The therapist playbook

SUMMER TIME RENDERED

The summer term had just begun, but the corridors of the school buzzed with an unusual energy. Whispers floated from one classroom to another, snaking their way through the hallways and into the staff room. Raphael, seated at his usual spot in the new classroom, always by the windows so he could catch glimpses of the outside. He couldn’t ignore the murmurs that seemed to grow louder with each passing day.

"Oma’s gone, did you hear?"

"They say she lost focus on her studies… something about a guy?"

"Well, I heard the breakup really tore her apart. Poor girl, she just couldn’t handle it."

Raphael kept his eyes on the textbook in front of him, though he was barely reading the words. The rumours swirled around him like a storm, relentless and unforgiving. He didn’t know why Oma had left the school—whether it was because of him or something else entirely—but he didn’t feel the need to correct anyone. The truth, whatever it was, felt distant and unimportant compared to the heavy weight of her absence.

He’d tried not to think about it, but the truth was, her departure had left a void in the school, one that everyone felt but no one fully understood. Teachers speculated in hushed tones in the staff room, wondering if they could have done something to keep her focused on her studies. They lamented over lost potential, whispering that she had been too distracted by a relationship gone wrong. Raphael overheard snippets of their conversations as he passed by, their words sticking to him like thorns.

The students, on the other hand, had their own version of events. To them, it was simple: Oma had left because of the breakup. Some pitied her, others gossiped with a cruel sense of satisfaction, but none of them really knew the truth. Raphael didn’t bother to set the record straight—what good would it do? Oma was gone, and nothing he could say would change that.

As the days turned into weeks, the rumours began to fade, replaced by the usual schoolyard gossip. But for Raphael, the knowledge that Oma was no longer there lingered, a quiet ache that refused to fully disappear. He pushed it down, burying it beneath layers of forced smiles and half-hearted jokes. There was no point in dwelling on it; summer was here, and he had other things to focus on.

While Raphael wrestled with his own emotions, a different story was unfolding nearby. Grace and Ansel had grown closer over the past few weeks, their once casual friendship blossoming into something more. The change hadn’t gone unnoticed by their classmates, who watched with varying degrees of curiosity and amusement as the two spent more time together, their interactions growing increasingly intimate.

Grace had always been cautious when it came to relationships, wary of getting hurt. But there was something about Ansel that made her want to take a leap of faith. He was kind, funny, and had a way of making her feel seen—really seen. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced before, and it both excited and terrified her.

One afternoon, as they sat together under the shade of a large oak tree, Ansel reached out and took her hand in his. The gesture was simple, but it sent a jolt of warmth through Grace’s body. She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Grace,” Ansel began, his voice soft and earnest, “I’ve been thinking a lot about us. About what we are—what we could be. And… I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

Grace’s breath caught in her throat. She had been waiting for this moment, both anticipating and dreading it. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ansel squeezed her hand, his eyes searching hers. “I mean, I want us to be official. I want everyone to know that you’re my girlfriend. No more hiding, no more pretending we’re just friends. I care about you, Grace. A lot. And I think it’s time we let the world know.”

Grace felt her heart swell with emotion. She had been so afraid of getting hurt, of putting herself out there only to be rejected or ridiculed. But looking into Ansel’s eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity and affection. She knew then that she wanted this too.

With a smile that lit up her face, Grace nodded. “Okay, Ansel. Let’s do it. Let’s be official.”

The next day, the news spread like wildfire. Grace and Ansel were together—officially. The reaction from their classmates was mostly positive, with many offering congratulations and teasing the couple in good-natured fun. Grace felt a sense of relief wash over her; for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

As the summer break began in earnest, Raphael found himself in a new environment—private lessons designed to prepare students for the upcoming school year. It was a change of pace, a chance to focus on his studies without the distractions of school drama. But more importantly, it was an opportunity for him to rediscover parts of himself that had been buried under the weight of his recent heartache.

The lessons were held in a modest classroom, the atmosphere relaxed but focused. Raphael quickly found that he enjoyed the challenge of the material, diving into his work with a newfound enthusiasm. It was as if the act of studying allowed him to channel his emotions into something productive, something that made him feel in control again.

He also made new friends, fellow students who shared his love for learning. Among them was Doma, a quiet but sharp-witted guy who quickly became one of Raphael’s closest companions. Doma had a keen interest in a girl within their lessons, and Raphael found himself playing the role of confidant and advisor, helping Doma navigate the complexities of teenage crushes.

“Do you think I should tell her?” Doma asked one afternoon, as they sat together during a break.

Raphael considered the question carefully. “I think you should. Life’s too short to keep things like that to yourself. Besides, you never know—she might feel the same way.”

Doma smiled, his confidence was never determined by what Raphael said. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do it.”

Their friendship blossomed over the course of the summer, built on mutual respect and shared experiences. Raphael found that being around Doma and his other new friends helped him to come out of the shell he had retreated into after his breakup with Oma. Slowly but surely, the pain of that loss began to fade, replaced by a sense of hope and possibility.

As the summer days stretched on, Raphael and his friends found themselves with more free time than they knew what to do with. They spent their afternoons exploring the town, playing sports in the park, and trying out new hobbies. There was an air of freedom and adventure that permeated everything they did, a feeling that they were on the cusp of something new and exciting.

Raphael, in particular, found himself becoming more playful and outgoing. The heavy weight of his heartbreak had lifted, replaced by a lightness that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He laughed more, joked more, and threw himself into every activity with a zest for life that was contagious.

His friends noticed the change in him, and they welcomed it. They too were caught up in the thrill of the summer, eager to make the most of their time before the new school year began. Together, they pushed the boundaries of their comfort zones, trying new things and taking risks they might have shied away from before.

One day, they decided to try skateboarding, a new hobby that had recently taken the town by storm. None of them were particularly good at it, but that only added to the fun. They spent hours at the local skate park, falling and laughing, encouraging each other to keep going despite their many bruises and scrapes.

“Come on, Raph, you can do it!” Curtis shouted as Raphael attempted to grind a rail for the third time.

“I’m trying, I’m trying!” Raphael laughed, his voice breathless with exertion.

He finally managed to land the trick, and his friends erupted into cheers, their applause echoing through the park. Raphael grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. It wasn’t just the skateboard trick—though that was satisfying in its own right—but the knowledge that he was capable of moving forward, of finding happiness again, even after everything that had happened.

As the summer days turned into weeks, Raphael and his friends grew more confident, more comfortable in their own skin. They were on the brink of a new chapter in their lives, and they were determined to make the most of it.

The summer holiday was drawing to a close, but Raphael didn’t feel the usual dread that came with the end of a break. Instead, he felt a sense of peace, a quiet contentment that came from knowing he had grown, changed, and become stronger over the past few months.

His visions, the unsettling dreams that had plagued him before, had become less frequent. Whether it was because of the distance he had put between himself and his past or the new friendships he had formed, Raphael wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he felt lighter, freer, and more in control of his life than he had in a long time.

One evening, as he lay in bed, reflecting on the summer, Raphael found himself smiling. He thought about the new friends he had made, the adventures he had shared with his old ones, and the lessons he had learned along the way. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly optimistic about the future.

The next school year would bring new challenges, new experiences, and new opportunities. But Raphael was ready for them. He had faced his demons, confronted his fears, and come out the other side stronger. And as he drifted off to sleep that night, he knew that whatever the future held, he would face it with courage and a newfound sense of hope.

The summer had come and gone in what felt like the blink of an eye, and before Raphael knew it, the new school year was upon him. The morning air was crisp and cool, signalling the early days of autumn. As Raphael walked through the school gates, a sense of anticipation filled the air. This was the beginning of their final year, the year they would finally be seniors.

The school looked the same, but there was something different in the way the students carried themselves. They were older now, more mature, but still, that familiar sense of camaraderie and excitement buzzed in the air. Raphael felt a renewed sense of purpose as he greeted his friends, ready to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they gathered in their usual spot near the lockers, Raphael noticed that Troy seemed more upbeat than usual, almost giddy. Curtis, on the other hand, had a more intense look in his eyes, as if something was weighing on his mind. Raphael made a mental note to ask them about it later, but for now, he was content to catch up on the latest gossip and enjoy the first day back.

Lunch arrived, and the group decided to eat outside in the warm sunshine, catching up on their summer adventures. Laughter echoed around the table as they swapped stories and teased each other, the bond between them stronger than ever. But as the lunch period wore on, Raphael noticed something odd—Troy kept glancing around nervously, as if he was waiting for someone.

Eventually, Troy excused himself, saying he needed to grab something from his locker. Raphael, curious, decided to follow him, keeping a distance so Troy wouldn’t notice. As he rounded the corner near the lockers, Raphael stopped dead in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat at what he saw.

There, hidden in the shadows of the hallway, was Troy—locked in a passionate kiss with Pearl. Raphael’s eyes widened in shock. Pearl, who had always been so aloof and playful, was now wrapped around Troy, their bodies pressed together as if they couldn’t get enough of each other. The scene was intense, almost too much for Raphael to process.

Raphael quickly backed away, his mind racing. He had always known Pearl had a flirtatious side. And Troy… He had never mentioned anything about Pearl, never hinted that there was something going on between them but he was always a male slut. As Raphael returned to the lunch table, he couldn’t shake the image from his mind. He kept it to himself, not wanting to stir up drama on the first day back, but he knew this was something that would have to be addressed sooner or later.

As the day progressed, Raphael began to notice another tension brewing—this time between Curtis and Damian. Damian and Curtis have been family friends and they initially had a clique that consisted of three of them, but Curtis had never been particularly fond of him. They had always been competitive, but this year, the rivalry seemed to have reached a new level.

The source of the tension became clear when Claire, one of the girls suddenly over the summer, glowed up . Claire was kind, intelligent, and had a warm smile that lit up the room. It wasn’t long before both Curtis and Damian began vying for her attention.

During one of their classes, Raphael noticed the subtle jabs Curtis and Damian were throwing at each other, each one trying to one-up the other in front of Claire. The rivalry was palpable, and it was clear that this was more than just a friendly competition. Claire, for her part, seemed oblivious to the tension, but Raphael could see the storm brewing just beneath the surface.

As the day came to an end, Raphael felt a heaviness settle over him. The excitement of the new school year had been tempered by the revelations he had witnessed—Troy and Pearl’s secret relationship, Curtis and Damian’s brewing rivalry. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong, that these tensions would eventually come to a head.

That night, as he lay in bed, sleep came to him fitfully. He drifted in and out of restless dreams, the images swirling in his mind like shadows in the dark. Then, suddenly, the familiar vision returned—sharp, vivid, and more terrifying than before.

He was standing in a darkened room, the air thick with an oppressive silence. In the distance, a figure appeared, cloaked in shadows, its form barely discernible. But what caught Raphael’s attention was the figure’s eyes—glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. They were the same eyes he had seen in his earlier visions, cold and devoid of any humanity.

The figure moved closer, its presence growing more menacing with each step. Raphael tried to move, to scream, but his body refused to obey. The glowing eyes bored into him, as if searching his soul, and Raphael felt a cold dread seep into his bones.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vision ended. Raphael jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest, his body drenched in sweat. He sat up, gasping for breath, as he lifted his head there they were, staring. The same glowing eyes. And in fear he passed out.