Returning Red

session 02/06

At this, she seemed to smile, and then there was excitement on her face. Her eyes were a dark shade of green when she grinned from ear to ear. "My week was SPECTACULAR, Bella, I made fantastic memories, I played extraordinary games with my daughter and I heard some life-changing super inspiring stories." 

I was smiling, mirroring her expression because she was just so positive and energetic and her vibe was completely infectious. "I'm happy for you," I nodded. 

"So Bella, how was your week?" She asked me again. 

I took a deep breath, "I was successful at getting the internship in PINK which made me feel amazing, and then I tasted the world's best pasta which my grandmom made watching youtube, and I spent the entire week reading three whole new books of Colleen Hoover which were mindblowing." 

"There," Katherine gave me a high-five. "Brilliant answer." 

I started laughing as we finished rolling out our mats. I was shaking my head because I was loving therapy. I loved how fun Katherine was and I loved the way she had something new every time, every minute, every second. 

"There is always something to be excited about in life. When you said your week was alright, you overlooked the possibility of something positive. But when you answered it with excitement, you hunted for all the moments in the past week that you actually enjoyed. Maybe the excitement was just 1% but you did enjoy it. And that's what life is all about. Celebrating and exaggerating the joy." She said as she removed the band that was holding her hair in a ponytail. 

Katherine Carlyle was a slender woman, and more than anything, she radiated beauty. Her dark blond hair which was only shoulder length made her seem more professional, taller, and more confident. I could never picture her with long hair. I almost thought of her as a tomboy in her youth days. She must have been the most fun person doing all mad things. The thought alone made me smile.

"Have you ever star-gazed before?" She broke my thoughts. I shook my head despite the memory of watching the same sky from the balcony of my room with a certain person surfaced in my memory. "Well, lay down then." 

I couldn't believe we were going to star gaze sleeping on yoga mats on the terrace of her therapy building. I did as she directed me and we were sleeping beside each other. 

"Do you believe in love?" She asked me after three minutes of silence. 

I didn't know what I should answer. I was debating whether to answer yes or to say no but I had no substantial reason to justify either of them. It hit me that at this point, I don't know if I believe in love. And I couldn't help but think so hard about such a simple question and yet, end up with no answer. 

"Oh lord, you have got to be kidding me," she chuckled beside me. 

"I--I don't know enough about it." I shrugged but I guess that was my honesty. 

"Okay, let's play this game. I'm going to say a word and you're going to say the first thing that comes to your mind, without overthinking it." She announced and I nodded watching the sky. I don't think she saw my nod though, "Ready?" 

"Ready," I said watching the sky. 

"Blue," she said and my mind went blank. 

"Uh--Um, Uh--"

"Time's up," she shrieked. "You stumbled at the first word?" 

"I--I don't know," I whined, laughing now. 

"We'll get back to blue later but next word, sports,"

"Team," my reply was quick.

"Family,"