The Martian's Wife • Mark Watney

Five

Jenna walked into her first therapy session with a smile on her face. She was absolutely positive that therapy would be really good for her. Not because of the actual therapy being beneficial, but because the NASA therapist they assigned to her was the same man who had interviewed the crew after their 10 day isolation. The world had given her an absolute gift, and she wasn't going to waste this one.

With that final thought in her head, she plopped down on the comfy brown couch in the office and crossed her legs with a smug smile. The moments of silence that followed were only awkward for the man sitting across from her. After a while she decided to break it. "How can Clark Kent even shave?"

"I'm sorry?" The therapists head tilted to the side.

"How can a mere mortal razor defeat the facial hair of steel. He's supposed to be invulnerable," She leaned back in the couch and crossed her arms. Plot holes like this were dissed topics. She guessed that's why Mark thought about them in his isolation, they would come up with them every night. It would make sense to continue as much of his daily schedule as possible. The thought made her smile. He was probably still doing it now. "Makes no sense."

"I suggest we get started with the session Mrs Watney." The man urged with an exasperated look. He should have known that only a woman just like Mark Watney would be able to handle him.

His mistake.

"Why don't we talk about the incident with the picture." He said.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." She looked away.

"You punched a picture frame." He deadpanned.

"Is there a draft in here?" Jenna continued to look around the room before the therapist interrupted her.

"Jenna, I know you're going through a lot right now, but if you don't participate in these sessions then I won't be able to deem you fit to return to work." He crossed his arms and looked at her expectantly.

Jenna groaned, sat up, and looked him in the eye. "Fine. You want to know how I'm feeling? NASA left my husband on Mars. They sentenced him to death. He is up there alone, miserable, and hopeless. That planet is the bane of my existence. You can understand my anger to see it framed everywhere I look. The people around here worship it like some kind of god. They should be glad I didn't punch one of them." Jenna huffed and stood up.

"Now, If you'll excuse me, I have work to do. I'll see you tomorrow." She held her head up and slammed the door on her way out.

The therapist remained in his seat and rubbed his eyes, sighing and throwing his arms up.

"Why do I even work here."

——

"We're going to do everything we can to bring him home alive." TV Vincent said.

Jenna blinked.

"The fuck?"

Vincent winced. "How'd I do."

"Horrible!" Jenna shouted as Annie shrugged.

"Eeeh," Annie put her phone away. "You shouldn't say things like 'bring him home alive.' It reminds them that he might die."