ENTRENCHED: AN EXCERPT

I C A N ’T H E L P Y O U

I HADN"T CRIED one drop. I had been too angry to feel sad. I

don’t know if I couldn’t hold back any longer or if I just felt safe

enough with Meredith, but the minute she motioned me into her

office, tears streamed.

I sat in the armchair next to the empty loveseat. Meredith, in a

crisp navy dress and perfectly sculpted bob, sat erect on her platform

rocker. She opened a manila folder, flipped her tablet to a

clean page, and clicked her pen.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“He’s at it again.” I pulled a tissue from the box on the side table

next to me and dabbed at my eyes.

“How many times has he done this?”

“Five.”

“Why is his behavior acceptable to you?”

I bowed my head. “It’s not.”

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I don’t know, a miracle?” I forced a smile as my eyes rose to

meet hers.

Meredith did not smile back. She stood, pulled her arms across

her chest, and clutched my file. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you if

you want him back.”

Did my therapist just fire me? “What?”

“I cannot help you if you want him back.”

Stunned, I rose and made my way out the door.