“Coming!” she yelled back. It was going to be a cereal-for-breakfast kind of day because if she didn’t move it, we’d be late.
I heard her door open from the end of the hallway. “Why do you have to be so loud in the morning?” she groaned, putting her head on the table.
“Because if I wasn’t, you’d sleep all day.”
“Sounds fine to me,” she argued.
“Here.” I handed her a bowl of Kix cereal. “Hurry up, we need to leave in five minutes.”
She ate her cereal silently. Luna became almost too obedient that I wish she’d argue back sometimes. Her therapist believed it was because she didn’t want to seem like a burden. She understood now what Avery and I had to sacrifice to take care of her. I was glad she was a good kid and had everything she wanted or needed, but I wondered if there was more I could do for her. I didn’t want her to look back on her childhood and only remember the bad moments. I wanted her to remember that we persevered and still had a fulfilling life.
“I’m nervous, brother,” Lu said as we walked out of the house. We were driving a couple of hours out of town to meet her new therapist.
“I know, Lu. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous about meeting someone new. Especially a new therapist, because you need to trust them to be honest. But remember what Avery said?”
“Hmm,” she started, “meeting new people is an opportunity to make a new friend,” she mocked, rolling her eyes.
“I know it's childish, but it doesn't make it any less true. And there’s no pressure today. This first visit is all about figuring out if you’re a good match for each other. She has expertise in grief and trauma, so I think she’ll be helpful.”
She didn’t respond, so I played music. She was a big thinker and needed time to process—especially with change. I crossed my fingers she clicked with the new therapist because it’s been a few months since her last therapist left, and she needed extra support.
“We’re here. Are you ready?” I looked at her, and she simply nodded.
We walked toward the building, but she stopped right in front of the door. I guided her to a bench close by. “What’s going on?”
“Do you think she’s going to like me?” Her eyes shifted down to her shoes.
“Can you look at me, please?” She did, and she looked on the brink of tears. “You’re the best young lady I’ve ever known, and I’m not just saying that because you’re my little sister. She’s going to love you as long as you just be yourself. Do you think you can do that?”
She stood up tall and put her hands on her hips. “I got this,” she said confidently through a laugh.
“Yes, you do,” I agreed.
I opened the door, and we walked to the receptionist to check in. The receptionist told us to wait in the waiting room. We both anxiously bounced our left leg while we sat.
“Luna and Grant.” We simultaneously looked toward the woman who called our names. I was the first to stand up, but Lu soon followed.
We walked into a plain office with a green couch on one wall and a tall red chair on the other wall facing each other. “Don’t mind the lack of decoration,” Darla said. “I’m still in the process of moving in. I’m also hoping to add personal items for my clients, so hopefully after we chat, I’ll have some inspiration.”
We both smiled at her. “But first things first,” she continued as neither of us responded, “why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourselves and the reason you’re seeking therapy?”
Lu and I exchanged glances “Go ahead, it’s okay.” I nudged her on the shoulder to give her the push to speak up.
“My name is Luna, and I’m fourteen years old. I’m a freshman in high school and have the best grades in all my classes. I live with my brother and his girlfriend, Avery. I’m here because my Gram died four years ago and I’m still sad about it.” She stopped rambling and smiled weakly.
“Nice to meet you, Luna. My name is Darla. How do you like living with your brother and Avery?”
“I love it,” she beamed. “Except when Grant yells through the house in the morning to wake me up, I definitely don’t like that.”
Both Darla and I laughed. “She's a tough cookie to wake up in the morning.” Luna stuck her tongue out at me.
“I like sleeping in, too,” Darla chimed in. “My husband usually wakes me up.”
Luna giggled. Her nerves settled the more we talked.
“What about you, Grant? I know you’re here as support for Luna, but I’d love to know a little about you as well.”
“Yeah, sure,” I said. “I just graduated from college with a degree in Computer Engineering. I’ve been working in technical support, hoping to find a position in my degree field soon. I’ve been with my girlfriend Avery since high school, so about seven years.”
