TWO STRANGERS

I'm going to be late! Why didn't I hear that stupid alarm?

Gianna rushing to her car, upset that she had to take a nap before her first session with Dr. B. She's been struggling with depression for a while, but never really started seeking help until she started noticing that she doesn't feel anything when she's intimate with someone, correction anyone. Of course, like she always does she started researching about it online. I mean what good is the internet if not telling you what's wrong with you right?

Upon reading up on it, she found out that she may be disassociating her feelings which is a symptom of depression. She was definitely in a state of denial for a while, she thought to herself that since she is now self aware of what's wrong with her, maybe that would magically cure her. It was going good for a while or so she thought. But not until one of her best friends died suddenly, she did not even cry in the funeral. She put up a sad face, but no tears came. All she had was an empty feeling and a disbelief that Julie really is gone.

Gianna ran to the elevator, then sees the "Out of Order" sign. She exclaims out loud. "You have got to be kidding me!", she then looks for the stairs runs towards it, checks her phone for the time almost trips getting up the stairs. Finally, reaches the second floor and looks for room 221. Looks at the time again before opening the door, fixes herself and slowly opens the door to a waiting room. Looks around, did not see a receptionist just four chairs separated by plants, a glass table with some magazines on top of it, also a couple of paintings on the wall and another door and a sign on it that says. "Sit down, and wait for the doctor."

She sits down, and thinks to herself that its strange that she's late but no Dr. B in sight. The door suddenly opens, and another woman comes out, she over heard her say thank you and asking close the door? She then starts walking and see's Gianna sitting on the waiting room.

She then says, "It's strange to see another patient in the waiting room."

Gianna replies "Why? Isn't it what waiting rooms are for?"

"First session?" She asks.

"That obvious?" Gianna replies.

"Yeah. Dr. B usually sends an email a day before your first session, letting you know that your appointment is scheduled at such and such time but arrive for your appointment 15mins later. But you obviously didn't read that right?" She says.

"Really?" Gianna checks her phone and looks for the email. "So, I was early?"

"Honestly, I think he just doesn't want the patients to co-mingle." She replies. "I'm Cypress." sticks out her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Gianna, nice to meet you." shakes her hand.

Cypress starts heading towards the door, then takes two steps backward. Gets something from her purse and hands it to Gianna.

"Here's my card. My contact information is on there. Call me if you feel like talking." Then heads back towards the door.

"You don't think it's strange, that us patients co-mingle?" Gianna said after giving a little laugh.

"Nope. I have a good feeling about you." Gives Gianna a wink, and opens the door and walks out.

Finally, Dr. B emerges out of his office, looks around and sees Gianna. "Welcome Gianna, come on in."

"Hi!" Gianna jumps up. He gestures her to go in the room. Gianna walks in and sits down.

"So, I am Dr. B, which I think you already know since we been corresponding through emails."

Gianna laughs a little, and looked at Dr. B and he looked super serious.

Though crowd. She tells herself.

"So Gianna, what brings you in today?" He asks. She thinks to herself didn't she already mentioned that on her online intake form? So I am not the only one who doesn't read her emails? She clears her throat.

"Sorry, I am a littler nervous. It's my first time going to therapy." She says.

"It perfectly normal to feel nervous. I just want you to feel comfortable in this space." He replies.

She quietly starts looking around the room. And she starts thinking out loud. "Huh. Mondrian, interesting."

"Why do you think it's interesting?" Dr. B asks, while writing something down on his notebook.

"I'm sorry, I was thinking out loud, I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, I'm not offended. I was just curious of all the things you could have noticed, you noticed the painting."

"I don't know, I guess because I always liked his art?" Then shrugs.

"Gianna, don't think there's any wrong answers here. This is your time to talk about anything and everything."

"Sorry, I mean like I said it's my first time doing therapy, I don't really know how this works."

"That's okay, we can talk about whatever you want. Also, stop apologizing."

"I'm Sorr.." laughs nervously. "I just do not know where to start."

"Okay, lets start with why are you here?"

"Why am I here? I mean, I guess I need help?"

"Go on.."

"I guess.. I just want to know why I am feeling this way?"

"What are you feeling exactly?"

"Numb." Gianna says.

"Why do you think you feel numb?" Dr. B asks.

"I'm not really sure. I haven't been feeling anything for a while now. I mean I told my friends about it. They think I'm just not on the right head space right now to be in a relationship." Imitating air quotes.

"So do you agree with them?"

"I mean, I guess so. I don't think they're wrong. I just thought that they're biased because they're my friends. So they will tell me anything so I can shut up about it."

"So you have brought this up to them before?"

"Yes, a bunch of times. So I guess they started getting tired of me talking about it all the time, and just started telling me anything that will make me feel better, of sorts."

"So what made you change your mind?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you think now that what your friends told you is wrong?"

"Wrong? What do you mean wrong?"

"That you're not in the right head space."

"I mean I don't fully disagree with them."

"But?"

"Yes, of course there is a but. BUT I don't think they understand what I am going through either. Don't get me wrong, I love them and they have always been super supportive of everything that I do, but sometimes I feel like I need another ear to listen to me. Because in my head, I am definitely a broken record."

"Why do you think so?"

"Uhm. That I think I am a broken record?" Dr. B nods.

"I guess, because I tell myself the same thing over and over."

"Which is?"

"That there is something wrong with me."

"Why do you think there's something wrong with you?"

Gianna starts laughing out loud. "I'm Sorr... Right... Does that work with everyone?"

"What do you mean?"

"You, asking all these questions. Do you usually get the answers? I mean yes, I am answering your questions. Is this how therapy works? I tell you something and you keep on grilling me with questions?"

"Do you think I am grilling you?"

"Here you go again, with the questions. I mean yes and no. Wrong choice of words. What I meant to say is.. Okay.. Let's reset. I'm pretty new to this so I don't know how I feel with the questions I guess."

"Gianna, this is your time. We're here to figure out why you need my help. Just take your time." Gianna notices Dr. B looking at the time. Huh, didn't realize there's a clock there.

"Are we almost out of time?"

"No, we have time. Like I said, this is a safe space. You can say and talk about whatever you want."

"Okay, feeling numb. I do not know when it started. I mean I HAVE an idea on when it started, but I'm not entirely sure?"

"Go on.."

"Does everything really stem with your childhood?" Gianna asks suddenly.

"Why do you ask that?"

"I researched it. Most articles I have read they always say it does."

"Is that what you think?"

"I mean I guess so? I mean I don't think I had a bad childhood. My parents are great, they put me through college, they took care of me. I mean I am really close to my parents. But also since I am the oldest, they expect a little too much from me."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"How do I feel about that? HOW DO I feel about that.. I don't know.. Stressed.. Annoyed.. Tired.."

"Why do you feel all those things you think?"

"WHY?? I'm stressed because they want me to get married and have kids. Total cliche I know. But I told them I don't believe that I should conform to the norm. That basically upset them a little bit and that annoyed me. I'm feel tired because I have to keep explaining to them every SINGLE time on why I ended a relationship."

"So tell me about those relationship/s."

Gianna looks at the clock. "You sure we have enough time?"

Dr. B looks at the time. Laughs a bit. "Okay, we have five minutes left. Do you want to talk about it for a bit? Or you want to end the session?"

Gianna thinks about it, and shakes her head. "No, we can end the session." Stands up and starts walking towards the door. Looks back. "Thank you for today. I guess I'll see you again same time next week?"

Dr. B stands up and opens his laptop, goes in his calendar and asks. "Of course, I'm putting you on the calendar. It was so great to meet you. Talk soon."

Gianna nods opens the door and walks out of the office and closes the door behind her. Looks around, no one there. Huh. So I guess he really doesn't like patients co-mingling. She laughs while leaving the waiting room.

She finally gets home. "That traffic was brutal. I really hate driving." She looks around. "Why am I talking to myself again."

She drops her purse on top of the table and starts looking in the fridge. No food. Crap! I forgot to get groceries.

Walks back to the table, starts looking for her phone. I guess I'm ordering food again for the third time this week. Why do I keep on forgetting to get groceries? Finally finds her phone then something fall down the floor. She looks down, sees a card, picks it up, then reads it.

Cypress 555-1212. :) Call me.

Thinks about it, and dials the phone number. She hears ringing. Then someone picks up.

"I knew I had a good feeling about you." Says the voice on the other line.

"How.. How did you know it was me?" Gianna asks.

"I'm psychic." Laughs and says. "So Gianna, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Uhm... This may sound weird, but do you want to grab a drink? I mean I'm starving and I haven't ate yet. So dinner and drinks?"

"Why Gianna.. Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Date?! No! I mean you told me to call you if I wanted to talk so I called. I didn't mean for you to think I am asking you out. Oh my god, this is so embarrassing."

Gianna hears laughter in the background. "I'm kidding! I know this great dive with great bar food. You want to meet me there?"

Gianna hesitates. Come on Gianna, dinner and drinks with a total stranger. Sound like a fun time. Say yes.

"Uh sure. Send me the info and I'll take a car there."

"A car? You mean go on an app and type in the to and from address type of shit? Or really call a car like the good old days."

"Yes, the first one." Starts laughing out loud. "I'll see you soon."