“Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that I would stay if I didn't care?”
“ I don't know. Why do you stay Kate?”
She heard Kate take a deep breath on the other end of the line, “I stay because I love you. Why do you think I was so sad in your bedroom? You were leaving. You know it didn’t take long for me to think of you as more than a client. You’re like family to me. And you know I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
Victoria had realized that their relationship had gone past doctor-patient a long time ago but it was heartwarming to hear Kate say it. It suddenly made her advice seem so much more believable. “Do you really think I can do this? Face other survivors?”
Kate proved how much she believed in her when she responded, “I think you have to.”
12
By the following weekend Victoria had found her routine. With only having four classes to take in order to graduate, things had been pretty lax around the apartment and she was looking for a part-time job in order to fill her time. If she was going to go to law school, she would have to make that decision soon. But when Kate offered to come visit for the weekend, Victoria pushed all the difficult decisions from her mind and focused on just having some fun with her friend.
Kate arrived dressed to the nines as usual. She had on a pair of skinny jeans and high leather boots with a long tunic and scarf wrapped around her neck.
“A little warm for fall wear isn’t it?”
Kate waved her hand at Victoria, “It’s never too early for fashion.” She looked around her at the spacious apartment, “Nice digs. Claire’s got great taste.”
Claire popped her head from around the wall of the kitchen, “Did I just get a compliment from you?” Smiling she walked over and gave Kate a warm hug. It was only then that Victoria noticed how close they had also become over the past few months.
Claire took Kate’s bag and placed it over near the couch, “So what do you two have planned for the weekend?”
Kate’s smile faltered for a moment and suddenly Victoria realized that her conversation about the grief counseling group was still at the forefront of her counselor’s mind. “Kate? What are we doing this weekend?”
Kate tried to avoid the question, “Can’t believe how big this place is. And you’ve gotten so much unpacked already…”
Victoria stood in front of her, “Kate. What are we doing this weekend?”
She looked down at her hands avoiding Victoria’s eyes. “Well, that group I told you about meets on Sundays.”
“ You have got to be kidding me.”
“ I just thought it would be nice if I went with you to the first one. Just to get you settled, you know?”
Victoria’s threw her hands up in the air, “I am settled. I have a routine. I go to class, I go to the gym, and I come home. I’ve gotten all my work done and my readings. Ugh, I can’t believe you came here to babysit me!”
Kate sat down on a chair in the corner of the room, “I’m not here to watch over you. I’m just here for support.”
“ Couldn’t you let me get a little bit further into the semester before coming down here and taking over?”
Claire stepped into the conversation, “Tor, you only have this semester left. You don’t have time to waste. I think this is a good idea.”
Victoria cocked her head at her. “Of course you do! Jesus, can’t I do anything by myself around here?”
Claire and Kate spoke at the same time. “No.” It was a simple answer that said so much. The worst part was, Victoria knew that they were right. Kate and Claire had become her life and sometimes she realized that that wasn’t fair to them. How many times had Claire told Brad she couldn’t go out because Victoria was home by herself? But was she always watching her? Trying to pretend that they were letting her do things on her own when really they had to be vigilant. It wasn’t fair to them. Maybe it was time to
“ I don't know. Why do you stay Kate?”
She heard Kate take a deep breath on the other end of the line, “I stay because I love you. Why do you think I was so sad in your bedroom? You were leaving. You know it didn’t take long for me to think of you as more than a client. You’re like family to me. And you know I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
Victoria had realized that their relationship had gone past doctor-patient a long time ago but it was heartwarming to hear Kate say it. It suddenly made her advice seem so much more believable. “Do you really think I can do this? Face other survivors?”
Kate proved how much she believed in her when she responded, “I think you have to.”
12
By the following weekend Victoria had found her routine. With only having four classes to take in order to graduate, things had been pretty lax around the apartment and she was looking for a part-time job in order to fill her time. If she was going to go to law school, she would have to make that decision soon. But when Kate offered to come visit for the weekend, Victoria pushed all the difficult decisions from her mind and focused on just having some fun with her friend.
Kate arrived dressed to the nines as usual. She had on a pair of skinny jeans and high leather boots with a long tunic and scarf wrapped around her neck.
“A little warm for fall wear isn’t it?”
Kate waved her hand at Victoria, “It’s never too early for fashion.” She looked around her at the spacious apartment, “Nice digs. Claire’s got great taste.”
Claire popped her head from around the wall of the kitchen, “Did I just get a compliment from you?” Smiling she walked over and gave Kate a warm hug. It was only then that Victoria noticed how close they had also become over the past few months.
Claire took Kate’s bag and placed it over near the couch, “So what do you two have planned for the weekend?”
Kate’s smile faltered for a moment and suddenly Victoria realized that her conversation about the grief counseling group was still at the forefront of her counselor’s mind. “Kate? What are we doing this weekend?”
Kate tried to avoid the question, “Can’t believe how big this place is. And you’ve gotten so much unpacked already…”
Victoria stood in front of her, “Kate. What are we doing this weekend?”
She looked down at her hands avoiding Victoria’s eyes. “Well, that group I told you about meets on Sundays.”
“ You have got to be kidding me.”
“ I just thought it would be nice if I went with you to the first one. Just to get you settled, you know?”
Victoria’s threw her hands up in the air, “I am settled. I have a routine. I go to class, I go to the gym, and I come home. I’ve gotten all my work done and my readings. Ugh, I can’t believe you came here to babysit me!”
Kate sat down on a chair in the corner of the room, “I’m not here to watch over you. I’m just here for support.”
“ Couldn’t you let me get a little bit further into the semester before coming down here and taking over?”
Claire stepped into the conversation, “Tor, you only have this semester left. You don’t have time to waste. I think this is a good idea.”
Victoria cocked her head at her. “Of course you do! Jesus, can’t I do anything by myself around here?”
Claire and Kate spoke at the same time. “No.” It was a simple answer that said so much. The worst part was, Victoria knew that they were right. Kate and Claire had become her life and sometimes she realized that that wasn’t fair to them. How many times had Claire told Brad she couldn’t go out because Victoria was home by herself? But was she always watching her? Trying to pretend that they were letting her do things on her own when really they had to be vigilant. It wasn’t fair to them. Maybe it was time to
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