Andy&Etta// Triggering
Closed Starter @of-truth-and-lies
It had only been three days since arriving at the shelter. The whole thing was strange– leaving this perception of altered reality. She was finally away from Caleb and his house of horrors. There were times when she felt like could finally breathe without being critiqued but every once a while she slipped back into hyper-awareness as the smallest noise would make her jump out of her skin. One of the catches about the shelter was required counseling. It seemed a small price to pay, but Etta was beyond hesitant. Given her ex-abuser had once been her therapist until lines were crossed and they turned into something more. Still, she had no regrets pulling that flyer down in a dodgy diner just outside Pensacola–it felt like divine intervention.
Looking over at the community room she eased off the couch and walked down the hall stopping at Mr. Rollins door before gently knocking. Honestly, she hoped he wouldn’t answer and she could go back to reading a book. The door opened at her eyes fell to his feet immediately. Bruises still marred her face which was why she kept her distance from mirrors for the last several days with the exception upon dressing for the day. Uttering a soft-spoken greeting entering the room, “Hello.” Stil in an insurmountable amount of pain she eased down slowly on the chair. The staff kept asking if she’d like to go to the hospital but she refused. The only insurance coverage she had was Caleb’s and the last thing she wanted was him to know where she was.
The last meeting with the therapist was awkward and he was left to do most of the talking. Etta clammed up but wanted to make an effort to try and get something out today. Letting her eyes drift to his desk she tried to excuse her behavior from their previous visit. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing against you...it’s just that my ex-fiance–the man I’m running from was my therapist at one point.” Unknowingly her hands balled into tight fists before she went on; still unable to look the man in the eye. “So sitting here with you makes me feel not safe.”