I watched Nazar sleep for a minute before leaving the warmth of the bed to get ready. I winced slightly at the familiar pain in my lower back but ignored it, knowing it would go away soon. I got ready for work before making my way downstairs to drink a cup of coffee. I sat around the table, drinking slowly while being lost in my thoughts. I knew Nazar was right and that there were no reasons to stress about that woman but I just couldn't help it. I always had a tendency to overthink. I washed my empty cup before going upstairs to check on Ethan. As I opened the door slowly, my eyes widened slightly when I realized he was awake and playing with a piggy plush. He stopped as soon as he saw me and looked afraid, as if he expected me to start screaming at him.
"Good morning Ethan, how did you sleep? Good? Would you like me to make you some breakfast before I leave for work?" I asked softly as I cracked the door open a little more.
He looked at me for a few seconds before speaking in a soft voice. "Can I have chicken and potatoes with sauce?"
I smiled at his answer, not expecting it. "I think it's a little early to eat chicken and potatoes but we could make it for dinner if you want. In the meantime, do you want me to make you some pancakes? Or maybe some eggs and bacon?"
"Eggs and bacon?" He said but it ended sounding like a question.
"Come with me." I gestured as I started making my way down the stairs. Once in the kitchen, I took all the ingredients needed and started to crack the eggs. "How do you like your eggs?" I asked as I turned my head to look at Ethan who was watching me from the entrance of the kitchen.
"I like omelets." He answered shyly, looking at me for a few seconds before looking back at the floor.
"Omelet is a good choice. Do you want to help and beat the eggs?" I watched him take small steps toward me before sitting on a chair. I took the bowl and showed him how to do it before handing it to him. While he was beating the eggs carefully, I took this opportunity to start preparing the bacon. After a few seconds, I asked. "Do you need help?"
"How long do I have to do that?" He asked a minute later.
I turned around to see what he had done and took the bowl from his hands. "This is great. I'm just going to beat it with more strength for a minute and then put it in the pan." I answered with a smile.
He hesitated for a few seconds before sending half a smile my way. This sight made my heart beat a little faster; it was one of the first signs of trust he showed toward me! I finished cooking the breakfast and gave a plate full of food to Ethan before putting the rest in the fridge for Nazar. I then left him a voice message to let him know. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that Ethan was looking at me curiously.
"I'm leaving Nazar a voice message so he knows that I prepared something." I explained once I was done.
He frowned at these words before asking softly. "B-But how can he know there's a message?"
"He always check it in the morning, that way he's sure not to miss when there's a message." I told him with a smile, happy that he seemed to open up a little.
He nodded, seemingly happy with my explanation. Not too long after, someone knocked on the door and I went to open it to greet Sylvie. I left for work not too long after, hoping it wouldn't start raining as I didn't bring my raincoat. The sky was a little grey this morning. Thankfully, I made it to work without getting drenched. I greeted Imogen as I went in my office to put my bag down before going back toward the entrance to get myself a cup of coffee. I took this opportunity to relate the last news about Ethan to Imogen, feeling happy to have positive news to tell.
"I'm going to wait until he gets more comfortable before starting sessions with him. I don't want to scare him and ruin our progress." I explained, throwing my empty cup into the bin.
"That's probably the best thing to do. But y-" she started to say but was cut off my the noise of the door being opened. "Hello ma'am."
I turned around and my heart stopped for a second. This must have been the woman Imogen told me about. "Hello. Thank God you are here, I really wanted to talk to you and have sessions with you." The woman, face hidden by a giant white scarf, told me. I could hardly see her eyes or any other part of her face. "Could we go in your office to talk a few minutes, please?"
I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded, inviting her in my office: I was curious to hear what she wanted to tell me. We sat around my desk and she started by removing the scarf around her face, letting me see the burnt patches of skin all over her face: her nose was almost non existent, her lips were thin and her cheeks seemed to have a different texture than her neck. I looked at her eyes and saw her looking at me with one worried eye. That's when I realized that her other eye was closed and, from what I could observe, it seemed like it was missing.
"Thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time." She started saying, looking down at her lap before continuing. "I- my ex-husband did this to me a few months ago when I told him I wanted a divorce. Divorce aren't really common in my culture but I- he was abusive and I didn't want to spend the rest of my life like that..." Her voice was shaking and I listened to her, feeling my heart squeeze at her words. "He threw me acid a-and that's the result... I know I need someone to talk to and help me move on but it's not easy... And then I heard about you and I feel like it would be easier to talk to someone who went through something similar."
I waited a few seconds before speaking, feeling different emotions twirling inside me. "I'm really sorry about everything you went through, I really am but... You know I specialize in children and teenagers, right?"
"I know... I was hoping you could make an exception..." She answered, playing with her hands nervously.
I sighed softly before closing my eyes. I remembered how I was years ago and wondered where I would be if I was turned away when I finally had the courage to ask for help. Not back in Plymouth, that was for sure. And probably not on Earth anymore. "I- How could I say no? I will do my best to help you the same way I've been helped." I told her, feeling emotional and blinking the tears away.
"Thank you so much... You don't know how relieved I am.." She whispered as her eye filled with unlashed tears.
I handed her a tissue before looking at my schedule for the next few weeks. "I have a free spot on Friday afternoon, if that suits you?" I asked, raising my eyes toward her.
"That would be perfect, thank you so much."
I nodded, writing down the new meeting. "Could I have your name, please?"
"I'm Celine Lu- Kent. It's Kent, now." She replied, and I smiled slightly as I saved the meeting on the app on my computer.
She put her scarf back on her face before getting up. I did the same and accompagned her to the door. I watched her leave before going back to my office. I wasn't sure how the sessions would go but I knew it wouldn't be easy. I remembered how hard it was for me to speak about it and accept my appearance. I also wondered if I would be able to use the same techniques Mr. Biersack used for me. With a sigh, I massaged my temples, trying not to think about it too much. Our first session together was in a few days so I had time to plan something.
I took a few minutes to refocus before looking at the file of my next patient to get all the details of our past sessions back in mind: they deserved me at my full attention and capacity. I got up when I heard the front door being opened, putting a smile on my face to greet my first patient of the day...
♂+♂=♥
I stretched my back, feeling tired after a day full of patients. A sigh escaped my lips when I looked through the window and saw it was pouring. And obviously, I didn't have any raincoat or umbrella. I was trying to decide if it was better to wait until it calmed down or brave the rain when Imogen entered in my office.
"I'm done for today, do you need a ride home?"
"That would be greatly appreciated, thank you." I answered, sending her a grateful smile as I got up.
"Didn't you tell me you were thinking of getting your driving licence a while ago?"
"Easier said than done!" I exclaimed before adding. "Almost everything that we need is at a walking distance and, for the few times it's further away, we can always call a taxi. So, it would be practical from time to time but I'm still trying to figure out if it's really worth it..."
"It would allow you to go home dry." She joked, making me chuckle. She wasn't wrong.
"Then, there's no reason for me to pass my driving licence. I already have my personal chauffeur." I joked back, my smile becoming slightly bigger when I saw her roll her eyes.
"Be careful, you're this close to walk home." She said, bringing two fingers almost together.
We got in her car and she drove me home, listening to some background music. I turned toward her as she slowed down in front of my house. "Do you want to come in and say hello?"
"Maybe another time when Ethan will be more comfortable? Plus, I have to go buy some groceries." She answered with a gentle smile, making me nod.
"Sure, no problem. Thank you for the ride, I will see you tomorrow." I replied, smiling back before opening the door and stepping out. I watched her leave for a second before rushing toward the front door, already feeling the rain soak my shirt. Once inside, I removed my shoes before going up the stairs to change myself, saying a quick hello to everyone in the living room as I moved.
"How was today?" I asked to Sylvie once I was back downstairs. From the smile on their face, I could tell their day wasn't too bad...
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