says to her … he may be her brother

says to her … he may be her brother, but he reminds me of Alex. Criticizing what she wears, calling her constantly … my stomach turns as I listen. Finally, Jude stretches his legs out and shrugs. “I was thinking I should bring this guy in for a session, like a family meeting?”
I sit up like I’ve been poked in the ass. “What? Therapy is supposed to be a safe place, and you’re going to let him in? How will that feel to her?”
The other students look at me nervously, but Jude is used to me being blunt. He grimaces. “I know. But … I feel like I need more information. It’s hard, because she wouldn’t sign any releases to let me talk to her previous therapist or this brother or any of her other family members. She’s hard to pin down.”
“Maybe she doesn’t trust you yet,” says Suzanne gently. “You’ve only had one session with her, right?”
“I’d work on forming a solid alliance with this young woman before you seek more information elsewhere,” says Dr. Greer. “I’m not saying you don’t need it, but Suzanne is correct. She has to feel safe and trust you before you can move forward. Be patient. One of the easiest things to do in therapy is to rush things, but you’re in the free clinic, and that means there’s no insurance provider breathing down your neck. Build something good here, Jude. Don’t be complacent, but don’t push too hard, either.”
We move on from there, letting the other students have their turns, but I’m lost in a fog. What is wrong with me? It’s been months! I should be over this. In my whole life, I’d never been mistreated or abused, and it took only a few months with Alex to make me fall apart. Weak. I’m the opposite of what I want to be.
“You coming?”
My head jerks up. Jude is standing over me, looking hesitant. Supervision is over. “Um” is all I can think to say.
“Actually, Jude, I was wondering if I could talk to Romy for a few minutes?” asks Dr. Greer.
“Oh, sure,” he says, then bends and kisses my cheek. “Film festival on Saturday? Eric will make dinner for us before. Risotto,” he offers in a singsong voice.
“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll be there.”
He grins and leaves, and I’m stuck. Dr. Greer pivots in his chair and faces me. “You were very honest with me last semester, Romy. I’m going to have to ask you to do that again now. How was your summer?”
I rub at an ache above my left eyebrow. “Relaxing. I spent some time at my parents’ cottage.”
“And now that you’re back? It can be hard to return to a place with so many reminders of what you went through last year.”
“I have a new apartment.”
He pushes his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “That’s good. And Jude seems like a good support for you. Are you going to start therapy again?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, I felt like I got a lot out of it, but …” I spent six months in therapy, and it was definitely helpful. But I don’t want to feel broken anymore.
“What else are you doing for yourself? How are you spending your free time?”
If anyone else asked me this, I’d push back. But Dr. Greer could yank me from my internship if he senses I can’t handle it, and I need to convince him I can. “I’m painting, actually. Taking a class at the co-op. Jude is doing it with me.”
He grins. “You paint?”
“I did, but I hadn’t in a while. I’m giving it another try.”
“Art is a wonderful therapeutic outlet,” he says, and I can tell he’s pleased. “I’m glad you’re taking self-care seriously. Good therapists know how to nurture themselves so they can truly be there for others.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know. I’m trying. I-I mean—”
“It’s all right,” he assures me. “I simply wanted to check in with you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, I appreciate it.” I stand up, eager to escape. “I have another class.”
He waves toward the door, still smiling. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll see you next week. I look forward to hearing more about your painting class.”
A pair of wolf-gray eyes flashes in my mind, along with the memory of heat and the deep vibrations of Caleb’s voice. I let out a shaky, surprised laugh that causes Dr. Greer’s eyebrows to rise to the middle of his forehead.
My cheeks blazing, I say goodbye and scoot out of there as fast as my legs will carry me.
 
One more minute of this film and I’m going to claw my own eyes out. There’s little dialogue, and what’s said is in Icelandic, and it’s trying way too hard to be artsy—but to me it just looks cheesy. “Eric, I’m stepping out,” I whisper. “I’ll meet you guys out front when it’s over, okay?”
He looks down at me. “What’s wrong?”
“This one’s not for me, unfortunately. I’m fine, though. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Jude leans around Eric. “You want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. His hand is entwined with Eric’s, and I think they could use the time alone. They’re always inviting me places, but being the third wheel gets old. I get to my feet and edge my way to the aisle, trying not to stumble. The film festival draws hundreds, maybe thousands, every year, but the flicks are hit or miss.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

mengatakan padanya... dia mungkin kakaknya, tapi ia mengingatkan saya Alex. Mengkritik apa yang dia pakai, memanggil terus-menerus... perut saya berubah saat aku mendengarkan. Akhirnya, Yudas membentang kakinya dan mengangkat bahu. "Aku berpikir aku harus membawa orang ini untuk sesi, seperti pertemuan keluarga?"Aku duduk sampai seperti aku telah melongokkan di pantat. "Apa? Terapi ini seharusnya menjadi tempat yang aman, dan Anda akan membiarkan dia? Bagaimana akan yang merasa kepadanya?"Siswa lainnya melihat saya gugup, tetapi Yudas digunakan untuk saya menjadi tumpul. Ia grimaces. "Aku tahu. Tapi... Aku merasa seperti aku butuh informasi lebih lanjut. Hal ini sulit, karena dia tidak akan menandatangani setiap rilis untuk membiarkan saya berbicara dengan dia terapis sebelumnya atau saudara ini atau salah anggota keluarga lainnya. Dia sulit untuk dijabarkan.""Mungkin ia tidak mempercayai dirimu lagi," kata Suzanne lembut. "Anda hanya punya satu sesi dengan dia, benar?""Aku akan bekerja pada membentuk aliansi padat dengan wanita muda ini sebelum Anda mencari informasi lebih lanjut di tempat lain," kata Dr Greer. "Saya tidak mengatakan Anda tidak membutuhkannya, tetapi Suzanne benar. Dia harus merasa aman dan mempercayai Anda sebelum Anda dapat bergerak maju. Bersabarlah. Salah satu hal yang termudah untuk dilakukan dalam terapi adalah untuk terburu-buru hal-hal, tetapi Anda berada di klinik gratis, dan itu berarti ada penyedia asuransi tidak pernapasan bawah leher Anda. Membangun sesuatu yang baik di sini, Yudas. Jangan puas, tapi tidak mendorong terlalu keras, baik."Kita melanjutkan dari sana, membiarkan murid-murid lain telah berubah mereka, tapi aku hilang dalam kabut. Apa salah dengan saya? Telah bulan! Aku harus selama ini. Dalam hidupku, aku tidak pernah telah dianiaya atau disalahgunakan, dan butuh waktu hanya beberapa bulan dengan Alex membuat saya berantakan. Lemah. Aku kebalikan dari apa yang saya ingin menjadi."Kau datang?"Saya tersentak kepala up. Yudas berdiri di atas saya, melihat ragu-ragu. Pengawasan adalah di atas. "Um" adalah semua saya bisa memikirkan untuk mengatakan."Sebenarnya, Yudas, aku bertanya-tanya jika saya bisa berbicara dengan Romy selama beberapa menit?" meminta Dr Greer."Oh, tentu," katanya, kemudian membungkuk dan mencium pipi saya. "Festival film pada hari Sabtu? Eric akan membuat makan malam sebelumnya. Risotto,"ia menawarkan dengan suara singsong."Ya," kataku. "Saya akan berada di sana."Dia grins dan daun, dan saya terjebak. Dr Greer pivots di kursinya dan wajah saya. "Kau sangat jujur dengan saya terakhir semester, Romy. Aku akan harus meminta Anda untuk melakukan itu lagi sekarang. Bagaimana Apakah musim panas Anda?"Aku menggosok di sakit di atas alis kiri saya. "Santai. Saya menghabiskan beberapa waktu di cottage orangtuaku.""Dan sekarang bahwa Anda kembali? Akan sulit untuk kembali ke tempat dengan begitu banyak pengingat dari apa yang Anda pergi melalui tahun lalu.""Aku punya apartemen baru."Dia mendorong kacamatanya naik di jembatan hidungnya. "Itu baik. Dan Yudas sepertinya dukungan yang baik untuk Anda. Anda akan mulai terapi lagi?"I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, I felt like I got a lot out of it, but …” I spent six months in therapy, and it was definitely helpful. But I don’t want to feel broken anymore.“What else are you doing for yourself? How are you spending your free time?”If anyone else asked me this, I’d push back. But Dr. Greer could yank me from my internship if he senses I can’t handle it, and I need to convince him I can. “I’m painting, actually. Taking a class at the co-op. Jude is doing it with me.”He grins. “You paint?”“I did, but I hadn’t in a while. I’m giving it another try.”“Art is a wonderful therapeutic outlet,” he says, and I can tell he’s pleased. “I’m glad you’re taking self-care seriously. Good therapists know how to nurture themselves so they can truly be there for others.”I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know. I’m trying. I-I mean—”“It’s all right,” he assures me. “I simply wanted to check in with you. I hope you don’t mind.”“No, I appreciate it.” I stand up, eager to escape. “I have another class.”He waves toward the door, still smiling. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll see you next week. I look forward to hearing more about your painting class.”A pair of wolf-gray eyes flashes in my mind, along with the memory of heat and the deep vibrations of Caleb’s voice. I let out a shaky, surprised laugh that causes Dr. Greer’s eyebrows to rise to the middle of his forehead.My cheeks blazing, I say goodbye and scoot out of there as fast as my legs will carry me. One more minute of this film and I’m going to claw my own eyes out. There’s little dialogue, and what’s said is in Icelandic, and it’s trying way too hard to be artsy—but to me it just looks cheesy. “Eric, I’m stepping out,” I whisper. “I’ll meet you guys out front when it’s over, okay?”He looks down at me. “What’s wrong?”“This one’s not for me, unfortunately. I’m fine, though. I’ll see you in a bit.”Jude leans around Eric. “You want me to come with you?”I shake my head. His hand is entwined with Eric’s, and I think they could use the time alone. They’re always inviting me places, but being the third wheel gets old. I get to my feet and edge my way to the aisle, trying not to stumble. The film festival draws hundreds, maybe thousands, every year, but the flicks are hit or miss.