How did I get here?

Chapter 24

Mary got me all ready and I'm ready for another boring day of mediation. I just wanted this divorce to be over, but Tyler won't agree to anything. I was the last one to arrive and I take my seat next to my lawyer.
"I think we can end this divorce in the next month or two," he said.
"That fast?" I asked usually divorces take six months to a year.
"When you have the king on your side the process speeds up dramatically," he said. I nodded, but wiped away any thoughts of Maxon out of my head, I was finding myself first, then dealing with that mess. 
"Mr. and Mrs.Dobbs if your ready we will begin," the mediator said.
"I prefer Ms.Singer is you don't mind," I say.
"Oh my, you are just going to be on one today aren't you?" Tyler asked.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," I say trying to stay as calm as possible. 
"I would just like to point out that I lost my job because of her," Tyler said pointing a finger at me.
"How?" I asked, what could I have possibly done? I haven't talked to his boss since the dinner.
"Her little boyfriend or whatever announced I was abusive on national tv."
Boyfriend! Boyfriend! I don't have a boyfriend.
"He is not my boyfriend," I said. "And besides, I had no idea he was going to say any of that on the report."
"America that's really interesting that you say that, because I heard him say 'I love you' and it was coming from your bedroom." Tyler said looking really smug, like he had won the battle.
"That was in a very stressful situation and he was not thinking straight." I say and now it's my turn to look smug.
"Also, I could hear America yelling at him." Tyler said.
"And your point is," I said.
"My point is she is an aggressive person and so my so called 'abuse' was not as intense as she was describing it."
"You slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground! And because of it my foot is in a boot."
"You can walk on it and stand on it just fine," Tyler pointed out.
"That's because the bone only broke half way through," I said.
"Okay the two of you can chew each other out later, let's settle things that actually matter." The mediator cuts in.
"Sorry," I said.
"Focus on what you want not the hate you have for each other," Mr.Ryland whispered in my ear and I nodded, I needed to keep my focus.
"Let's start with financial," The mediator says.
"You can have the house entirely," I said trying to make him happy so I could get out of here as soon as possible.
"Well I would assume that since I bought the house," he says. 
"At this point, neither of you have jobs correct?" The mediator asked.
"Yes," Tyler and I both said at once. The mediator scribbled that down in his notes and then motioned for us to continue.
"I want two thousand dollars in order to help me with living expenses until I find a job," I said, that seems reasonable right? Wrong.
"No I earned all of our money it's my money," Tyler said.
"Well to bad that's not how a divorce works," I say.
"Well that's how it works now," he says.
"See I thought you could have the maturity to work this out in mediation, but since that is not the case we will be taking this to court." I say and I hear a collection of gasps. Since we couldn't work this out a judge would now have to decide everything.
I started to walk out of the room with Mr.Ryland following close behind.
"Ms.Singer that was very impulsive, but probably the right move to make."
"Thank you, goodbye." And with that I scurried back up to my room to practice the piano. Music I hope was going to help me remember who I am. As I started to play all I could hear was Tyler's negative comments in my head; do you even know how to play, your hurting my ears,give up, your no good, I've heard better from a five year old. As all these comments rushed through my head I hadn't noticed I was crying so hard that I couldn't see anything and I was pounding on the keys. I put my elbows on the keys and just cried, I can't fix myself on my own. I think I need a therapist. I hate to admit that, but I couldn't even play the piano without crying. I was crying so much that I didn't even notice someone standing in the doorway.
"Are you alright miss," Lucy said.
"I'm fine, just lost." I say.
"I'm sorry," she says as she walks through the door and puts an arm around me.
"Lucy, I think I need help." I say.
"What kind of help?"
"A therapist," I say even though it pains me to admit it. "Just to help me get all of Tyler's abuse out of my head, including his words."
"Is that why you were crying and pounding on the piano?" She asks.
"Yeah," I say blushing because I am a little embarrassed by my emotional outbreak. "He just always told me how awful I am at music," I say as I reach up a hand to dry my tears.
"But your not awful your really talented," Lucy says.
"Thanks, I think it will take me awhile to believe that again."
"I hope you can believe that because you've got to much talent to throw it away," Lucy says.
"Thanks," I say.
"Anytime, I also won't tell Aspen that you said that you think your bad at music," she says smiling.
"That would make him really mad," I said letting out a little smile. I remember all those nights in the tree house, when I would say I was terrible and he would give me a twenty minute speech about how talented I was.
"See your feeling better already," Lucy says and I give her a little smile. "I've got to get home, but I'll see you later, okay?"
I nodded and she walks toward the door.
"Maxon would be mad if he heard you say that to," she says then shuts the door before I can fight back. Okay so now I need a therapist and fast.