How would a therapy session with Heather Price and Captain Arjun be like?
Heather: Welcome to the session, Captain Arjun.
Arjun, gives a straight nod as Heather begins with her questionnaire:
Heather: How's your week been so far, Captain?
Arjun: Normal. *shrugs* As usual.
Heather, nods: .. hm, okay. And, anything new you've experienced?
Arjun shakes his head: No, Doctor. Just the missions. Leading my team. Doing what I’m supposed to.
Heather, keeps writing down her notes: Okay, so.. *clears her throat* how have you been feeling right now, Captain? If I needed to know what you're currently going through, may I know what it is?
Arjun: .. *was silent for a few seconds to find what he could speak* Exhausted. Not from duty, I can assure you. As a soldier, it's always been my sole responsibility to make sure wherever I go, it shall not harm the safety and security of my country. But sometimes, a familiar kind of ache follows me along.
Heather, keeps writing: An ache? Go on.
Arjun, takes a deep breath and looks at the ceiling: .. like everything I do, it's not enough.
Heather: And why is that?
Arjun, casts his head down and sighs: …I don’t know. *rubs his face in distress* It feels constant. Chronic. But I bury it. Push it aside like it’s nothing.
Heather: Do you vent your emotions to anyone? A friend? Your team member?
Arjun: You're the only one I'm allowing myself to vent.
Heather: Then that explains this ache. Suppressing it, keeping it locked inside... that’s why it lingers. *sets her pen aside now, meeting his eyes directly* Tell me, Captain. Are there memories that weigh the heaviest? Something you believe might be at the root of it?
*Arjun was left in a state of wonder, to drive back to the past, where he remembers the moment when he witnessed his dead teammates, including his own friend, being the bait. The sound of an explosion filled his head, with his young self screaming out his friend's name, crying in grief.
As the sounds vanished in his head, he was not sure what to answer Heather. Pursing his lips and fidgeting his fingers a little in nervousness, turning his gaze away from her.*
Arjun: I only have an hour for this session, Doctor. So I'm afraid I can’t answer that.
Heather, smiles: That’s alright, Captain. No pressure. *notes it down as Arjun vividly stares away from her*
*While Heather was taking down notes, he was remembering the moment again, when he was getting dragged away by the reinforcements, trying to reach out his hand with teary eyes, but helpless, even realizing his friend was long gone, only having his memories with him*
Arjun just closed his eyes and tried to accept once more that he had to move on, but will he?
Heather: Captain, you must remember to be kind to yourself, as well as with others. You are also deserving some grace. And please remember that what other people decides to do is theirs to choose, no matter how much we disagree or hurt because of it. We only have to learn how to live with it and the knowledge that it was their choice but it doesn't have to be yours.
