Chase

II

Why didn't you see that coming?

His eyes were closed.

That's not what I mean. Usually, your hyper-vigilance is on point. You avoid trouble because you see it coming. This time, she surprised you with asking you to stand up so that they could remove your restraints. It's not like you to allow yourself to be surprised.

You said it yourself, I avoid trouble. I don't see her as trouble.

Oh, no! He's falling for her. Don't you see that she can put you away for good?

You sound like a 1920s movie character. She gonna rub me out, too?

This isn't funny!

You are to me. Relax yourself or I'll send you to the dark-place.

"Thank you for removing the jacket."

"Is it possible for us to continue to discuss your emotions for a bit longer?"

"I can try, but you need to know that I spend most of my time suppressing them." This is going to be a hard conversation.

"Please keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. Why do you suppress them?"

"Better not to feel."

"By denying your emotions, you rob yourself of a vital part of life. Emotions are a part of you. Why would you want to harm yourself that way?"

"I'd rather not feel. Emotions get in the way."

"Of what?"

"In general. Some of you women can't make the simplest decision without discussing how you feel about the decision first. Other times you get paralyzed by your emotions and nothing gets done. It's ridiculous how pathetic you can be." Squirm out of that one. Though, I regret saying it as soon as I did. It's not my goal to hurt her. I just hate talking about you.

We're a part of you. You can't keep up keeping us hidden. The dark-place is inhumane and it's not healthy for you not to acknowledge us.

You're not human.

"Emotions, like anything else, are on a spectrum. Some, like you, choose not to feel. Others allow themselves to be ruled by them. Neither is healthy. There needs to be a happy medium. If you could describe them, what would they look like?"

She didn't even flinch. You've finally met your match.

Shut up.

"I'm afraid that I am not following you."

"You had mentioned that sometimes you see broken glass, that leads you to figure out that you're angry. Who or what does anger look like?"

"Anger is me. I don't see anger as a separate entity."

"Give your anger a form, a face."

"You don't understand. I don't see things that are not there, like someone that struggles with schizophrenia, nor do I have alters or others as if I had dissociative identity disorder. There are no others, I don't believe in the inner child. The inner child grew up. He happens to be sitting in your office at this very moment. So before you go slapping on a label and start spouting psychobabble make sure you have that bit of information straight."

Bitch!

Shut up, anger. Go to the dark-place, now!

______________________________________

He's never called me by my name!

I'm afraid!

Sadness and fear cling to each other. Anger and hate look to each other. Embarrassment is sitting alone, unable to look at anyone. Happiness is nowhere to be found.

A paradigm shift is in the atmosphere. They're all becoming ill.

What are we going to do?

______________________________________

"I meant no disrespect, Mister Chase. The more questions I ask, the better it is that I can know how to help you. I apologize if I lead you to believe otherwise. Shall we pause?"