Nothing had changed in the office.
The delicate ticking clock, the cream-colored walls, and the subtle lavender aroma emanating from the shelf-mounted diffuser. Lorna's eyes darted to the familiar leather armchair across from her as she sat rigidly on the couch, hands curled in her lap.
The last time she sat here was almost five years ago. Five years had passed since she convinced herself that she no longer needed therapy because she was strong, had moved on, and had Lucas. Because it had seemed easier to bury the pain than to dig through it.
However, the agony was no longer concealed. Like a second heartbeat, it lingered in her chest.
With her usual kind, perceptive smile, Dr. Eleanor Price came in quietly. "It's good to see you again," she said softly as she greeted Lorna.
Lorna gave a faint, weary smile. "You as well."
Following some small talk, the room fell silent, and Eleanor leaned forward slightly to ease the tension. "Lorna, what brought you back?"
It was a gentle question. It struck hard, though.
Lorna's throat became constricted. "Everything is falling apart."
Eleanor gave a slow nod. "Tell me how it started."
After hesitating, Lorna finally revealed the truth she had been keeping to herself: "I believe I've been afraid of love for a very long time. Fearful of losing it, afraid to put my trust in it. And each time someone approached me, I pushed them away before they had a chance to leave me."
Eleanor didn't say anything.
"Lucas was safe," Lorna added in a trembling voice. "predictable. He made sense. However, he was aware that I never really opened up to him. And Michael"... She hesitated, tears in her eyes. "Michael knows me far too well. He noticed the damaged areas that I was reluctant to acknowledge were still present. And I detested how he made me feel like I was being seen."
She dabbed at a tear. Jason is in pain right now. Lucas has left. And I can't help but wonder if I'm the one that caused it all.
Eleanor said softly, "Lorna, you're not broken." "You have emotional wounds. deep ones. Furthermore, what you decide to do with the pain at this moment is more important than assigning blame.
Lorna gazed at her hands below. "I want to stop avoiding it."
"So that's where we start."
Lorna started uncovering the patterns she had repeated, the fears she had concealed as independence, and the guilt she had carried like armor as the session went on, layer by layer.
Her heart felt like a bruise after the first honest press, but it was lighter by the time she stepped outside into the sunlight.
It wasn't a clean break to heal.
It unraveled gradually. And for the first time in a long time, Lorna didn't hesitate to examine herself.
She was prepared to finally forgive the woman she saw in the mirror.