Do immortals regenerate lost body parts? I can hear Leon’s teeth grinding together. Hopefully, he snaps one off. Maybe he’ll be reluctant to get married if he’s waiting on a tooth to grow back.
A girl can dream.
The silence stretches on, and I’m starting to worry that Dr. Parnard pushed too far. But I haven’t lost all confidence in his abilities. I’ve seen the professor shred students to pieces with surgical precision. There must be a method to his madness.
Or he’s blindly winging it, after being traumatically kidnapped and forced to improv as a therapist.
It’s definitely not the second option (delusion).
“Andwhatis in it for me?” Leon finally bites out in a harsh whisper.
“Beyond your marriage?” Dr. Parnard clarifies, raising a brow.
“She’s marrying me, regardless.IfI agree to any of this, I want something in return,” Leon all but growls.
“Ah,” Dr. Parnard notes, giving Leon an equally intimidating stare. “Of course you do. From this session, I’m sensing that you are mainly in turmoil over the lack of intimacy in your relationship.”
I feel like the ground below me just gave out.
Dr. Parnard, what are you thinking?
He doesn’t spare me a glance, his attention completely centered on reading Leon. “We will begin to rebuild that intimacy, should you be willing to complete your homework.”
That suggestion wipes the anger from Leon’s face, and he turns to me, eyeing my body hungrily. “I agree,”he says, and reaches for my thigh, like he’s ready to get intimate, right here, right now.
Actually, I don’t doubt that’s what’s on his mind.
If I ever get back to the land of wifi, I’m going to rate Dr. Parnard a negative one thousand on the professor rating site.
“Ah, ah ah!” Dr. Parnard, reprimands. “We must begin slowly. Otherwise, all progress in these sessions will be for nought. To re-introduce intimacy, we will end each session with a group hug.”
Why did I think this man would be helpful? He also thinks morning runs are agoodidea. He isn’t a genius, he’s clinically insane.
Dr. Parnard stands, holding his arms open. “Now, on that note.” He waves us over.
It is taking a concentrated effort on my behalf to keep looking at the professor like he’s a guru. Still, I think I manage it, even as I awkwardly make my way over to him.
If this is what it takes to get the space I need to search for Irena, then it will be worth it.
Leon glares daggers at Dr. Parnard, who smiles at him encouragingly. “Now, now, Leon. You must trust in the process. This is a core intimacy-building exercise. Do not abandon Vivian again.”
His eye twitches again, and he woodenly stands, stepping toward Dr. Parnard’s outstretched arms.
When we’re both within reach, the professor wraps us in awkward, half-hugs. Leon tries to reach for me, but freezes when Dr. Parnard tugs his head onto his shoulder.
“Now, eyes closed, and emotions open,” the professor whispers, as he starts to sway with us.
When Leon shifts to move for me again, Dr. Parnard exclaims, “Heal…” drawing out the word.
The forced group hug lasts an uncomfortably long time, and every time Leon tries to touch me, Dr. Parnard cries out the word ‘heal’ with increasingly loud volume.
Finally, he releases us and dusts off his jacket. “Excellent work, both of you.Thisis what healing looks like. Leon, you mustn’t touch a hair on Vivian’s head outside of these sessions. We’ll meet again tomorrow at the same time. I look forward to hearing how you’ve progressed with your homework.”
Leon’s mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
“Now, get out of my office. Your hour is up,” Dr. Parnard adds, with the familiar, authoritative professor tone.
I don’t mention that he doesn’t have an office, as I hightail it to the door.
