend for reasons unknown, Tom-" he sighed  standing from his chair. "I respect you for that, Tom, I really do. But have you ever considered how that might make him feel? Have you ever thought, Tom, that acting this way may make him - Jordan - feel as if he did something wrong that upset you?"

Toms furrowed brows remained, yet the meaning behind them changed from anger to confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Were you this aggressive when you first started dating?" he asked bluntly.

"No, but- You don't understand-"

"Does Jordan understand?"

"Yes-" Tom snapped.

"Jordan?" Dr. Caraway asked, crouching down in front of him. Jordan met the doctors eyes, little emotion shone behind them. "Jordan, do you love Tom?"

Jordan blinked.

"It's pretty obvious to me you two have been through a lot together, yes?"

"I don't know what you're trying to pull-"

"Shh-" Alice silenced Tom's bickering.

"Jordan, love is expressed in many ways. When my wife tells me to drive safe to work everyday, I know she's telling me she loves me. When I ask my teenage daughter if she got enough to eat at dinner, I'm telling her I love her. When I ask my first grade son if he needs help with homework, I'm telling him I love him. But I also get in to fights with the people I love. I also yell at the people I love; because I'm trying to do what's best for them and I don't know how, thus taking my frustrations out on the wrong people. Love takes many forms - even anger-"

I was unsure where this conversation was going. Tom and I shared nervous glances toward one another.

"Tom loves you very much. He's trying to protect you, Jordan; it's very clear to me he doesn't want to lose you. I hope you know that."

Silence clogged my ears. I stared down at the floor, unsure how to react to the motivational speech Dr. Caraway had just given. I was still unsure of the intentions behind his words, until the somber music of gasping sobs filled the air.

Jordan buried his face in his hands.

After not speaking a single word this morning - after being dragged out of bed to brush his teeth and eat breakfast - after being forced to live his life; Jordan was crying.

His body convulsed as he wailed out pitiful cries and apologies.

Dr. Caraway simply stood, returning to his spot in the chair.

"Lots of love in this room today," he sighed, leaning back. "Lots of love indeed... Alice - would you consider these people in this room today to be your family?"

Her mouth gaped open, still observing the saddened Jordan.

"Do you love your family, Alice?"

"Y-Yes."

"Then why keep such beautiful secrets from them?"