Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 27- Dr. Cross

Athena's POV

Therapy. Charlie and Eli were convinced that this is something I need. I guess part of me agrees, I need to find a way to get better. The rest of me though... I don't know how I feel about letting some stranger into my life. I know it's not their place to judge or anything, but what if they do. What if whoever this Dr. Cross is thinks I'm weak? 

"Athena?" A nice looking lady called my name after coming out of what I assume is her office.

"Ready beautiful? I can't go in there with you, but I'm not leaving okay? I will be right here if you need me." Eli said. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and I nodded.

I stood up and followed the woman into her office. The room looked like a cliche therapist's office. There's a couch where I find myself sitting, and a chair seated in front of it. Dr Cross sat there. There's a medium sized window behind her desk that showed that it was raining outside. Her office is subtly decorated with a few plants here and there. She didn't have any photos of family or anything. I couldn't help but wonder if she was married or had any kids.

"Hi Athena, I am Dr. Cross. How are you feeling today?" She started off with a question that is probably meant to be easy, but it's not. How am I feeling today? Angry. Sad. Tired. Hurt.  

"I'm okay, I guess." I told her quietly. 

"Athena, if this is going to work you're going to have to be honest with me, and with yourself okay?" She said

"Okay." I responded shortly.

"Why don't you tell me why you're here today."

"My friend's dad, Charlie, he set this up."

"Why though? Why did Charlie feel you needed to be here?"

"I don't know." I lied. I just don't know if I feel comfortable telling her everything.

"Athena, what if we start off with me telling yu  bit about myself?" I nodded my head.

"Charlie made your appointment with me specifically, for a reason. I know a little about what's going on with you. Charlie and I have a history. When I was 16 I was rushed to the hospital. I was treated for a broken leg, a dislocated shoulder, and gashes on my back among other injuries. My father had tied me to the banister at the top of our stairs at home. He whipped my back and then when he was done he threw me down the stairs and left  the house. I laid on the floor at the bottom of the stairs until my neighbor came by to drop of some mail she got on accident. I guess he had left the door open a crack so she pushed it open and saw me there. Charlie was my doctor at the ER. He saved my life. Charlie is the person who helped me get out of that situation." SHe told me. I felt my eyes begin to water at the thought of someone else going through a similar experience.

"Did you ever find out why he did it? Your father I mean." I asked quietly.

"My father is a drunk. He would get really nasty whenever he had too much." She told me "Athena, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"What happened to you? What have you been through?" She asked.

"He doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs or anything. He just hates me." I started. "The first time he hit me was because his team lost their game. Then he could be set off by the tiniest thing, like if the grocery store was out of the tortilla's he likes. I just get under his skin I guess."

"Let's talk about that statement, Athena. What do you mean by 'I just get under his skin'?" She asked and I thought about it.

"I don't know, I guess just that there's something that I do that upsets him. I do my best to behave. I make sure I never get in trouble at school or anything, but I still irritate him."