Gemotions

The waiting room felt less like a prison now. It used to be the scene of her most anxious nightmares, but seeing the name on the doorplate – “Dr. Marcus Bell, LCSW” – triggered a wave of lightness through her chest. She hadn’t seen Marcus since middle school, when he'd terrorized her with stolen lunch money and cutting remarks. Now, the prospect of facing him was... strangely manageable. The knot in her stomach began to unravel; she was ready.

A soft knock at the door. "Come in, please."

Entering his office, she found him older, his face etched with lines she didn't remember. He gestured towards a comfortable armchair. His eyes held a gentle curiosity, absent from the boy who used to shove her into lockers. Her jaw released. She was suddenly eager to spill the tangled mess that had been tormenting her for months.