<b>Chapter </b><b>216 </b>
Chapter 10<b>: </b>Dr. <b>Evelyn </b>Woods.
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Josie arrived at the therapist’s <b>office </b>at exactly 9:30am. With a half hour to spare, she decided to call Marlon.
<i>“</i><i>Hey</i>! <i>Everything </i><i>okay</i><b>???</b><b>” </b>
<i>“</i><i>Yeah </i><i>everything </i><i>is </i><i>great</i><i>! </i><i>I </i><i>just </i><i>left </i><i>my </i>PO’s <i>office</i><i>, </i><i>and </i>she <i>agreed </i>for me to <i>switch </i><i>my </i><i>address</i><b>!!</b>”
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Marlon could hardly believe his ears<b>! </b>Finally his cousin coulde and stay with him. Since learning the truth, he had been paranoid about Josie staying on that estate. Afraid they may decide to lock her back up or worse in order to keep their secret.
“Josie <i>that’s </i><i>great</i><i>!!! </i><i>Do </i><i>you </i><i>want </i><i>to </i>go <i>back </i><i>to </i><i>the </i>condo <i>and </i><i>wait </i><i>for </i>me to get <i>off work </i><i>to </i><i>get </i>your <i>things</i><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>” </i></b>
Josie pondered that for a moment before deciding against it.
“No<i>…</i><b><i>I </i></b>want <i>to </i><i>get </i><i>out </i>of <i>there </i>ASAP. <i>After </i><i>I </i><i>leave </i><i>my </i><i>session</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i><i>going </i>to <i>pack </i><i>my </i><i>things </i><i>and </i><i>head </i>to the condo.”
Marlon paused for a moment. He wasn’t thrilled at the idea of her going alone, but he understood her need to leave soon. After a deep sigh, he agreed.
“<i>Okay</i><i>…</i><i>just </i>please <b>c-</b><b>” </b>
<i>“</i><i>I </i>know<i>…</i><i>call </i><i>you </i><i>if </i><i>there’s </i><i>any </i><i>issues</i><i>.</i><b>” </b>
After hanging up with Marlon, Josie was called into the office of her new therapist Dr. Evelyn Woods. Slightly nervous<b>, </b>she made her way into the room.
<i>“</i>Good <i>morning </i><i>Ms. </i><i>Taylor</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i>Dr. <i>Evelyn </i>woods<i>, </i><i>and </i>I’m <i>going </i><i>to </i><i>be </i><i>your </i><i>therapist </i>for the next <i>three </i>months<i>. </i>Of course, <b>if </b><i>once </i><b>your </b><i>probation </i>is over<i>…</i><i>if </i><i>you </i><i>would </i><i>like </i><i>to </i><i>continue </i>that’s <i>also </i>an <i>option</i>.”
Josie thought about that for a moment. Therapy…considering everything she’s been through<b>; </b>it wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Too bad she wasn’t an alcoholic.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you <i>Dr. </i>Woods; and <i>thank </i><i>you</i>.”
As Josie sat down, Evelyn tried her best to read Josie’s expression. Everything about her was nk. It was as if she was making sure she said everything correctly.Josie looked around the office, it wasfortable enough. Probably how she was able to get people to open up to her. After a few minutes <b>of </b>silence, Dr. Evelyn spoke first.
<i>“</i><i>So</i>, is this your first time in therapy<i>?</i>”
Josie looked around the office once more before answering.
17:58 Thu, <b>Sep </b><b>25 </b><fnb163> This text is hosted at find·novel</fnb163>
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<i>“</i><i>Yes</i>, as a matter <i>of </i><i>fact </i>it is. <i>So </i><b><i>I </i></b>don’t <i>really </i><i>know </i><i>how </i><i>this </i>works<i>.</i><i>” </i>
Evelyn smiled, that was a line she’d heard plenty of times.”
Well, it works however you like. We can take things slow. You can about what you’refortable with.”
Josie’s brows furrowed. Therapy or not, she knew the primary reason for all of this was her supposed drinking
problems.
<i>“</i><i>Yeah </i><i>but </i><i>eventually </i>you’ll <i>want </i>to <i>about </i><i>my </i><i>‘</i><i>drinking</i><i>…</i><i>right</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
“<i>Eventually</i><i>; </i><i>but </i><i>again</i>, <i>it’s </i><i>when </i><i>you’re </i><i>ready</i>.”
Josie chuckled; it was hard to talk about something that wasn’t true. Evelyn pressed on.
“<i>Why </i><i>don’t </i><i>we </i><i>start </i><i>with </i><i>something </i><i>easy</i>…tell me <i>about </i><i>your </i><i>home </i><i>life</i>.<i>” </i>
Josieughed hysterically. Her home life was anything but ‘<i>‘</i><b><i>easy</i></b><b>‘</b><b>. </b>
<i>“</i><i>I</i><i>…</i><i>I’m </i><i>just </i>not <ifortable </i><i>with </i><i>talking </i><i>about </i><i>that </i><i>right </i><i>now</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>Okay</i>…<i>you </i><i>were </i><i>in </i><i>prison </i><i>for </i><i>four </i><i>years</i>…I’m <i>sure </i><i>that </i><i>hard </i><i>for </i><i>you</i>. <i>Do </i><i>you </i><i>want-</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>I don’t </i><i>want </i>to <i>talk </i><i>about </i><i>that </i><i>either</i>.”
<b>51 </b>
Josie immediately shut down that line of questioning. She wasn’t ready to discuss the horrors of that prison just yet. Nodding in agreement, Evenly smiled.
“That’s okay<i>. </i>We can <i>talk </i><i>about </i><i>those </i><i>things </i><i>when </i><i>you’re </i><i>ready</i><i>. </i><i>So </i><i>what </i><i>would </i><i>you </i><i>like </i>to <i>talk </i><i>about </i><i>now</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
Josie pondered that question; she honestly wasn’t sure. Suddenly, she remembered the words from her PO this morning.
“I have a question.<i>” </i>
<i>“</i>Go <i>on</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
“<i>My </i><i>PO </i>told <i>me </i><i>that </i><i>whatever </i>I discuss <i>with </i>you <i>is </i>confidential. <i>Is </i>that true?”
Evelyn looked at Josie with a puzzled expression.
<b>“</b><b><i>Yes</i></b><b><i>, </i></b>of <i>course</i><i>. </i><i>You’ll </i><i>have </i>doctor/patient <i>privilege</i>.<i>” </i>
“Even <i>though </i>this <b>is </b>court ordered<i>?</i><i>” </i>
<b>17:58 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
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<b><i>“</i></b><b><i>Yes</i></b>. <i>For </i><i>the </i>most <i>part</i><i>; </i><b><i>I </i></b>won’t <i>be </i><i>able </i>to <i>disclose </i>anything we discuss<b><i>.</i></b><b>” </b>
Josie raised a brow. So there WAS a provision. Understanding her expression<b>, </b>Evelyn exined further<b>. </b>
<b><i>“</i></b><i>As </i>long <i>as </i><i>you </i>don’t <i>express </i>any <i>desires </i>of <i>hurting </i><i>yourself </i><i>and</i><i>/</i>or <i>others</i><b>; </b>nothing we discuss <i>will </i>be disclosed <i>to </i><i>anyone</i>. <i>Not even </i><i>your </i><i>PO</i>.”
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Josie nodded her head as if to show she understood. The rest of the session was just small talk. Before she knew it; 45 minutes had passed by.
<b>“</b><i>Well</i>, <i>looks </i><i>like </i>our <i>time </i><i>is </i><i>up</i><i>. </i><i>Maybe </i><i>next </i><i>week </i><i>we </i><i>talk </i>a <i>little </i><i>bit </i><i>about </i><i>why </i><i>you’re </i><i>here</i><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>” </i></b>
Josie smiled halfheartedly; she knew she would have to think of something regarding her supposed drinking.
<i>“</i><i>Absolutely</i>.<b>” </b>
Once Josie left the office, Evelyn called Georgia to provide her with an update regarding their first appointment.
<i>“</i><i>Hey</i><b>, </b>so <i>how’d </i><i>it </i><i>go</i><i>?</i><b>” </b>
Georgia and Evelyn were actually long–time best friends. The two women had known each other since college. When
Georgia was first assigned to Josie, after reading her file she felt therapy would be beneficial.
“Umm<i>…</i><i>she </i><i>was </i>a <i>little </i><i>reluctant </i><i>to </i><i>talk </i><i>but </i><i>that’s </i><i>to </i><i>be </i><i>expected </i><i>considering </i><i>what </i><i>she’s </i><i>been </i><i>through</i>.<b>” </b>
Although they didn’t have all the facts, thedies each read Josie’s medical report and general report from the prison. They were both aware she suffered a great deal during her four years, that was part of the reason Georgia suggested therapy.
<i>“</i><i>Without </i><i>telling </i><i>me </i>the <i>details</i><i>, </i><i>did </i><i>you </i><i>guys </i><i>talk </i><i>about </i><i>her </i><i>alcoholism</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i>Without breaking <i>privilege</i>…no. <i>But </i>it’s <i>also </i><i>the </i><i>first </i><i>day</i><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Ha….”
“<i>What</i><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>” </i></b>
Georgia paused for a moment before answering. Something about Josie’s case had been bothering her, and after meeting with her this morning, her confusion only increased.
“It could be nothing but<i>…</i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i>know…It’s <i>something </i>about this girl that seems unusual…as <i>far </i>her case goes. I think <b><i>I’m </i></b><i>going </i>to <i>do </i>some digging.”
“It <i>couldn’t </i><i>hurt</i><b><i>; </i></b><i>especially </i>if it might help <i>her </i><i>with </i><i>therapy</i><i>.</i>”
Georgia agreed, there <b>was </b>definitely something going on with Josie…she just wasn’t sure it was alcoholism.
17:58 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
“<i>Hey</i>…<i>is </i><i>your </i><i>nephew </i><i>back </i><i>in </i><i>town</i>?”
<b><i>“</i></b><i>Yeah</i>, <i>why</i>?”
<i>“</i><i>Just </i><i>in </i>case she <i>may </i>need <i>a </i><iwyer </i><iter </i><i>on</i><i>.</i>”
“<i>Understood</i>. I’ll <i>reach </i><i>out </i><i>to </i>him <i>and </i><i>hive </i><i>him </i>a <i>heads </i><i>up</i>.
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After having lunch, Josie took a rideshare back to the Taylor estate. This time, she would just go straight to her room and pack. After walking in the mansion, she didn’t notice anyone in the grand room or foyer. Good! I can go straight to my room without any issues.‘
Making a b–line straight to her room, Josie moved swiftly and quietly so that no one would know she was home. <b>As </b>soon <b>as </b>she made it to her destination, she immediately pulled out her old suitcase from when she first arrived and began packing.While packing her belongings, she came across a picture of her and her grandmother. It was taken on her 11th birthday right after one of her friends smashed cake in her face.
Josie stared at the picture as if she were looking at a stranger. The girl in the photo looked so happy and full of life, who would have known her life would take the horrible turn it took.Tears started to fall down her cheeks…she missed her nana so much. Wiping her eyes, Josie continued to pack, just then…Laura knocked on the door.
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