Paralyzed (ON HIATUS)

Quaint Little Town

I clicked the pen as I watched the clock tick by. I sigh and set down the pen and paper I had on the glass coffee table.

"Olivia, you do realize that twenty minutes have passed." I look at her in the eyes but she avoids my gaze.

"So?" The fourteen-year-old girl with brown hair mumbled.

"So you haven't even tried to talk." Olivia shuffled in her seat and kept her focus on her shoes. "Olivia, I get you don't want to be here but your parents-"

"My parents are making me come here because of their stupid divorce, like I care." She folded her arms and covered her face with her hair.

"Have you told them?" I picked my notebook and pen back up.

"Told them what?"

"That you do care." Olivia looks up and glares at me.

"It's not like it would matter, they never listen to what I say."

"I'll listen." She scoffs and rolls her eyes at me. "Tell you what, I'm going to set this backdown and I'll stop talking. For the next thirty-five minutes if you want to sit here in this long silence we can do that. Or you can vent and pretend I'm not here, I won't say or do anything. This will be off the record, I'll even put in my headphones. I'll let you decide." I take out my phone and plug in my headphones. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Olivia finally looking at me. I pretend to play music and play video games on my phone.

"Green?" She calls my last name but I say nothing and continue to play 1010. "Doctor Green." I continue to ignore her. She takes a deep breath and reaches for her phone, messing with it for a minute. She sighs before peaking up from the phone and staring at me.

"Bitch." She timidly calls, taking me by surprise as I try my best not to laugh or seem fazed by the comment. Olivia lightly chuckles and reluctantly starts talking to herself. Ten minutes in and she's so into venting she fails to notice that I took off my headphones. I stare at her and gently nod my head to show I was paying attention. After twenty minutes she's finally talking towards me instead of herself.

"And it just fucking- sorry sorry. It 'freaking' sucks because now I have to watch over my little sister since they're never home. But I'm about to start high school and I have all these Pre-Ap classes and I won't-" She's cut off by her phone ringing, she reaches in her pocket and answers it. "Hello? I'm here with Doctor Green. What do you mean you've been waiting for ten minutes, the session ends at five? What time is it?" She looks at the gray clock on the wall and gasps before hanging up the phone.

"Doctor Green why didn't you tell me it was ten past five, I went over my time." She quickly collected her things.

"I didn't have any more appointments for the day and you seemed distracted. So should I inform your parents you don't want to keep coming to see me?"

"No! I mean this is my first session...I need time to think about it."

"So I'll be seeing you Wednesday?"

"Maybe, I gotta go. Bye Dr. Green!"

"Bye have a wonderful day. Oh and Olivia, don't be afraid to say bitch. You're free to express your emotions here." Olivia's face turns red as she awkwardly smiled before exiting out the door. I chuckled as I tidied up around the office, filling some paperwork before leaving. I locked my door and took the elevator downstairs. I say goodbye to the receptionists and make my way towards my car and turn it on before driving home.

                                                                                        ***

I walk into my house to be greeted by my long-time boyfriend sitting on the couch. I walk towards him and kiss his cheek before heading to our room. I change into jeans, a shirt, and my favorite flats then go back downstairs and walk to the kitchen. I debate on what I should eat but end up getting an apple for a quick snack.