Chasing Waterfalls (Lister)

[Michelle Horowitz]

Michelle sat at her desk calmly reclining in her chair looking from the file to the small boy sitting on her sofa, where she insisted on him sitting, she didn’t say a word for a good moment, the boy was brought to her when he had some kind of panic attack, he was often the first point of call for those that truly seemed to break down on school ground. She was aware of the protocol she had to deal with this kind of thing several times over. She knew the best way to deal with it.


“Please take some water” She offered kindly “When you’re ready you can tell me what happened”

[Lister D. Reynolds]

The couch was too soft. LDR sunk into the couch, not even attempting to sit up straight. His eyes were focused upon her desk, not her herself but the little name plate thing. He didn't want to talk or do anything except avoid all human contact. It had started out okay, a physics assignment in which he had to talk but the teacher gave him the option of recording instead. So he set up his mash up of his voice to have a fully coherent talk, for once, until the computer started to malfunction. Then it stopped. Then the teacher stared at LDR to start talking. The LDR niticed the class in front of him, breathing getting shorter. His stomach churned. To make matters worse he tried to speak, only achieving a repeating 'b'. Then he kind of ran out of class, the teacher sent someone after him, and now he is here...in the psycho room.

His eyes flickered up to study the woman before opening his mouth "Uhmmm...I-I-I-I w-w-w-w-w....was d-d-d-doi..." LDR shook his head and looked down towards to study his sneakers "S-S-S-Sorry...."

[Michelle Horowitz]

When you’ve been a shrink as long as Michelle had been you learn that natural body language is as important as what the client feels discussing with you. People can lie about how they think or they could disguise how they feel but their bodies language never really lies. The shifted gaze, the shyness almost wafting off him in waves and naturally enough the stutter. This coupled with what she was told about what happened it was clear to see this boy had some kind of self-esteem issues, severe ones to say the very least to say the very least….Possibly bullied...Possibly more than that….She would have to see.


“Please”, she said leaning back in her chair relaxing hoping that the boy copied her moments. “Breath. Take your time. Take as much as you need” Michelle said in a considered and collected drawl, not wanting to pressurize the boy in any way

[Lister D. Reynolds]

LDR sank further into the couch, eyes still locked intently on his sneakers. It would be an understatement to say LDR didn't like shrinks, head doctors or any other term for them. They always sat there and stared at you, looking at every move you make to fill out their fucking list as to why you might be fucked up.

He moved to grip his arm until his knuckles turned white. Why did he have to be here? It could have been a much worse meltdown! He could have been cryin-...After a few more moments LDR looked up and took a deep breath before stuttering again "I ha-ha-ha-had...a...ta-ta-talk. A-A-A-As...you mi-mi-mi-might se-see I-I-I-I...ca-can't re-re-re-really d-d-d-do...ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-talki-i-ing..."