Invisible String

Chapter 20 -Dr. Stevens

"And how did Noah's behavior affect your self-confidence?" Dr. Stevens inquired, her tone gentle yet probing.

I sighed, the weight of the question pressing down on me like a leaden blanket. "It shattered it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I used to be so confident, so sure of myself. But now... I have my days were I can't even look at myself."

Dr. Stevens nodded in understanding, her expression filled with compassion. "It's natural to feel that way after such a violation of privacy," she said. "But it's important to remember that your worth isn't determined by someone else's actions."

"Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and just didn't recognized yourself?"

"It's common for experiences like yours to leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, as if the person staring back at us is a stranger."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "But it's important to remember that our sense of self isn't defined by external circumstances or the actions of others," she said. "You are still the same person you were before, strong and resilient, even in the face of adversity."

"I guess..."

"Now you said you are now living with this boy, Logan."

"Yeah," I affirmed, a soft smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

Dr. Stevens leaned forward slightly, her gaze curious. "You seem to hold Logan in high regard," she observed, her tone gentle yet probing.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice tinged with gratitude. "Logan's been there for me through it all. It's kind of amazing, really. We didn't really know each other before all this craziness, but he's been a rock for me. He's the one who actually suggested I start therapy."

Dr. Stevens nodded, her gaze reflecting both interest and empathy. "It sounds like he really cares about you," she observed, her tone gentle and perceptive.

I nodded in agreement, feeling a mix of vulnerability and relief at sharing this intimate detail. "He does," I affirmed, my voice softening with the weight of my emotions.

Dr. Stevens observed me with a gentle yet probing gaze, her intuition cutting through the surface of my words. "Is there anything else?" she inquired, her tone inviting further disclosure.

A flush of embarrassment crept up my cheeks as I hesitated, grappling with the admission I was about to make. "Well... um," I stammered, feeling the weight of her scrutiny. "We might... just be more than friends," I confessed, my words coming out in a rush.

The therapist's eyebrows raised in interest, a silent invitation for me to elaborate. "So, you're a couple then?" she ventured, seeking clarification.

I shook my head vehemently, the blush deepening on my cheeks. "Oh, no, definitely not!" I exclaimed, feeling the need to clarify. "It's just... we're... uh... friends with the benefits of a couple," I fumbled, struggling to find the right words.

Dr. Stevens's expression remained neutral, her eyes probing yet nonjudgmental. "So, you're having sex," she stated matter-of-factly, her words hanging in the air with a weight that made me squirm uncomfortably.

I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach as Dr. Stevens's words hung in the air, her straightforwardness catching me off guard. Panic surged within me, the realization dawning that I was about to delve into territory I hadn't fully prepared to navigate.

"Um, well... yes," I admitted reluctantly, feeling the heat of embarrassment suffuse my cheeks. "But it's not like... it's complicated."

The therapist regarded me with a measured gaze, her expression inscrutable as she absorbed my words. "Complicated how?" she prompted, her tone gentle yet probing.