when Duke wanted me to do something, I didn't. I did nothing beside telling my parents and Derek. That's all I did, and it resulted with me abducted and almost raped. In a way, I feel like I'm an accomplice in my own fate; it's awful.
"What did you do?" he asks slowly, like he doesn't want to frighten me or see me cry. My eyes are already so full of tears that I can barely see him through the blur barely contained.
"I asked Duke to come for the rest of the night. Kate was out, and I didn't want to be alone in my room."
"It's good that you called for help. Do you realize that from what you told me, you never would have done that before?" He smiles at me, and I blink several times to force the tears away. "You're doing really well, Skye. You're not staying alone when you're afraid or not feeling well, you're seeking your friends' presence and you're coming here diligently. You're making real progress."
I shrug, not sure about this. Everything is still difficult in my life. I'm not afraid to cross Sean's path anymore, but it's because I know he's in prison. Nevertheless, what Sean did for the last three years is still messing with my everyday life. For example, when I walked in the building for my session with Dr. Marshall, a man passed next to me, and his arms brushed against mine. I thought I'd die hyperventilating. Everyday is like a war with myself, and I know one day soon, I'll lose the battle. I just need to fight again and again to not lose the war.
"Tell me this again once I'm confronted with Sean again."
"When do you meet with your lawyer again?"
I think back to the lady I saw at the hospital. The officers gave my parents her card, and she came for the first statement to build my case for Sean's trial. She was very professional, but a little hard too, not very sweet and gentle as you would expect from a woman dealing with a victim of a rape attempt. But I guess I don't have to like her to work with her in order to see Sean sentenced to years in prison.
"In two days. Kate is already planning a night out to take my mind off it afterwards. It'll be the first party I’ve been to since that day."
"And you're not very fond of going out."
"I like to spend some time with my friends, but I don't like packed places. Body contact with unknown people, you know?" I really hope Derek and Kate will be able to have a real talk this time, and it'd be good for Duke and me too.
"You have to confront these situations to allow yourself to overcome these fears. Look how it worked out with your friends."
"Yeah, well, if a guy gropes me and Duke punches the guy, I'll give you a piece of my mind."
"Is Duke violent?" he asks me immediately, and it makes me smile. I want to laugh it off because I know Duke is not violent. Even if he sent Sean to the hospital once, it was the first time in years he fought. A softer man you could not find.
"Not at all, but he is very protective of me. He often tells me I'm his weakness. Though, he doesn't have a violent bone or ill-placed possessiveness in him." I look at the clock. Still over twenty minutes to go. "I know the difference by now."
"Because Sean made you feel differently even before he hit you."
A shiver runs down my spine. "Yes. He always wanted me to act a certain way when Duke just wants me to open up and find my own voice. No censor."
Dr. Marshall nods again, but his frown doesn't ease up. I don't know what to think of him, but for an ill placed reason, I like to think my psychologist is feeling protective of me. Of course, it's only because he's a good professional, and he wants to be sure I'm not going into another shitty relationship. Yet, I feel a smile creeping on my face as I think about Dr. Marshall caring about me.
* * *
SKYE
Dr. Marshall opens the door as we're both smiling at each other, and we come face to face with a petite blonde I know very well. I feel my smile disappear; a weird fear takes its place heavily in my stomach. She looks at us both in
"What did you do?" he asks slowly, like he doesn't want to frighten me or see me cry. My eyes are already so full of tears that I can barely see him through the blur barely contained.
"I asked Duke to come for the rest of the night. Kate was out, and I didn't want to be alone in my room."
"It's good that you called for help. Do you realize that from what you told me, you never would have done that before?" He smiles at me, and I blink several times to force the tears away. "You're doing really well, Skye. You're not staying alone when you're afraid or not feeling well, you're seeking your friends' presence and you're coming here diligently. You're making real progress."
I shrug, not sure about this. Everything is still difficult in my life. I'm not afraid to cross Sean's path anymore, but it's because I know he's in prison. Nevertheless, what Sean did for the last three years is still messing with my everyday life. For example, when I walked in the building for my session with Dr. Marshall, a man passed next to me, and his arms brushed against mine. I thought I'd die hyperventilating. Everyday is like a war with myself, and I know one day soon, I'll lose the battle. I just need to fight again and again to not lose the war.
"Tell me this again once I'm confronted with Sean again."
"When do you meet with your lawyer again?"
I think back to the lady I saw at the hospital. The officers gave my parents her card, and she came for the first statement to build my case for Sean's trial. She was very professional, but a little hard too, not very sweet and gentle as you would expect from a woman dealing with a victim of a rape attempt. But I guess I don't have to like her to work with her in order to see Sean sentenced to years in prison.
"In two days. Kate is already planning a night out to take my mind off it afterwards. It'll be the first party I’ve been to since that day."
"And you're not very fond of going out."
"I like to spend some time with my friends, but I don't like packed places. Body contact with unknown people, you know?" I really hope Derek and Kate will be able to have a real talk this time, and it'd be good for Duke and me too.
"You have to confront these situations to allow yourself to overcome these fears. Look how it worked out with your friends."
"Yeah, well, if a guy gropes me and Duke punches the guy, I'll give you a piece of my mind."
"Is Duke violent?" he asks me immediately, and it makes me smile. I want to laugh it off because I know Duke is not violent. Even if he sent Sean to the hospital once, it was the first time in years he fought. A softer man you could not find.
"Not at all, but he is very protective of me. He often tells me I'm his weakness. Though, he doesn't have a violent bone or ill-placed possessiveness in him." I look at the clock. Still over twenty minutes to go. "I know the difference by now."
"Because Sean made you feel differently even before he hit you."
A shiver runs down my spine. "Yes. He always wanted me to act a certain way when Duke just wants me to open up and find my own voice. No censor."
Dr. Marshall nods again, but his frown doesn't ease up. I don't know what to think of him, but for an ill placed reason, I like to think my psychologist is feeling protective of me. Of course, it's only because he's a good professional, and he wants to be sure I'm not going into another shitty relationship. Yet, I feel a smile creeping on my face as I think about Dr. Marshall caring about me.
* * *
SKYE
Dr. Marshall opens the door as we're both smiling at each other, and we come face to face with a petite blonde I know very well. I feel my smile disappear; a weird fear takes its place heavily in my stomach. She looks at us both in
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