Pretty Boy [bxb] | ✔️

• Chapter fifty-six: Who are you?

Who are you?

Alex finally gets to see a counsellor.

He wasn't supposed to this soon, but someone left the waiting list and Alex was moved right up. I feel a little bit bad for feeling happy about this as that person obviously went through something that led to them needing to see someone, but now Alex gets to see a counsellor and I know that he truly does need the professional help.

I, on the other hand, am not on any sort of waiting list, despite Alex saying that he only wanted to see a counsellor if I did too. I've been on the same medication since I stopped therapy around seven or so months ago, and I can't change the dosage if I'm not seeing a mental health professional, and I know that I probably do need a change, so maybe I will go and see one. I don't know yet.

The counselling people found a spot to see Alex today. It's an introduction session for him to acquaint himself with the counsellor and for everything to be explained to him so it's not really a proper one—those don't start until another few weeks. He has asked me to come with him.

That is where I found myself this morning, sat next to Alex on a brown leather sofa, holding his hand, facing a desk where a tall, mousy haired woman wearing a grey pantsuit sits with a notepad in front of her. She's got a soft expression on her face, and a smile never slips. She looks kind. That's good. Comforting, actually, and not just for Alex.

The whole office seems cosy. It's a small, stereotypical counselling office. The floor is wooden, the walls are painted cream, there is only one window to our left which is the only source of light other than two lamps, we're sat on a brown, leather sofa specifically designed for you to be able to lie down on, the counsellor sits by a desk, there are tissues on the table in front of us, there's a potted plant next to me, picture frames are hung on the walls. The sort of thing you see in the movies.

The counsellor introduces herself as Dr. Samantha Fernsby. "You must be the boyfriend," she says as she shakes my hand. I smile and nod. Alex let her know beforehand that I would be joining.

She jumps right into it. Reading from a computer, Samantha talks about the reason Alex is there, to which he confirms, and she double checks his age, address, and other important information.

After that, she explains what will happen. She would like to see him every two weeks on a Friday. If she feels as though a session should be closer because of anything they talked about, it will be moved closer by a week. There will be no less than a week between the sessions because of how booked up they are with clients. The time with which a session will take place may not be the same every week and it will be decided during each session. She will read out the available times and Alex will pick one.