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I droppedon the floor and eased into the hard plastic chair as he walked around the desk to sit across froreatness—sat on the desk next to a closed file that hadthe tab

“May I call you Lena?” he asked

I nodded, shoving ood on my arm, so I pulled my arm up and laid it on the table

“Perfect” He smiled faintly “As I said, my name is Dr Perry I have ht in as needed in certain circumstances where staff may be overwhelmed by the need for counselors” He fired off credentials at that point, and they were irad at Penn State Grad school at Brown University A ton of certifications that were like a different language toabout starting school?”

“Okay,” I answered, crossing my ankles “I’mI’m ready”

He rested an ar nearly teeks and dealing with the deaths of your friends”

I jolted at the unexpected bluntness He was the first to just put it out there like that “I It’s been” I blinked “It’s been tough”

“I can iht people who had their entire futures ahead of therasp, to fully comprehend” His brown eyes were sharp as he spoke “And it’s more difficult for you You were in the car with the to your file, these injuries will affect volleyball? A lot has happened”

Tensing, I winced as pain shot acrossa run for it

“We’re not going to go there today,” he said softly “You can relax”

My gaze shot back to him “Today?”

“We’re going to meet three ti up his Greatest Dad Ever“I’m not sure if your mother mentioned that to you”

Mom had so failed to mention this part Too irritated to speak, I crossed my arms over my stomach

“Typically our sessions will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Today is a little different, but we’ll get together toet on schedule”

Three days a week? Oh“I don’t think this is necessary”

He sipped his coffee “It’s necessary and you’re not the only one that our tea with You’re not alone in this”

My gaze darted to hi with Was it Sebastian? That would explain why he was so incredibly on point with so

I didn’t ask, because I figured he couldn’t answer that

“No one is going to judge you forwith me”

I wasn’t so sure about that, since this was high school, after all, and everyone judged everyone for everything

“And this is needed, Lena Youot soet out”

Cla

He studiedsensation that he saw right intoupon the stuff I didn’t want to speak out loud

“The guilt of living when everyone else has died is a heavy weight to carry, Lena, all on its own Survivor’s guilt is no joke You’re never going to truly get rid of that burden, but we can lessen it We can make it bearable”

I exhaled softly “How?”

“I know it doesn’t sound possible now, but your life is still going to go on You’ll have tomorrow Next week Next month Next year You will eventually move past this”

I didn’t see how that was possible “II didn’t expect this to happen,” I whispered, briefly squeezing my eyes shut “I kno stupid that sounds, but I never thought this would happen”

“It’s not stupid, because no one ever does No one ever thinks it will be theaze dropped to the file in front of hi Had he spoken to the police? My et up and run from the room, but I was rooted to the chair

“I knohat happened”