The counselors door
1300 Words
Scene 1: The First Session with Zeddy
(The scene opens in Zeddy’s counseling office. It’s a calm and quiet space, with soft lighting, earth-toned walls, and minimalist décor designed to put clients at ease. Redempta sits on a plush chair across from Zeddy, who is quietly observing her, waiting for her to speak. Redempta fidgets with her hands, nervously looking around the room.)
Zeddy:
(Softly, with a warm smile)
"Take your time, Redempta. There’s no rush."
Redempta:
(Avoiding Zeddy’s gaze, her voice low)
"I don’t even know where to start."
Zeddy:
(Nods, her voice calm and reassuring)
"That’s okay. You don’t have to know. We can start wherever you feel comfortable. What brought you here today?"
Redempta:
(Shrugs, looking down at her hands)
"I guess I… I just need to talk to someone. I feel like I’m losing control, like I don’t know who I am anymore."
Zeddy:
(Looking at her kindly)
"That’s a common feeling, especially when life feels overwhelming. Can you tell me more about what’s been going on?"
Redempta:
(Takes a deep breath, still hesitant)
"It’s… everything, I guess. My life. My choices. I feel like I’m stuck in this cycle, and I can’t get out."
Zeddy:
(Leans forward slightly, her tone empathetic)
"When you say 'cycle,' what do you mean by that? What does this cycle look like for you?"
Redempta:
(Sighs, finally looking up at Zeddy)
"It’s… it’s her. Latinae. My girlfriend. She’s been part of my life for so long, but I think she’s also what’s keeping me in this… this mess. I know I need to leave her, but every time I try, I just… I can’t."
Zeddy:
(Nods thoughtfully, her gaze focused and attentive)
"It sounds like you’re in a really tough place, Redempta. You’re torn between someone you care about and the realization that your relationship may not be healthy for you anymore. Is that right?"
Redempta:
(Laughs bitterly)
"Yeah, that’s one way to put it. But it’s more than that. It’s not just her. It’s what she gives me. The drugs, the weed… it’s all tied up together. I can’t separate her from the addiction."
Zeddy:
(Softly)
"And that makes it even harder to walk away."
Redempta:
(Nods, her voice trembling)
"I’ve tried. So many times. I tell myself that I’m done, that I’m going to stop, but then she calls, or I see her, and it’s like… everything falls apart. I’m weak. I don’t know how to be strong around her."
Zeddy:
(Looking at her with empathy)
"Redempta, it’s not about being weak. Addiction has a way of making us feel powerless, but it doesn’t mean you are. You’ve already made the first step by coming here, by recognizing that something needs to change."
Redempta:
(Shrugs, her voice hollow)
"I don’t know if it’ll matter. She’s… she’s always been there. She’s all I know."
Zeddy:
(Pauses for a moment, her tone thoughtful)
"Sometimes, the familiarity of something—even when it’s harmful—can make it harder to let go. But you’ve already recognized that this relationship isn’t healthy for you. That’s a huge step. Now we need to explore how you can start to untangle yourself from it."
Redempta:
(Frowning, her voice skeptical)
"Untangle? It’s not like I can just cut her out of my life. It’s not that easy. She’s more than just a person… she’s everything I’ve been using to escape."
Zeddy:
(Looking at her with understanding)
"It’s not easy, I know. And I’m not saying it will be simple or quick. But it’s about taking small steps toward reclaiming your life, bit by bit. You don’t have to do it all at once."
Redempta:
(Sighs, rubbing her face with her hands)
"I don’t even know where to begin. Every time I think about leaving her, I get scared. What if I can’t handle life without her?"
Zeddy:
(Leaning forward slightly)
"What scares you the most about leaving her?"
Redempta:
(Pauses, thinking for a long moment, her voice almost a whisper)
"Being alone. Facing… everything. The pain, the memories, the guilt. Without the drugs, without her… it all comes rushing back. I don’t know if I can deal with it."
Zeddy:
(Nods slowly, her voice gentle)
"I understand. It’s natural to be afraid of facing those feelings. The substances and your relationship with Latinae have been a way to cope with those deeper emotions. But part of this process will be learning how to deal with them in a healthier way."
Redempta:
(Scoffing, her voice bitter)
"Easier said than done."
Zeddy:
(Smiling softly)
"Of course. And it’s going to take time. But the fact that you’re here, talking about it, means you’re already starting to move in the right direction."
Redempta:
(Looking down, her voice soft)
"I just don’t know if I have the strength."
Zeddy:
(Looking at her kindly)
"You don’t have to have all the strength right now. That’s why I’m here. That’s why we’ll take this one step at a time. You don’t have to do this alone, Redempta."
---
Scene 2: Struggles with Temptation
(That night, Redempta is back in her apartment. The lights are dim, and the silence is deafening. She sits on her bed, her phone in her hand. The screen is lit up with Latinae’s number. Her thumb hovers over the call button. The urge to reach out is overwhelming, and her mind is racing.)
Redempta (Inner Monologue):
"It’s been hours. I can just call her. She’ll come over, and everything will feel better for a little while. Just for a little while. I need it. I can’t do this without her."
(She starts to press the call button but hesitates, her heart pounding in her chest.)
"Why am I fighting this? Why am I pretending that I can change? It’s pointless. She’s right… I always come back. I always do."
(She closes her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts. The temptation is almost unbearable. Her mind is torn between two voices—the one that tells her to give in, and the one that reminds her of what Zeddy said.)
Zeddy (Memory):
"You don’t have to be strong all at once. Just take it one step at a time."
Comfort (Memory):
"She’s holding you under. You’re drowning, Redempta."
Redempta (Inner Monologue):
(She drops the phone onto the bed, burying her face in her hands.)
"I’m so tired of fighting. I’m so tired of pretending I can do this."
(She looks at the phone again, and for a brief moment, she considers picking it up. But something in her stops. She remembers the promise she made to herself, and for the first time in a long time, she resists the urge to call Latinae.)
---
Scene 3: A Conversation with Comfort
(The next morning, Redempta is sitting at her kitchen table, staring blankly at a cup of coffee in front of her. The night before was a battle, and she’s exhausted, but she didn’t give in. There’s a knock at the door, and she opens it to find Comfort standing there, holding a bag of groceries.)
Comfort:
(With a smile, holding up the bag)
"Thought I’d bring you something to eat. You’ve probably been living on takeout for the past week."
Redempta:
(Shrugs, letting her in)
"I haven’t really been eating much of anything."
Comfort:
(Setting the bag down on the counter, her voice soft)
"I figured. How are you doing?"
Redempta:
(Sighing, sitting down at the table)
"Last night was rough. I almost called her. I was this close."
(She holds up her fingers, indicating just how close she was to giving in.)
Comfort:
(Sitting across from her, her voice encouraging)
"But you didn’t. That’s huge, Redempta. That’s progress."
Redempta:
(Shaking her head, her voice defeated)
"It doesn’t feel like progress. It feels like I’m hanging on
- Writer
