Yulia left the counsellors office feeling wrung out but triumphant. She had been nervous about talking to a stranger, but in a way it was almost easier than talking to someone who knew her. Her counsellor was middle-aged, softly spoken and had an aura of calm radiating off her that helped to put Yulia at ease.
She had introduced herself and took her into the consulting room, which was light and airy with generic watercolours on the walls. She had gestured for Yulia to sit on a brown sofa and then sat on an office chair opposite to go through a contract with her stating that everything talked about in this room was confidential, unless it was thought to be something that put her or others at immediate risk.
Yulia had agreed to the terms and
