Dr. Lowenstein smiled.  “That usually works.”  Seeing the startled expression on Tina’s face, she let out a soft melodic laugh.  “You see, Tina, when many people are nervous, they tend to squirm in their seats.  You are obviously one of those people.  Normally I wouldn’t mind it – it can be visually distracting but I can deal with it – but I tend to notice that the more my patients fidget, the less they talk to me.”

Eyes wide, Tina asked, “Really?”

The doctor cocked her head.  “Not really.  But it sounded good, didn’t it?”

“What?” was all Tina could think of to say.

Dr. Lowenstein laughed once more.  “Just a joke, Tina.  I’m trying to set you at ease here.  Is it working?”

Tina allowed herself to smile and realized that she did feel slightly more relaxed.  “Yes, I think so.”

“So, exactly what brings you into my office today?  Besides the pleasure of my company, that is?” the doctor asked dryly, unhooking a pair of wire-rimmed glasses from her suit coat and slipping them on.

“I’m depressed,” Tina admitted.

“I see,” Dr. Lowenstein commented, watching her over the top of the reading glasses.  “Is this a recent thing, or have you always been depressed?  Can you think of an event or events that may have triggered it?”

Tina took a deep breath and concentrated on trying to keep herself from nervously fidgeting once more.  “It’s relatively new.  I think it all started with my miscarriage, and then went downhill from there, escalating with the earthquake.”

“Tell me about it,” the doctor prompted.

“Bette, she’s my partner, and I had been together for seven years when we decided to have a child together.  After a lot of searching, we found the perfect sperm donor and soon after I discovered I was pregnant.  Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage, and things began to unravel after that.  I had a hard time dealing with it, and Bette became more and more distant.  Then I discovered Bette’s affair with the carpenter,” Tina began slowly.

“The carpenter?” Dr. Lowenstein interrupted.

“Candace.  The carpenter who worked with Bette to create an art exhibit at the CAC, where Bette used to work,” Tina explained, the name of Bette’s former mistress leaving a bad taste in her mouth.