Unloved Unclaimed Unbound

Chapter Seven - Serenya

Mr. Dravenholt told me that my first session with Dr. Hale would be today, anywhere in the house, but preferably in the private library. He mentioned that though this session was scheduled by him, any session going forward would be discussed between myself and Dr. Hale. Today is the last Friday of the Fall Break. So, Monday, I'll be returning to school. I was given the choice to either stay in the on-site dorms like I had been doing or stay on the estate & Jakob would be my driver to & from school.

Out of the corner of my eye I catch movement and when I look that way, whatever it was is gone. This was getting annoying… all freaking week. Little glimpses of movement. Hmm. Let’s go to that bougie greenhouse. I think I had heard the head groundskeeper call it a “solarium.” It’s big enough that I am able to sneak around the back to see if anyone is following me around. Sure enough, it circled around, and I quietly came up behind two girls. In hushed whispers and giggles.

Both had the same length auburn hair; one’s hair was slightly darker than the younger one. The older one looked to be my age. The younger one looked to be thirteen maybe, she clung to her sister’s arm, whispering, “Do you think she saw us?

I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall right behind them, and let my voice drop low. “So… you two looking for ghosts or just spying on the new tenant?”

Both girls yelped, spinning around. The older one flushed deep red, eyes wide, while the younger one clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle her squeak.

“We weren’t… I mean... We just…” The older one stammered.

“You did see us!” the youngest blurted.

I look at the girls as I dryly, “Hard not to, when you are about as sneaky as a bull in a china shop.”

The youngest one snorted at that despite herself. The oldest elbowed her gently, still flustered before bringing her attention to me again. “Father….”

I put up my hand and shook my head. “Please, on my account, do not be formal.” Secretly I hated the term father. I was told my whole life to use that word, while Kaelith was able to call Glen Dad.”

She hesitated and spoke quickly, “Daddy said that you’d... You’d meet us when you were ready. We didn’t mean to push and force your hand. Isolde really wanted to say hi. Not if you don’t want to.”

“Elyria! Don’t use me as a scapegoat! You wanted to say hi too!” Isolde scolded.

I studied them for a moment, sarcasm on the tip of my tongue. But the way Isolde blue eyes were rounded with hope and Elyria was practically vibrating with nerves, I just couldn’t bring myself to be sarcastic. Softly I said, “Well, consider me startled into saying hi.” I gave a small wave, “Hi, I’m Serenya.”

Isolde grinned, bouncing a little on her toes. “Hi Serenya! My name is Isolde, and this is my sister Elyria. We are so happy to have you here and share our home!”

Elyria’s steel gray eyes softened and relaxed, smiling faintly. “Hi Serenya. It is nice to meet you. Welcome to our home. We hope that, in time, you will see it as your home as well.” She gently tugged on her sister’s sleeve, “Come on Isolde, Fa... Daddy said he needed us ages ago.”

I watched them walk away with Isolde turning back and giving me a smile and small wave. I returned the wave with my own and chuckled to myself before stopping. I’m not sure if this is the first time since arriving a couple of days ago, that I didn’t feel like I was on display. I felt seen. The girl's genuine curiosity while still attempting to respect my boundaries and even Elyria reiterating what Mr. Dravenholt had told me, was enduring. I glanced down at my watch; it was almost time for me to have my session with Dr. Hale.

--

Dr. Hale instructed me to choose an area of the library where we could have our sessions. I wondered the library for some time before settling on a far corner where the window had the most amazing view of the mountain side and the trees autumn colors were reflecting in a stream going into the lake. I turned to look behind me as Dr. Hale seemed to sense that I had come to a decision. I turned back to the corner and pulled a chair to where it was facing the ceiling to floor window and sat down to take in the view again. Dr. Hale pulled his own chair to sit in front of me and then went back and pulled two small side tables toward us. Leaving one to my left and bringing the other one to the left on his chair. He finishes and sits down, putting his case on the side table.

I sat, arms crossing in front of me as I took in Dr. Mallory Hale. He looked to be in his early to mid 30s, he was wearing neutral-colored clothes, and his expression wasn’t blank, didn’t give anything away, but somehow, calm.

“Serenya, I want to first, thank you for choosing me. Before we start, I want you to know something very important. I do not work for your parents. I do not work for Mr. Dravenholt either. I work for you. My job is just you. Nothing you say here leaves this room unless you want it to. Of course, I will document our sessions, but I will do this the old-fashioned way, no EMRs. Clear?” Dr. Hale said warmly.

“Work for me?” I raised my brow and gave a hollow laugh, “Someone is signing your paychecks.” I leaned back into the chair, “So no secret hotline back to Linda and Glen? No ‘Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ashmare, your daughter is still a disappointment’ weekly updates?”

“Well yes, it is no surprise that Mr. Dravenholt will be signing my checks. And No. No hotline. No reports. Just conversation.” Dr. Hale smiles faintly, unfazed by my jab.

I snort and mutter under my breath as I uncross my arms and begin fiddling with my hoodie strings, “Conversation. That’s a new one.”

“Yet I am here because you chose me from the list of candidates. That tells me everything. Even if you hate the idea of this, part of you still wants to be heard.” Dr. Hale says.

I don’t know why, I bristled at what he said, and I defensively say, “OR maybe I didn’t want someone else choosing for me. Big difference.”

Dr. Hale nods, no push back. “Fair. That’s still you making a choice. Maybe that's where we start—what you do get to choose.” He leans back, “From what Mr. Dravenholt explained to me, you've spent years having decisions made for you. Forced you into decisions you didn’t have a choice in. And yet, here you are—still holding your voice. That tells me you're stronger than the people who tried to take it from you.”

I raise an eyebrow, “Stronger or just better at sarcasm?”

I see that a faint smile tugs at Dr. Hale's mouth. “Sometimes sarcasm is strength. It’s an armor of sorts. But any armor can get heavy when you never take it off.”

I stay silent. Dr. Hale sees that it isn’t a dismissive silence, but thoughtful. My gaze drifts to the window, to the autumn-laced leaves and the stream and lake.

Dr. Hale leans forward to where his elbows are on his knees, and he clasps his hands in front of him. “I’d like you to consider keeping a journal. Nothing formal. No one else will read it, not even me, unless you want to share. Think of it as a space where no one can rewrite your words, where your voice can't be silenced or twisted. A place that belongs to you and only you.”

I give a skeptical laugh. “You mean like ‘Dear Diary, my parents suck ass, and I hate them’? Sounds absolutely riveting.” I rolled my eyes as I continue staring at the landscape.

I can feel the knowing look directed at me from Dr. Hale. “If that’s how you want it, yes. Or it can be a place where you put things you can’t say out loud yet. Anger, sarcasm, grief, hope—whatever surfaces. Writing can help you see the patterns you miss in the moment. It can also show you how far you've come when you look back later.”

I stop fiddling with my hoodie strings and tap my fingers on the arm of the chair, mulling that over. My first instinct is to scoff at him—but another part of me, the little shy voice in the back of my mind, finds this ridiculous idea almost… appealing.

“Okay, so, I write out my greatest hits of trauma and sarcasm, just so, maybe in the off chance I might feel better?” I say begrudgingly.

Dr. Hale nods once. “Obviously, it won’t happen overnight. But slowly, step by step. Your voice matters, Serenya. You deserve a record of it that no one can touch.”

I tilt my head slightly to look back at him. Staring at him with an expression of indifference as he stares back, his eyes displaying something soft that I cannot place. I sigh before looking back out the window. “I'll think about it.”

Dr. Hale gives me a small smile. It doesn’t give me ‘ah ha! I won his round' vibes. “That is all I ask.”