therapy l.h.

0.2

"You're back, I see," Luke says at the beginning of our second session.

Fel nods her head, "I am."

"Are you happy to be here?" he asks.

"Not necessarily. I'd rather be at home; watching some horror movies or TV shows."

"And why is that?"

"It distracts me from the voices for a little while," Felicity says, shrugging a little.

"What else do you do to distract yourself from the voices?" Luke asks.

"Drink," Fel replies honestly.

"Like, alcohol?"

"Obviously," She crosses her legs. "Luke, how old are you?"

"Nineteen," he answers confidently.

"Why did they give me a teenager for a therapist? You're barely older than me."

"They wanted someone who could relate to you, and I stepped up," the therapist shrugs.

"But why? Why me? You don't know me. You're just some teenage boy. Do you not have friends?" Felicity asks.

He frowns, "I have friends. Three, actually. And that was quite rude."

Stupid girl. Were you not raised right? You have no manners!

Felicity taps her fingers on her knees to keep from pounding on her temples again and wasting more time.

"I'm sorry," She rushes out.

"Apology accepted," Luke writes more information down. "Now, Felicity, back to my question last week. Have you ever murdered anyone?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Fel asks, a small yet innocent smile set on her face.

"Answer the question, Fel."

"Felicity," She corrects sharply.

"Felicity," Luke sends me a small grin.

"Do you have any siblings, Luke?" Felicity asks, trying to steer him off course.

"A brother, Jack. Answer the question now, Felicity," he commands.

"What's your last name?"

"Hemmings; answer the question."

"Why?" Her palms start getting sweaty.

"Felicity, anything you say will not leave this room," Luke promises.

"You swear?" Felicity raises an eyebrow.

"I swear," he crosses his heart.

She sighs, "I have...killed someone."

"Hold on. I have to make a phone call," Luke gets up.

"You're not going to tell, are you?" Fel asks, afraid.

"I have to, Felicity. If you're a danger to people, I have to tell the police," he says.

"No! No, you promised!" Felicity yells, her throat getting itchy, as it does before she cries.

"I'm sorry, Felicity! It was the only way I could make you tell me!"

Felicity shakes her head furiously, "No, no, no, no, no! You're a liar! A traitor! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"

"You don't mean that!" Luke sighs as she stands up, too.

Fel holds onto his arm like a child, "Please, Luke! Don't tell the police!"

He shakes his head and shakes her off and Felicity sits down in her seat. Felicity tucks her legs into her chest and gnaws on her fingernails. Her chest starts to feel tight and it feels like everything around her, including oxygen, is shrinking.

"In and out," Felicity reminds herself. "In and out."

She shuts her eyes and think, which is very bad.

Murderer! All you do is screw things up! Now look what you've done! You're so naïve! He's just there to rat you out! He doesn't want to help you!

"No! Don't say that!"

Luke turns around and his eyes widen.

Felicity sits there, tugging on her hair as she tries to stop whatever is happening.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Fel begs. "Make it stop, please!"

"Felicity! Felicity, breathe!" Luke panics. "In and out!"

She takes short breaths in and out, which doesn't help. Felicity opens her eyes to see Luke in front of her and then shuts them again.

Felicity, you are not here. You are in the meadows. You're sitting down on the field with a copy of Looking For Alaska in your hands. You smell the crisp scent of oak trees and you're cuddled up under a tree with Melon, a cat.

She smile and allows her happy place envelope her. Felicity finally stops shaking and her breathing regulates. She lets go of her hair and sits down properly in the chair.

"I wasted time again, didn't I?" Felicity asks, ashamed and embarrassed.

"No, you didn't."

She tunes Luke out and tries and focus her hearing on something else. Fel hears the clock ticking and she's waiting for this hour to be up.

Tick-tock

Tick-tock

The irritating clicking of the clock keeps going and Felicity shakes my head swiftly, trying to rid herself of the sound.

"Felicity, I'm sorry to say this, but I still have to tell the police," Luke sighs.

"I know," Felicity says, looking at the ground.

-

This story is now in third person :)

-S