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I know about Tight Grip Tyler, the infamous bull rider, but I have no idea who Tyler Parker, the individual, is.
I smile as I lock up the office and head towards my car in the parking lot to unlock it.
I have all the faith in the world that Tyler will eventually warm up to me and open up.
Chapter 3
Tyler
Unwilling Attraction
This morning just sets the tone for the whole damn day.
There I am, walking out of the kitchen, feeling somewhat decent for a change, when my knee gives out.
No warning, no gradual pain to signal it’s about to happen—just bam, and I'm stumbling like a calf on ice.
The worst part? My son, Timmy, sees it all. The look on his face... I’ve seen respect, awe, and now, pity.
Seeing that shift is like a punch to the gut. It puts me in a foul mood, one that I can’t seem to shake off.
By the time I get to therapy with Dr. Marlene, I’m a ticking time bomb of irritation and self-loathing.
She greets me with her usual calm demeanor.
"Good morning, Tyler. How has your morning been so far?"
I barely keep the snarl out of my voice.
"Why does that matter? We’re just here to go through the motions, right?"
I can tell I’m being unreasonable, but stumbling this morning stripped away any patience I had.
Dr. Marlene, unphased by my tone, tries to steer the conversation back to a productive path.
"Tyler, therapy is a process that facilitates healing and understanding. It’s not about prying into your personal life but offering support and strategies to improve it."
Her words are meant to be soothing, but they feel like sandpaper against my raw nerves.
"Healing? Understanding? It seems more like a deep dive into someone’s privacy under the guise of professional help. I don’t buy it."
I know I’m being harsh and combative, but I wouldn’t say I like the thought of spilling my guts to someone who, in my mind, could never understand the depth of what I’m going through.
The worried look on Timmy's face this morning, the pause in my career, my identity—it’s too much to package neatly for a therapy session.
Dr. Marlene remains patient, her voice steady.
"I understand your skepticism, Tyler. Many people feel vulnerable in therapy initially. But I assure you, the goal is to help you build strategies to cope, to find ways to adapt, and to grow beyond your injury."
I scoff, unable to help myself.
"Adapt and grow? I was a bull rider, Dr. Marlene. My whole life was about conquering, not coping and adapting."
Dr. Marlene leans forward, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that feels too probing.
"Tyler, you've mentioned your whole life has been about conquering. But have you dedicated so much of your time and energy to your career that now, as you're healing, you're unsure of your identity outside of being a bull rider?"
Her question hits closer to home than I care to admit. I shift in my seat, discomfort written all over me.
