Growing Apart

Chapter 2

9:30 am

(Emma's POV)

"How are you feeling Emma?" Dr. Hopper, or as he's asked me to call him, Archie asks as I sit down across from him on the comfortable leather couch. It's a familiar question. 

"Ok," I answer simply, which I know is an answer he hates.

"Elaborate for me Emma. Are you feeling better, worse, the same?" He pries. I take a deep breath.

"The same. I'm fine."

"Anything change since you were last here? You seem distracted." He asks as he taps his pen against a notepad. His office is always so quiet that any sound takes my focus.

"Well actually one thing," I begin. He encourages me to share with a slight nod to his head. "Killian showed up yesterday. There was a knock on the door, and he was standing there when I opened it. It was a shock, but I'm fine."

"Killian, the teacher you dated?" He clarifies. I nod. I had started seeing Archie about 6 month after moving here. I had been to therapy a few times in the system, just temporarily, but it always helped me think. "Did you two speak?" He asks.

"Yes. When I opened the door, I used the techniques you taught me. Took deep breaths, the five second cool down, everything I could think of."

"That's great Emma. And how did it work for you?" He asks. The tapping of his pen has stopped and he's begun to write on that pad of his.

"It was fine, like I said."

"You've said you're fine an awful lot today. Do I really need to point out that kind of deflection after 2 and a half years Emma?"

"No." I swallow. My throat is dry. "Excuse me, I'm thirsty." I get up and poor myself a glass of water from the pitcher on the counter. There's also free coffee which I usually take advantage of. I make my way back to the couch.

"No coffee today?" He asks.

"I'm actually grabbing some with Killian today," I inform him. He nods slightly, and jots something down. "Do you think it's a good idea?" I ask.

"Do you think it is?" He redirects back to me. I drink some water before answering.

"Not really. But he asked, and I said yes."

"Why'd you agree if you didn't think it was a good idea?"

"I'm not sure. He asked, and when I looked at him... I just couldn't say no. I know that's bad, but it's what happened. I just couldn't let him walk away forever," I admit.

"I'm not judging Emma, you know that. I'm just trying to understand your thoughts, and actions." He gives me the typical shrink lecture. I've been seeing him twice a month for years now. He earned my trust, and when I walk into his office I know I'm in a safe space. "When is this coffee meeting?"

"Quarter to 1:00, after my morning class."

"Is it in a safe and open place?" He asks looking up from his notes. I look at him with confusion.

"It's the coffee shop near campus. Everyone goes there...Why?"

"Well considering your history I feel better about this coffee date if it was in public place, which it seems to be."

"It's not a date. And I already told you that our relationship was never forced. He was my teacher, but we both pursued each other." Archie helped me rebuild my life, to get me past everything and live in the present. To do that, the story of Killian and I was revealed and thoroughly analyzed by him. That was almost a 2 years ago now.