The Way You'd Loved Her | winrina

Chapter 30

Today, they are more relaxed. Dr. Lee thinks whether she should take it as a good sign. Calm before storm, she reminds herself.

But the way they are sitting a little closer to each other and the way their fingers almost brush as their hands rest on the couch between them makes her smile in spite of herself. They return it, and it's a little less tentative.

"How are we feeling today?" She asks gently. Winter and Karina glance at each other, and she doesn't fail to notice how their gazes fall to the other's lips and linger there. She mentally thanks years of practice for allowing her to remain collected when all she wants to do is grin. It's rather typical for couples in love to immediately crave a physical connection as soon as they are told to put a temporary stop to it. But intimacy is so, so much more than just sex.

She makes a mental note to give them several intimacy exercises to do at home.

"Good," Winter says, and Karina nods. "We're feeling good. I mean - I feel good. Do you--"

"Yes," Karina jumps to clarify it, eyes mildly panicked. "I -- yes, I feel good." Chaerin gives her an encouraging smile, but the raven-haired woman barely returns it and leans back into the couch.

"Karina," Dr. Lee tries. "If something is bothering you, it's okay to speak up. We're here to listen." She gives Winter a sideways glance. The brunette is nodding along as she studies her partner.

But Karina only shakes her head and hides behind a smile that could almost pass for genuine. "Nothing is bothering me. I'm just a little nervous, still. I -- I've never been in therapy before."

"Do you want to leave?" Winter asks immediately, voice quiet and soft. It never fails to astonish Dr. Lee - how gentle the woman is with Karina after such a tremendous betrayal. The fact that they are even here after everything they've been through...

"No, no, of course not," Karina says quickly. "I want to be here. I'm fine."

Winter doesn't look like she believes her, but that's not entirely unexpected.

Dr. Lee nods. "Okay. Now, last session was more introductory than anything." Winter lets out a barely audible scoff at that, but she decides to ignore it for now. "Today, I propose we try to dig deeper." Karina's paling more and more with each word. She's certainly sympathetic towards her, but this is necessary, so she ignores that, too. "With a betrayal like that, it's crucial to be as open and truthful as possible. Karina," the raven-haired woman visibly restrains herself from flinching, but nods to indicate she's listening. "Are you willing to be just that?"

"Of course." The answer is immediate and sure.

"Good." Chaerin looks at Winter next. "Now, Winter... It's important that neither of you hide anything. I'm sure you have some questions regarding the whole situation that you never asked Karina, don't you?"

Winter's silent for a long moment, but Dr. Lee is patient. She continues to look at her with encouragement, not taking her eyes off her a she waits for her to speak.

Finally, hazel eyes meet hers, and the woman nods. "Yes. I do."

"Great." It's clear that neither of them agree with her statement. "I think that today we should dedicate our session to really getting everything out in the open. The wound needs to be cleaned before it starts to heal."

The room grows silent once again. Winter's staring at her shoes and Karina is staring at Winter, her lower lip bitten and her face tense.

Chaerin gives them another moment before deciding she should intervene. "If you'd like, I could facilitate--"

"Did you sleep with him on Christmas night?" The question is directed at Winter's shoes, but Karina still flinches. Dr. Lee never quite got that expression - 'flinched as if slapped'. But today, just a second ago, she finally saw it coming to life, and it's not pretty.