Bare

nine - where to start

"But I suppose the most revolutionary act one can engage in is... to tell the truth." 

'

I'm greeted by a middle-aged woman, seated behind her desk. Her straight blonde hair is tied up in a ponytail, her wide smile stretches across her face, showing a few wrinkles here and there.

I'd say she's in her mid-forties.

"Hello Livia." Her voice is soft enough, not to the point where she sounds naïve or vulnerable.

"Hey."

"Have a seat please." She gestures for me to come closer and I do as I'm told, taking a moment to observe the room.

She has weird paintings put on the wall, most of them featuring marred and damaged faces.

"That's a bit sad for a therapy place, isn't it?" I can't help myself.

For a split second, she seems taken off guard by my bluntness but she quickly gets back to her initial composure.

"To the contrary- It's a way of saying that nobody's perfect and that it's okay."

"Huh."

"So, how are you?" She asks me, slightly turning her chair so she's completely facing me.

I laugh. "Well, since I'm here, you might know the answer to that."

To my surprise, she chuckles along with me, unaffected.

"Right. But we're here to talk, about anything you want-"

"How much did Khalid tell you?" I cut straight to the point.

"Simply that you've encountered some problems in Vancouver. Whether you'd like to start there or simply talk about what's going on with you right now- that's up to you." She suggests patiently and I think she knows I'm testing her limits.

"I have no idea where to start." I admit, crossing my arms across my chest.

"How about if I ask you some questions?"

"That would be...better actually."

"Tell me about your time in Vancouver. Anything, it doesn't have to be a bad thing."

Aaaand she chooses the topic I knew she would pick.

"I didn't exactly live in the city, more on the outskirts. I was arrested in the city though, that's why my father thinks I lived there." I correct her statement.

"So you weren't in contact with any of your family during your stay there?" She asks.

"Not really. I was happy, in the beginning, I didn't want them shitting on my parade- I mean-" I struggle to cover my cursing and she flashes me a small smile, telling me it's okay. "Yeah, and I made myself some good friends. Zen and Noor. We're still very close."

"How did you meet them?"

"They were my neighbors, I once had a problem with my toilet and they helped me out, welcomed me at their place. We clicked and got closer day by day."

"Do you have any friends here?"

I think over my answer.

"I'm meeting new people, we're friends but not so close. I have my best friend William since high school, but he's been different lately." I confess hesitantly, feeling guilty, like I've betrayed William by saying this.

I've thought about that but I couldn't talk to anyone about it until now. No one understood my bond with William. That's why I never bothered to open it up with Zen or Noor or even Logan.