Love Me Like You Hate Me (Edited Version)

Chapter 2

"Erik! We need to leave!" my dad called from the bottom of the stairs.

I sighed and finished tying my shoe. We were on our way to see my therapist. I had tried many times to tell me dad I didn't need one, but the doctor from the hospital I'd been in, after the authorities found out about my step dad, had convinced him that I "needed to talk about things". It was a royal waste of time in my opinion. I could be doing something more productive than just sitting around talking about stuff that depressed me. But my dad, the great believer, would only listen to the doctor.

I walked down the stairs slowly and glanced into the living room. My dad was sorting some papers in his briefcase on the coffee table. I knocked on the wall. "I'm ready," I said.

He looked up and closed his case. "Then let's get going. We're going to be late," he said.

I stepped out of the way as he hurried past me and out to the car, sighing again. I walked out slowly, taking my time so I'd have less time to talk to the therapist. The longer I stalled, the less time I'd have to attend the therapy session. My dad didn't like that way of thinking though, and he scolded me to get in the car. As soon as I closed the door of the passenger side, my dad pulled out of the driveway.

I stared out my window, a bored expression on my face. "Why do I have to go every week...?" I asked. "It doesn't help."

My dad glanced at me. "Erik, we've been over this. Talking to Dr. Tharn helps you open up. This is good for you." He tried to send me a smile, but I just scoffed. 

"Maybe I don't want to open up..." I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" my dad asked.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. "Nothing," I said. "I didn't say anything."

He frowned, knowing I had definitely said something. However, he didn't press me for it and concentrated on the road. I rolled my eyes and turned away again, shaking my head. He didn't even care. Sometimes I wondered why he really took me back. Out of love? Or obligation?

The rest of the drive was quiet, neither of us saying much since we didn't really have much to talk about. It was unbelievably awkward. However much I may have hated therapy, I was actually thankful to get out of the thick atmosphere of the car when we arrived at the Therapy Center. As I closed my door, my dad rolled the window down. He leaned over so he could see me. "I have an early meeting at work today, so I can't stay. I'll come pick you up later," he said.

Don't bother, I thought as I watched him drive away. As always, he has something more important to do. I wouldn't have been surprised if he forgot. Turning to the Therapy Center front doors, I could see through the window the patients waiting to be seen. I didn't want to be one of those patients. Unfortunately, if I tried to skip out they'd call my dad and ask him where I was.

I walked into the small building and went up to the front desk. "I have an appointment with Dr. Tharn," I said.

"Erik?" the front desk lady asked.

I nodded and she pointed to the familiar door a little ways down the hall. "Dr. Tharn is already in there. Just go right in," she told me.

I went over and pushed the door open, sticking my head inside and looking around. A lady in a nice, pencil-skirt dress stood over by a bookshelf. She was reading a file. When she heard the door, she looked up and smiled. "Hello, Erik. Come take a seat."

I stepped in and closed the door behind me, walking over and sitting on one of the two couches in the room. Dr. Tharn closed the file and came to sit across from me. "How have you been?" she asked.