“So, how have you been since I last saw you?”

It took me a second before I actually snapped out of whatever I was thinking of. “Hm? Oh, I’m doing fine.”

“That’s good then, work been fine?”

“Yeah, it’s been okay. Nothing out of the usual.”

“Ah yes, I see..” I heard her mutter while writing something in your notebook. She’s a lot more enthusiastic today, it isn’t that strange but it isn’t how she usually is.

“Hm… did you start taking your medication only twice a day now? Or are you still taking it three times a day?”

“It’s occasional, since you told me that I have been trying I guess. But it’s more or less been twice a day.”

“Oh, okay okay. Great job, I knew you could do it!” I looked at her weirdly while she was writing down in her notebook once again. She noticed me staring and looked up at me again, giving me a puzzled expression.

“..what is it? You’re looking at me with a strange face.”

I waved my hands slightly, trying to show that I didn’t mean to be offensive. “No no, it’s just… you’re acting well, weird today, why are you so energetic?”

There was some type of confusion on her face before immediately realising what I was talking about, it showed on her face. “Oh! Right right, I had a bunch of coffee today so I’m a bit hyper as you can tell.”

“A bit? Just how much did you have? It’s only 2pm now.”

“I’m actually not sure. I think maybe six? More or less six.”

“Holy hell Vivienne, that much?”

“Well, yes. I stayed up late because of work. And you know me, I’m not much of a morning person so I felt terrible this morning.”

I nodded and smiled. Looking down at my hands I unconsciously fiddled with my fingers and soon after cracked my knuckles. But the movement that I saw in the corner of my eye made me focus again.

“So, have you been having any nightmares lately? Increasing, decreasing, the same?” she said, I could tell that she was asking about it in a kind and casual way, but it still made me somewhat undercomfortable.

When she realised what my silence was about she put her pen on the table and closed her notebook, which made me feel a sense of relief, and I got the courage to actually speak.

“It was going well, I lasted for about three or four days so I thought that I might not get one again until later, but I had one yesterday.”

“I see. Do you mind telling me what it was about?”

I gave her a slight awkward smile and she nodded her head after, thinking about it for a bit, I thought it was best to just speak of it.

“Like all of my other ones. But it was different in a way, this time I had a nightmare from when I slipped and broke my ankle. I couldn’t move, then the house exploded and I wasn’t able to run back inside. Soon after that I woke up, since I wasn’t calming down I took one of my tablets.”

“Were you able to fall back asleep after having it?”

“No, I wasn’t.” I answered her question almost immediately, I wasn’t making eye contact as usual, but that’s pretty normal. I continued to fiddle with my fingers.

“What time did you go to sleep?”

I thought about it for a bit since I don’t really remember the time. “I think around two or three in the morning? I do remember that I woke up at around six though.”

I didn’t look up to see what was happening but there was a short silence. “Well, it doesn’t seem like your insomnia has gotten much better, but that's okay. When you’re used to only taking your medication twice a day, then gradually switch to once a day.”

“Alright, anything else?”

“Not yet, I’ll tell you to try some other things when I see you again next week. So until then just take it easy and don’t overwork yourself too much.”

I sighed before answering. “Yes.”

. . . 

“Alright, well our session is over now. I’ll see you again next week, want me to walk you out?”

“Oh, no it’s fine.” I answered back while getting up from my seat and picking up my bag.

“I insist! I’m going on a break now anyway, I can walk you to the entrance.”

“Okay then.”

While we exited the room and continued with our conversation, I came to a quick realisation.

“Wait, Vivienne, you’re not going to get more coffee when I leave right?”

She didn’t answer immediately, which basically revealed the truth. “Well, I was.”

“You’ve already had so much today, I don’t think you should have more.”

“Alright alright, I won’t have anymore.” she said while laughing, just then I heard her phone start to ring, it seems that someone is calling her.

“Ah, sorry August. I’ll be taking this, but we’re almost at the entrance anyway, so I’ll keep walking you there.”

I nodded my head as she answered her phone.

“Hi Cam, what is it?”

I of course couldn’t hear the person from the other line, not like I really wanted to though. It didn’t interest me.

“What? Hey, slow down. Right right, I’m free by six. Just calm down, this has happened too many times, you know how to handle it okay?”

When we were almost by the door, Vivienne took her phone away from her ear. “Apologies August, I have to deal with something right now. It was fun talking to you, I’ll see you again next week.”

I smiled back, waving at her after she waved at me and walked away. I didn’t see it well but her expression immediately changed as she was turning to walk in the opposite direction. She looked worried, or anxious.

If I were more of a curious person, I would wonder what was happening. But I don’t care much, we’re close but that is her business and I’m not too interested.

Still, it was weird seeing that expression on her face. I don’t remember ever seeing it before. Maybe it’s because she’s a therapist that she’s able to hide it so well? Not really sure.

Oh well, I should stop thinking about that now. I’m pretty hungry so I think it’s best for me to get something to eat. There is a fast food place not too far from here anyway.