Impromptu Therapy

The next morning, I began to stir, the sunlight filtering gently through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Jasper was already up, quietly reading a book nearby. Mr. Tang had prepared a light breakfast and set it on the side table, ensuring everything was in place for my comfort.

A soft knock on the door interrupted the morning tranquility. Jasper looked up and then back at me, a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Who could that be this early?" I murmured, my voice still groggy from sleep.

Jasper went to answer the door. Standing there, looking impeccably composed as always, was Mrs. Azure. She wore a tailored suit that spoke of professionalism and efficiency, her expression a mixture of concern and determination.

"Good morning, Jasper," she greeted with a nod. "I'm here to check on Alex."

Jasper stepped aside to let her in. Mrs. Azure walked in with a purposeful stride, her eyes immediately finding me, sitting up in bed, looking a bit surprised.

"Mrs. Azure," I said, trying to muster a smile. "What brings you here?"

"I heard about your... episode," she said gently, taking a seat beside my bed. "I wanted to make sure you're alright."

"I'm fine," I replied, though my voice betrayed a hint of lingering unease. "Just a bad dream."

"More than just a bad dream, from what I understand," Mrs. Azure said, her tone both firm and compassionate. "You went through quite an ordeal. It's important to take care of your mental and emotional health, Alex. I scolded your father for making you work so much too."

I glanced at Jasper, who nodded in agreement, then back at Mrs. Azure. "I know. Thank you for coming to check on me."

"Of course," she said, reaching out to pat my hand reassuringly. "You have a lot of people who care about you. Let's make sure you take the time you need to recover fully."

I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease with her presence. "I'll try."

Mrs. Azure gave me a small, encouraging smile. "That's all we ask. Now, let's discuss how we can make today a bit better for you."

"How?"

"I am a very qualified therapist. I've won awards for my studies," Mrs. Azure assured me, her voice calm and confident. "Just leave it to mommy. So far, I've already spoken to your ex-mother and gotten what she thinks of you."

"And?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and dread.

"Well, she doesn't think much of you as a person, that much is clear. I don't think I need to relay her exact words. What I want to know from you is your view on how you grew up." She took out a notebook and readied her pen.

"Where do I start?" I muttered, feeling cornered but knowing there was no way out. "I've been tested, you know. The doctors say I'm fine."

"Tell me about Emily," she suggested.

"She's an idiot," I said flatly, not wanting to delve deeper but knowing I had to.

"Tell me about the time she pushed you down the stairs," Mrs. Azure probed gently. "Why did she do that?"

"Well, I was walking, and she just pushed me. I never bothered to find out the reason she's like that, nor did I ever care. It happened, and we all moved on from it," I said. "I was pretty banged up and eventually went to the hospital for it, and the whole thing is still a bit hazy. It wasn't like it was the first time she tried to kill me anyway."

I found myself recounting the times Emily had tried to violently take me out. How she would sometimes set fire to my bed while I was sleeping, how she hit me as hard as she could whenever she had the chance, and how I had to avoid her at all costs.

"I could always prove it was her that did everything, but I never bothered since my dad would probably make us fight it out."

"Surely that part was traumatic for you," Mrs. Azure said softly.

Though I did get anxious about what she might do whenever I saw her, it was more of a much-needed survival mechanism than a trauma response. She does stupid shit, and I needed to watch out for her. I think everyone knew that.

"How could I be scared of that idiot?" I muttered.

"Mr. Tang said you changed after she pushed you down the stairs," Mrs. Azure said, her pen poised to capture my response.

"I'm not sure what I was like before that, but I've always been very pragmatic," I informed her. "It's also not like I had much of a choice. She was a constant threat, and I had to adapt."

Mrs. Azure nodded thoughtfully, jotting down notes in her book. "Adapting to survive isn't the same as thriving, Alex. It's important to understand the difference."

I shrugged, feeling a bit defensive. "I've managed fine. I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are," she agreed, her voice gentle. "But surviving isn't enough. You deserve to thrive, to be happy and at peace."

I looked away, unsure how to respond. Thriving, happiness, peace—these were foreign concepts to me. I had always focused on getting through each day, not allowing myself to think too much about what might come after.

"Tell me more about your relationship with your father," Mrs. Azure said, steering the conversation back on track.

I sighed again, knowing that this was going to be a long and difficult conversation. "He was... strict, to put it mildly. He believed in discipline and willpower, and he had very little patience for anything he deemed as weakness."

"And how did that affect you?" she asked, her tone patient and encouraging.

"It made me tough, I guess. Or at least, it made me seem tough," I admitted. "But it also made me feel like I could never really relax or let my guard down. There was always something I had to prove, some expectation I had to meet."

Mrs. Azure nodded, her pen moving swiftly across the page. "That's a lot of pressure to live under, especially as a child."

"Yeah," I said quietly. "It was."

She looked up from her notes, her eyes filled with a kindness that made me feel seen in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. "You've been through a lot, Alex. It's okay to acknowledge that. It's okay to seek help and support."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Thanks, Mrs. Azure."

"You're welcome," she said, her smile warm and genuine. "Tell me about your brother then," Mrs. Azure said, guiding the conversation to the next topic.

"He liked playing pranks on me," I told her, the bitterness in my voice hard to mask. "He liked tampering with my food to make me sick and methods of sleep deprivation. He planted the body in my room to frame me. Recently, I found out that he was paying people to bully me in school."

I paused, memories of those tormenting years flooding back. "Plus, nothing he did ever hurt me on purpose. The worst of it was when I almost drowned in the ocean that one time when he buried me in the sand. The maid on staff had dug me out before anything could happen to me, but she was swiftly fired right after by my mom."

"And nothing was done about his behavior?" Mrs. Azure raised a brow, her pen ready to capture my every word.

"I wasn't allowed to get help. I was on my own from the beginning and I learned to handle myself very well," I rolled my eyes. "There were good times too, as long as you added value, you had a place at the table, so it wasn't hard to shine in the house since I was the most valuable one there."

"Where do you get that unshakable confidence?" Mrs. Azure smiled, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"It's easy to feel that way. I was always surrounded by idiots until recently," I bragged. "I feel nothing about those people anymore as I've taught them not to mess with me."

"Then why does Emily still continue to try and bother you? Why is Helen Reed trying to turn everyone against you?" Mrs. Azure pried, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"I've had this one theory because it makes the most sense. I either wasn't planned, or I'm not their kid. That's how I've always thought about it and it's served me well," I said, shrugging off the weight of the revelation.

Mrs. Azure took my hand sympathetically, her touch warm and grounding. "You never worried about the real reason?"

"Why should I? It wouldn't have changed anything." I sighed, feeling the exhaustion of reliving these memories. What was the point of talking about all this when it was basically a non-factor in my life at the present moment? I cannot change the past or get that loving family I wanted before.

"Mr. Tang said you stopped worrying about it after your head trauma. Is that the source of what gave you nightmares?" Mrs. Azure's voice was soft, coaxing.

I looked away, the memories of my past swirling in my mind like a storm. What did it matter now? The damage was done, and all that remained was to move forward, no matter how hard it might be.

"I care about nothing but just moving on from them now as the son of the Azure family," I told Mrs. Azure, my voice firm and resolute.

She nodded, her pen hovering over her notebook. "That's understandable, Alex. It sounds like you've been through a lot and you're serious about creating a new life for yourself."

"Exactly," I replied, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. "I just want to leave all that behind and focus on the future."

"And what does that future look like to you?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Peace, stability, and maybe some happiness," I said, surprising myself with the admission. "I've spent so long just surviving. I want to see what it's like to actually live and work normally."

Mrs. Azure smiled warmly, her eyes filled with empathy. "That's a good goal, Alex. And it's achievable. You have people who care about you and want to help you succeed."

I nodded, feeling a small flicker of hope. "Yeah, I know. And I'm grateful for that."

She reached out and placed a comforting hand on my arm. "You're strong, Alex. You've come this far, and I have no doubt that you can achieve the peace and stability you're looking for."

"Thanks, Mrs. Azure," I said, appreciating her support.

"Remember, it's okay to lean on others for help. You don't have to carry everything by yourself," she reminded me gently.

"I'll try to keep that in mind," I said, though it was easier said than done.

"Right?!" she said, her eyes sincere. "You're part of our family now, and families support each other! Whenever you need someone, just remember that you can count on mommy, even when you're sick."

A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Thank you, Mom," I said softly.

She squeezed my arm gently. "We'll work through this together, Honey. One step at a time."

As our session continued, I felt a sense of clarity beginning to emerge. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way forward that didn't involve constant struggle. Maybe there was a chance for a better future after all.