20 Julianna The Therapist

It was raining , the sounds of rain drops falling onto the windows of Phoebe's condo echoed throughout the rooms. A tall, green haired woman with tan skin stood behind the island in the kitchen. She was making tea, humming Gymnopedie No. 1, softly to the stir of the tea.

She would bring a tray with two red and gold tea cups with it's tea pot that matched.

"Phoebe honey, It's time so please stop hiding in you room." She sat the tray down on to the coffee table in the living room and she began to fix up the L shaped couch making sure it was comfortable for Phoebe to lay down on.

" Phoebe.." she said sternly and started her march towards Phoebe's bedroom. Her slippers made a scratch sound as it made contact with the floor.

Phoebe was lying around in bed, she didn't want to get up. Thursday was her day to sleep in yet her step mother Juliana wanted to pay a visit. Not as a mom but as a therapist.

"Of all the days in a week, you decided to come here on a Thursday? Phoebe grunted from underneath her covers. Soon after Juliana would rip the covers off of Phoebe exposing her to the cool air temperature of her home. She was wearing purple pajama shorts and a white tank top.Phoebe balled up into a ball

"Who let you in here?" she groaned

"Look at you, your body is covered in bruises." Juliana sounded concerned.

"You should just become the next successor to Mimosa if your gonna keep this up!"

Phoebe sat up

" I tripped down the stairs! I do enough for Mimosa already as it is..so"

Juliana would give Phoebe a hug squeezing her tightly.

"I've missed you my darling. If your father found out you were being reckless like this he would literally set this place on fire and fly you back home."

"I paid for this place with my own money I would sue. Even if he did find out I'm a detective , I'll arrest him." Phoebe said with a smug look on her face.

"Aren't you excited that Crow is finally getting married, On the edge of thirty years old and finally ready to settle down with a gorgeous woman. Oh Phoebe you'll love her." Julianna was gliding around the bedroom as she talked. She loved her step children even more or equal to her own daughter Rhea.

"Whatever you say Queen Julia" Phoebe mumbled

Juliana pulled Phoebe to her feet "Let's go my dear, It's time for therapy then later we'll go to a spa with Rhea it'll be fun."

Phoebe sighed and followed along, she couldn't win against her, and it was probably for the best.

"Phoebe relax and take a few deep breathes. I want you to tell me about yourself as if you were writing a biography." Juliana sat on the other side of the chair and set her phone to record. "Remember to refrain from calling Uranus "dad" in this session. Use names.."

Phoebe let out few deep breathes and laid down flat on the couch.

" My name is Phoebe Oliviana Sokolov Kuruga, Phoebe Kuruga for short."

"As far as I can remember in biography terms, I was born to an International Business Man named Uranus Kuruga and a Russian Flight Attendant Gavriila Sokolov."

"What else do you know about Uranus and Gavriila?" Juliana says while grabbing her tea cup.

"The two first bonded over the fact that their names were weird but had great meaning. Uranus began a private relationship to keep Gavriila safe from tabloids. Which was just a cover up since he never told her about mom." Phoebe would clench her arm a little subconsciously

"Phoebe who do you mean by "her"? " Juliana pressed

"Oh Sorry, I meant Grace… Uranus cheated on Grace with Gavriila and that's how we were born.

Caius and I"

"Phoebe tell me about the day that your mother died" Juliana said and watched her grab at her arm again. ' She's fighting it' she thought

The rain began to pick up, the worse of the thunderstorm was finally passing through.

"I remember it being during our yearly visit to Russia to see Gavriila. Caius was excited and so was I. It was her birthday, February 29th. While Caius went to Gavriila's house first to setup , I was in charge of bringing her home in time. I was only nine year old at the time but I knew were she would be. Gavriila liked to gamble, she was very good at it so she would get invited to private gamble parties at the nearby hotel.

When I arrived Mom would be at a table surrounded by poker chips and people that were friends or acquaintances. I knew some of their faces, except for one. The waiter, he was new...he killed everyone in the room including mom…..he made me watch" Phoebe was clenching her arm tightly to the point that her nails were breaking into her skin. Her voice was becoming uneasy and her breathing would become heavier. Phoebe became lost in her own memory, she was triggered by her own thoughts.

"Phoebe take a deep breath"

Juliana snapped her fingers as if she was trying to keep tempo like a metronome.Ten seconds would pass as she did this,

'Why can't I remember! I was there! I saw everything.. I' Phoebe clenched her arm tighter , she was still silent and wasn't breathing. 20 seconds would pass and Phoebe hands would start to shake.

"Breathe , come on ! In and Out !" Juliana rushed to Phoebe's side holding her in her arms "Snap out of it!" she yelled simultaneously with the crack of thunder that echoed through the sky.

Phoebe jolted upwards right out of Juliana's arms and onto the floor . Slumped over gasping for air. "...why...why can't I remember I want to!" Juliana softly patted Phoebe's back giving her the comfort she deserved. "I know dear, I know… it was a very traumatizing experience."

It took Thirty minutes for Phoebe to regain composure. Julianna had cleaned up the tea set and documented her results. She gave Phoebe a soft smile as she looked in her eyes awkwardly. It gave Phoebe chills

She loved Rhea's mom but she was just another victim of her dad's.

Julianna would look at her smart watch as a message came through "Look at the time, Dear come join Rhea and I, We wouldn't hold you for long. I just would love to have a partial Mother daughters day." Phoebe knew she wasn't asking, it was a request she couldn't refuse.

Phoebe still had to go into the office today but she had to make time for her. So she gave a charming smile and said "Sounds great, just what I needed Mom"