Dana sat down across from Alice picking up some of the vegetables off Alice’s plate. “So, Al did you get very far with your story today?” Alice moved her plate closer to Dana, knowing she would finish off her vegetables anyway. “Dana would you mind if I included you in my story?” Dana stopped eating and looked at Alice. “Why would anyone care about my point of view?” Alice looked at her friend wondering how to explain this to her. “Dana, I know we’re not technically family but in a lot of ways you and the gang are my family and what happened to me has effected everyone, especially you. I want to write how these type of crimes not only hurt the victim but the victim’s family and friends. I won’t use your name unless you want me to.” Dana thought about it for a second before she answered. “Alice use my name, maybe it will help bring attention to these type of crimes.”

When Alice looked down at her plate she noticed that Dana had indeed finished up the vegetables left on her plate. “Dana would you like to order some lunch before we leave?” Dana looked up before swallowing her last bite. “No I’m OK, for some reason I’m not very hungry.” She then picked up Alice’s untouched glass of water taking a few sip smiling at her friend.

JACQ’S OFFICE

Alice and Dana had arrived early for their appointment, both feeling a little nervous about the session. Dana for her part was apprehensive about the entries in her journal. Dana knew some of the reasons why she was having separation anxiety when it came to Alice was because she had realized that Alice was the most important person in her life, she loved her. She wasn’t sure how Alice felt, and she knew now was not the time to pursue these feelings. But she was starting to be able to start separating her feelings of wanting Alice safe, from her feelings of wanting the person she loved safe and always with her. She had accepted the fact that the only way to get Alice back was to let her go. That was the only reason she was able to sleep in her own bed the night before last, and the only reason she was able to let her move out. She wanted to heal, she wanted Alice to heal and she knew that would never happen if she continued to relentlessly cling to Alice.