
This was her fourth shrink. Or companion, as the lady liked to be called. Yeah right! Some came to the psychiatrists to deterge their soul, some to seek guidance to recover from trauma, some to make sense of their thoughts. Her first had been judgemental; the second one too professional, coming off as cold and brusque. By the third ‘doctor’, she had realised that she didn’t need one.
Ayona had developed her own coping mechanisms. Drinking when the memories threatened to overwhelm her, punching her denigrators and kicking her way out of troubles. The only issue was that these coping mechanisms had to bow down before the law.
Dr. Mahena seemed kind and forthright, but this was just their second session. She would withhold judgement until the third.
“Ayona, why is it necessary to reach that knife in your dreams?” Dr. Mahena repeated her question softly. She never forced her clients to answer, just placed questions and facts before them, letting them answers and reach to conclusions on their own. Her motto: a smidgen of empathy and soupcon of patience.
“It’s a nice office you’ve got here,” Ayona commented, getting up from her couch. It was designed to show natural light and open spaces yet convey a sense of structure and formality.
“What’s that?” She pointed to a wall mounted board behind the couch, stuck with colourful notes. “That’s the ‘Feel Good’ board. My fellow companions write their positive feelings, their hopes and motivations… or even a good thought.”
“It’s all love notes…” “Well, it is a strong and popular positive emotion. But not all of them are about love,” the doctor chuckled, tapping a note with the word ‘Inspire’.
“Maybe I’ll write something someday if I make it through our sessions,” Ayona shrugged, moving away from the board. “Surviving can’t be your only goal,” came a mild reply as the doctor resumed her seat. “You endured them, no matter how difficult it got towards the end. But now, perhaps it’s time for some healing. Maybe it’s time to start living again.”
Written for Sadje’s What Do You See #43. Does this picture inspire you to write something? Write an original story, poem or a caption.
Other prompts: #FOWC– Design; #RDP– Surviving; The Daily Spur– Kind; 3TC– Drink, Punch & Kick; #YDWP– Deterge; Word of the Day– Soupcon
Β© 2020, Cozy Quiet Corner.
I loved this one! Great takes on the prompts too.
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π€ thank you so much.
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great take π
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Thanks Era ππ
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Anytime π
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Priya, sending you lots of love and smiles along your away! Totally love thisπ
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Your comment made me very happy, Nathi π€ thank you!
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Pleasure is mine π
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This is a great story line. Thanks for joining in the challenge
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Thanks a lot, Sadje. Your WDYS prompt is always fun to write. π
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Youβre welcome!
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Can you send the address of Dr. Mahena?
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I wish! π But she just exists in my mind, nudging me towards insights and realisations. Thanks for your comment, Harsh.
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Nice compilation of all the prompts!!
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Thanks for your kind comment βΊοΈ
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Nice post Priya .. well written π
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Thank you for your comment, HS π
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I hope that she finds a way too. Beautifully written, Priya and I love the way you have incorporated a lot of prompts in here π
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Thank you so much Shweta, for alm your kind comments and support. π
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I wonder what she’d have added to the board! I loved the story. β€
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I wonder too π Thank you so much π
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My pleasure! π
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What a thoughtful piece. Really nicely done. π
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Thanks a lot, Chris π
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