“Does she know what happened?”
“I don’t think so. She’s smart as a whip, though, and realizes that something is off with me. The little Meatball even asked about my dark circles.”
“I see.”
We sit in another moment of silence, but this time it isn’t as uncomfortable as the one at the beginning of the session. I give him a moment to think about what he just shared and then I ask another question.
“Do you think you’re ready to talk about what happened that day?”
“Not especially.”
“Well, it’s kind of why we’re here.”
“Actually, we’re here, so you can reassure the league that I won’t have a mental breakdown if I play football again.”
“Will you?”
“Of course not. I’m fine.”
His denial of any feelings he has about the accident sound eerily similar to the ones I told John about Aaron’s death thirty minutes ago.
Suddenly, I need to throw up.
“Will you excuse me a moment, Dak? I need to use the restroom.”
“Um, sure?”
“I’ll be quick.”
I’m in our floor’s lavatory, on my knees, bowing my head into a porcelain bowl when I hear someone enter the bathroom. I don’t know which therapists are working today, but I can tell by the clacking sound of her platform heels that it’s Fatima. Her weighted footsteps stop in front of the bathroom stall, where I pray I’ve vomited the rest of last night’s Mexican dinner.
“What?” I ask tersely as I wipe my mouth with toilet tissue.
“Girl, are you pregnant?”
“No, Fatima, that would be a Virgin Mary miracle. How can I help you?”
“Mr. Warner sent me in here to check on you.”
Ugh, he’s so impatient.
“Why? I’m coming.”
“I don’t know if you realize this or not, but you’ve been in here for at least twelve minutes. He wanted to know if he should leave and come back next week. And by the way, what’s it like working with a man as hot as he is? Whew!”
Twelve minutes?
My eyes close in shame.
This is untenable.
I cannot continue to spiral like this.
I cannot lose one more thing. I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world and I need my job.
“Apologize for me and schedule his next appointment for next Monday.”
“Really, because–”
