the table in front of me, smiling comfortingly whilst settling into her favourite must

om the kitchen. I was struggling to come up with a way to broach the subject, "I--ugh, I was actual

lied surprised, sipping

een my therapist f

the states I was promptly forgotten about by the British government and left to fend for myself. A couple of months into the move, I was barely able to function day

l-dressed woman's New York townhouse, sipping well-made co

ld me would have la

when home alone. She immigrated from India with her parents in the 1980's and built herself a rather distinguished caree

nhattan that she worked out of. She felt offices could become too clinical, and therefo

ht me some comfort to associate such a homely place with healing. It was a safe haven, and I'd gradually

for confidentiality reasons, but she got the gene

on't know... manifest? Stuff that wasn't a problem before?" I asked, knowingly skirting around the issue. I'd been doing so well, and

owed in confusion, "W

tentative sip, sitting up straight

goes no

uld hallucinate? As in, se

w stern, "Evelyn

got mugged

n genuine concern, "Oh

my hand, "I got away, it's fine. It's just that... when it happen

wn on the coffee table between us before leanin

, drawing blank as I subconsciously put down the cup and brought my ha

brought them down. Her eyebrows remained furrowed in th

was a pretty traumatic event. The first violent one I'd bet you've had in years. You need to remember that you're

e imagining guns and bombsites-- not

l. Don't let this be a setback you can't get over. Have you see

y, "No, nothing. Well, noth

with the progress you've been making in the last year it was just one set-back," She reassured, "I'm goin

"...Yeah, that

in her book that she kept on a nearby side tabl

r the past week before blanking in sudden realisation

r writing, "How m

ly in guilt, "Like

"We've talked about this. You need to make more of an effort to take your pills. That pr

cup in my palms, "Sorry. I've been doing good but

wn, "See it's all coming together now. You've had a bad week, Eve. Just be sure to no

dded, "W

licking her pen shut and bringing her whole att

o. I h

ou think you'll be

slim to none, thanks to the lack of evidence of an attempted mugging. I s

if someth

and feeling my whole-body shiver from the experience, "Listen in a

he side, "Okay, it's your de

"N

d why's

ths into a rough pregnancy and has exams coming up. The last thing she needs is to

Okay, if you beli

g into mine as my chest began to tighten in f

so I can't tell you what to do. Although do know that if anything like this happens

"Cry