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Dr. Brown stared at the couple that refused to talk to one another as she shook her head.
They were two of the most in love— yet stubborn people she had ever come across. She didn't understand how they could be so healthy and toxic at the same time.
She cleared her throat awkwardly as they sat before her, arms crossed looking like two big toddlers.
"Have either of you started on your letters?"
"I have," Ari mumbled. "I have too," Khalil mumbled also.
"Good." She said writing in her notes, "Can someone tell me what seems to be the problem today?"
They both tried to speak at the same time before she cut it short.
"I'm unable to hear you both if y'all are talking over the other. Khalil explain please, then Ari you explain your side. Y'all both know the rule— no interruptions just active listening. You speak once it's your turn." Dr. Brown said.
"Ok so this is how it started," Khalil said thinking back to the day before. "We're interviewing someone for my business and she tells the girl that we're basically not gonna hire her for no reason at all which pisses me off because why are you being extra? Me and her get into a heated argument that was dumb if you ask me. Then instead of riding home with me she leaves and then we argue about that and then she dramatically decides to sleep downstairs in the living room." Khalil said shaking his head.
"Good thing she didn't ask you," Arielle mumbled as she shook her head. "This is what actually happened... the whole truth."
"Things don't just start from the middle of the day. Shit happens throughout the day that leads up to the big event," Arielle said air quoting as Khalil looked at her oddly. "Me and Khalil had an agreement that he would quit his position at his business as the manager so we could work on our marriage properly and put in our one hundred percent," Khalil nodded in agreement. "He agreed to hire another manager. Once he found one, all he told me was their name was Alex. He never once'd mentioned to me that she was a female. Fast forward to yesterday when it was time to interview her. As you know, we're keeping my nieces along with having our own two children at home on top of waking up late, so we had to feed them, get them off to school on time, and then we had to make it to his very early interview with this bitch." Arielle rolled her eyes.
"He was already upset with me because we were late which I had no control over— and then while we were in the car I called my best friend to check on her— also the step mother to my nieces that we just so happen to be keeping. Our phone call lasted a little longer than I expected and he pretty much was upset about that too. So we get inside and I see a woman sitting before me and I began to panic. I hadn't been inside his office since the incident and then he's thinking about hiring a woman in his position and I already no longer trust him. I tell her that she's not what we're looking for and he blows up on me when he normally would've respected my wishes and looked for someone else." Arielle said hurt written all over her face.
"He tells me to go to the car and instead I call an uber to take me home and when he gets there we proceed to argue until the kids get home and I didn't feel like pretending to be a big happy family so I slept on the couch and let him sleep in the room alone." She finished crossing her legs. "Oh and he also called me insecure," She added pettily.
"Now that y'all got that off y'all chest, the both of you apologize." Dr. Brown said surprising them both.
As a therapist she knew that there was never typically a good one in couples— meaning that both parties always had something they could work on whether it be big or small and she didn't take sides. She only spoke out about something when it was a right or a wrong.
"I'm sorry." Arielle mumbled first. She was the emotional spouse. In a friendship— as a daughter— as a sister— as a family member. You'd never see her show emotion. You'd hardly ever see her react to anything but as a companion, that's who she was. She trusted her husband enough to be vulnerable around him but losing trust in him made that harder for her.
"I'm sorry too." Khalil said looking away from her. He was the headstrong spouse. He always felt the need to be right— even when he knew he was a wrong. As a man he hated to seem weak and he'd go beyond measures so that he didn't have to but in reality, his wife did that to him. He was weak for her and he always would be.
They both brought out the worst in each other and made it good.
"That was some bullshit but I'll allow it." Dr. Brown said shaking her head. "Damn you always disappointed in us," Khalil joked referring to her always shaking her head. "Hug it out." She said ignoring his remarks.
Arielle allowed Khalil to make the first move so that she didn't look thirsty— as if that was even a thing when you're married to a person, and followed his lead.
"I'm sorry for calling you insecure mama." He mumbled into her ear as she melted in his arms. "I'm sorry for laying hands on you pooh." She responded tearing up. She annoyed herself because she cried so often now when she wasn't used to being a crybaby.
They pulled away from each other and kissed briefly to avoid having make up sex in a therapy session.
"Now, this is what I like to see. Not those two children that were here in the beginning." Dr. Brown said as she looked down at her watch. "Since we spent so much time on all of that," She motioned towards us, "We're not gonna have enough time to do what I wanted to do so enjoy your date tomorrow whatever he chooses for y'all."
She gave them both an assignment to go on dates more frequently and Khalil was up first with choosing the date and she was second and the pattern would continue.
"And the both of you need to remember, it's a necessity to work hard outside of therapy as well. Just showing up every week isn't enough. My number one pet peeve is the couple that comes to the session, then leaves and behaves the same way that brought them here in the first place. Y'all act so in love and good in here, normally at least, then leave and get to tripping. Restart the week of no sex and actually listen this time."
"How did you know we didn't listen?" Khalil asked as Arielle slapped him in the back of his head playfully. "You just told her." She mumbled through gritted teeth. "Correct," Dr. Brown said as she giggled.
She smiled at the perfect pair before her.
It was like she was getting paid to do nothing because ultimately without her they could've resolved their issues on their own.
They were a once in a life time pair that were meant to be and it wasn't a way around it.
She knew in her heart that they'd get back right and see that they had everything under control all along and just needed a little guidance.
