"He'll be here shortly. I'm sure something came up at the hospital." I sighed and straightened the hem of my navy wool skirt. I looked at the face of our marriage counselor and she gave me a kind smile. Maybe there was some pity traced in there. I didn't know. I nervously crossed my legs and began to pump my foot.
"Well, we don't have to wait for him. Is there anything you would like to tell me in confidence before he gets here?" She continued to smile at me and I was now sure it was a smile of pity.
I bit on my bottom lip. There was so much to tell. Where would I start?
"We've been together since high school. I know everything about him. No, I thought I knew everything about him. This past year, something has changed between us. Shifted. It's like we've grown so far apart the gap between us seems impossible to close."
"What do you think has changed, Isabella?"
I let out a deep sigh. "Please, call me Bella." She nodded her head at me and I continued. " I don't know. I just know that something has. I can't place my finger on it. It's like. . ."
The sound of the door opening made me turn in my chair. Edward walked in and quickly sat in the empty chair next to me. He didn't even look at me.
"How nice of you to join us," I sneered as I looked at him.
"Sorry. You know I just can't leave in the middle of a surgical case." He looked at me now, his green eyes held mine for a brief moment before I had to look away from him.
"So, you're a doctor Edward? And you're an assistant professor of English Literature, is that correct Bella?" Charlotte, our marriage counselor sized us both up as if she could fit our occupations with our selves.
I nodded my head. Edward answered with a terse yes. She just nodded at us before she wrote something on her notepad.
"Edward and Bella, I need to know what you both expect to gain from counseling. I hope you will be able to talk freely and honestly. Nothing will get resolved if you cannot communicate to each other. I'm just a mediator. I can offer you my help. It's up to the both of you to take that help. One person cannot save a marriage. It takes two."
I sighed and sank down into my chair. I wasn't much for optimism anymore. "And how many does it take to end a marriage? One?"
Charlotte looked at me in disbelief and I heard Edward sigh next to me.
"Stop being dramatic Bella. It doesn't suit you," he turned to say to me acidly.
"Bella, do you want to end your marriage to Edward?" Charlotte asked, leaning forward in her chair.
"I think it's already ended." I said softly.
Edward silently pushed himself out of his chair and walked to the door, not looking behind him as he left the office.
I threw my hands up to my face and began to cry. Charlotte teetered on the edge of her chair, not sure what to do. We were probably the first couple in all her years of practice to have said a marriage was over even before we had even finished one counseling session. She handed me a tissue and I took it from her. I didn't say anything as I grabbed my purse and made my way out of her office.