Restless [Reckless Sequel] || Harry Styles AU (DISCONTINUED)

13: part two

"The last time I thought about my parents like that was when I was in Japan. I'd been in this horrible accident, and I felt some sort of relief when I thought about seeing them again. Somewhere."

She wrote something down on the small notepad in her hands. That was my reminder that I was, in fact, in therapy.

I made effort to not think to myself: 'Why me? Why now?' Questioning the past only dug me into a deeper, never ending hole.

My mom and dad were big on not feeling sorry for yourself. You can't change the past. You can only change the way you think about it. Other than that, unless someone builds a time machine, there's nothing you can do.

"We're both reuniting with our families, Jessica. You're the only person I've ever met who is just like me. Your parents were murdered. They were your only family. Just like mine were."

Realization suddenly hit me.

"Every time I think of my parents, I think of him," I said aloud.

"How so?"

"It's like they're intertwined in my memory. The moment I think of them, I think of how he was promising me that I'd see them again."

"Why do you think that is?"

I knew the answer, but I didn't want to say it out loud. I didn't want to tell her that how, for a fraction of a moment, I wanted him to do it. I wanted to see my parents. And that's exactly why I was still thinking about him.

"Because I've always avoided talking about how I felt about their deaths, and the fact that he knew how I felt..." I trailed off, not knowing where I was taking it.

"How about we talk about your friends? Who's staying with you?"

I cleared my throat. "Uh–just Julia."

"Have you spoken to her about any of this?"

"A little."

Dr. Reyna looked pleased. "That's really good, Jessica. How long have you known her?"

"Since we were kids. I'm close to her family. Both our families were actually pretty close."

She smiled. Her eyes flickered to the clock on the nightstand to her right. Our session was minutes from ending.

"I think today went extremely well. I don't believe you are at risk of isolating yourself, but this is also hardly one day post. Talk to people you love, Jess. They want to hear from you. I'm not going to push for you to come see me again, because I do know that you have been to a therapist before, but if it feels necessary, my door is always open–unless I'm with a patient," she chided.

I actually laughed a little. It felt odd.

We both stood up, and I awkwardly shook her hand since my right arm was in a sling.

"Talk to loved ones, Jessica."

"Hi, Jessica."

I bit down on my lip and attempted to smile, though I'm sure it looked more like a grimace. "Thank you."

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