Jan. 20, 2008

Where did you go?
"The bathroom."
"Can you tell me why?"
"I don't know...." I thought about it for a moment.
" I just didn't want him to see me I guess."
"Jane, you know that you can't walk into the bathroom forever. One day the bathroom won't be there and then what are you going to do?"
Jane went to speak, but was stopped by Dr. Elliott's next words.
"You have been seperated from Mitch for almost 11 months now! He should be the last thing that you let your mind dwell on. Jane, you have so many things to be proud of; things that you should hold your head high over. Just think how Mitch would regret his choice if he saw how much better off you are!"
She was right. Dr. Elliott was always right.
"It just is hard to look at him. What if---he is happier now? I can't bear to think that he was right. You know what he told me when we broke up? That I made him feel like he was 45, married, and an old man! Dr. Elliott I am---or atleast," her voice faultering,"was the most out-going person EVER! All my friends tell me how much of an idiot he was, but I just don't see it, I actually get how awful I must have been to be around."
"Jane stop now."
Dr. Elliott was no longer being subtle.
"You are an impressive young woman. I see so many women ALL THE TIME who end up in the same situation you are in, and let me tell you, you have to realize that all things are just part of a bigger picture! You have a wonderful future ahead and who gives a damn whether or not he wants to be around. Like you said, the only thing that he will ever love truely is made out of dirt."
"But Dr. Elliott, what if he just didn't love me. What if I had been someone else and he would have loved me instead of everything else? It...just...seems like the only thing he couldn't love was me. There wasn't anything else to it."
"Jane, you have to understand that sometimes love just isn't this grand picture you have in your head. There aren't balls that you lose your slipper at, and there is definitely not the perfect black dress for a date!"
Jane smiled.
"You just have to trust me, there is more to you than Mitch. You have nothing to worry about, there will be other people, and whether or not you want them---you get to decide this time."
"Yeah."
Jane looked down at the tissue in her hand and noticed Dr. Elliott's new book on the coffee table.
"You finished your book?"
"What?!" Dr. Elliott blushed.
"Oh, well yes. Hey, how about you take this one. I have about 30 at home, I really could use a couple more patients that way I can get rid of them all!"
"Now Dr. Elliott that wouldn't be anxiety in your voice?!"
Jane took her glasses off and placed one arm to her lips--a position that Dr. Elliott was accustomed to assuming when therapy got underway.
"Well dear girl, when can I sign up for your sessions?"
Both laughed.
"I think that our time is up. On that nice note."
Dr. Elliott smiled, took her glasses, which had been meangering near her mouth the past hour, placed them on, and got from her leather LazyBoy.
"See you next Saturday?"
"Thanks Dr. Elliott."
"No worries Jane."