PLOTTED STARTER: @revenantmercy !
GROUP THERAPY. A suggestion courtesy of Julian’s parents. And not one he’d ever really considered. He didn’t want to open up, scared that someone---anyone might see him for what he was. Or rather, what he was AFRAID he was.
His parents had seen a lot of his artwork, had always smiled through their questions and concerns. The breaking point seemed to be when his father found drawings of Owen in Julian’s apartment. Particularly the ones Julian had drawn after his nightmares, dreams where his mind seemed intent on replaying that night over. Sometimes it got so bad that drawing what he had seen was the only way to get it out of his head. Drawing his friend’s death.
His parents insisted, practically BEGGED for him to see someone. To get help. This somehow came to be the only compromise, Julian simply didn’t want them to worry anymore.
He’s sitting awkwardly across from a stranger, during a lunch break from the sessions. He’s good at silence and she seemed nice enough, but it still felt awkward. And with his nerves getting the better of him---as well as his lack of a filter, he finds himself breaking the silence. ❝So,❞ he starts, ❝what made you decide to come? ❞ It couldn’t hurt to ask, right?