AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod, acknowledging his frustration while trying to guide him deeper.
"Frustration is a valid feeling, especially in your situation. But let's explore why you feel punished. Can we find a way to transform that frustration into something more productive for your recovery?"
Tyler shakes his head, his usual defensiveness on full display.
"Why bother? It's not like talking about my feelings will magically heal my knee. This whole thing... it's just pointless."
Each session becomes a delicate dance of push and pull.
I gently guide Tyler toward a deeper understanding of himself while he resists, barricading himself behind a fortress of skepticism and dismissiveness.
Yet, I see glimmers of potential breakthroughs—moments when his defiance wavers, when the honest Tyler, vulnerable and scared, peeks through.
But as quickly as these moments come, they vanish, with Tyler retreating into his shell.
His resistance is intense, but I always notice a slight flicker of worry in his eyes whenever I ask questions.
So, I know he has real answers to my questions but refuses to answer them.
He continues to hide behind his shield in front of him—a man with a tough exterior to keep people out unless it's loved ones.
Over the years, I've met plenty of people like that in my professional and personal life.
My brother used to be the same way until he fell in love and settled down. He became a lot more open and less offensive than he had been all his life.
Despite the challenges, I remain patient and steadfast.
My goal is not to break Tyler but to be a steady presence, guiding him towards the light of self-awareness and healing.
It's a journey that I am committed to walking with him, step by step, no matter how resistant he may be.
Change is never easy, especially the kind that involves honestly facing oneself. My job—as challenging as it may be with Tyler—is to guide him through this process.
I want to help him see that healing is as much about the mind as it is about the body. So, I press on, session after session, hoping to eventually reach him.
It's not just because it's my professional obligation and duty to try to help him. There's just something different about him.
Even with the walls he's built around himself and his combative attitude, there seems to be something that slowly draws me to him.
I’m in the process of collecting my belongings.
This routine marks the end of another grueling day at the office when I notice Cara, my ever-diligent receptionist, positioning herself against the frame of my office doorway.
A distinctive expression on her face unequivocally signals she's got something on her mind, a thought brewing that she seems compelled to share.
With a slight clearing of her throat, she steps slightly into the room, her demeanor one of hesitancy.
She may be weighing each word with care before giving it voice.
"You know."
She starts, her voice trailing off momentarily as if to marshal her thoughts,
"I've been observing Tyler’s behavior lately. Whenever he emerges from your office after those in-depth sessions, he seems… I don't know, unusually disturbed, more so than one might typically expect.”
I respond with a soft chuckle, my head gently nodding in agreement.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that as well. But my guess? He’s just feeling a bit unsettled. Being the new guy in a small town isn’t easy. It’s quite the adjustment, especially without familiar faces around. I have faith that, eventually, he'll begin to come around. Until then, I'll continue being patient.”
