Note: Here's another chapter. I hope everyone is happy and well.
Virulent
Chapter 2
"Cognitive behavioral therapy is a good way to start, Maggie," Bella said, staring at her notebook. "If it doesn't work or if you have any doubts, then we'll try something else. Is that okay?"
The young woman, sitting on Bella's couch, had trembling knees as she looked at Bella and nodded her head once. She was a shy woman, in her early twenties, with brassy, blond hair and hazel eyes. Bella could feel the anxiety radiating from the woman. She reminded Bella of herself once.
After writing some notes in her book, Bella smiled at Maggie and offered her a chance to talk. Maggie talked about how her week had been and the feeling of someone constantly watching her. Bella asked how why she felt like that and what she did to protect herself. They talked on for more.
Their session was soon over in an hour. After walking the young woman out of her office, Bella sat back in her chair, swiveling. She had another patient in half an hour. She figured she'd grab a bite now.
Two blocks from where Bella worked, Edward was giving a lecture about Cartesian Dualism. The college students sat bored, staring at their professor ranting animatedly about a passionate topic of his. Edward even had René Descartes' famous quote, 'Cogito ergo sum', tattooed over his ribs. It translated to 'I think, therefore I am', or better yet, some liked to think of it as 'I am thinking, therefore I exist'.
"You're the biggest geek," Bella would say, every time they'd get in bed. Edward would just laugh and tickle her, effectively shushing her.
"I'm going to backtrack a little bit. We learnt last time, what mental states were. Cognitive, conative and affective. Cognitive includes experiences and understanding, whereas conative consists of choices and desires. Correspondingly, affective mental states and events are sensations and emotions." Edward went on, writing on the board.
"Now, cognitive states correlate to the world. They are molded around the things that happen in the world. Conative states can be perceived as a method of changing and altering the world." Edward said, looking down as he spoke. "When we are passive, it means we are in an affective state. The average human being would possess all of these attributes of mental states."
"I want you to thoroughly read 'Mediations on First Philosophy'. Descartes establishes how doubting things can provide the foundation for pure knowledge with extreme authenticity. He then further questions what matter is. He says that he can doubt whether he has a body or not.
"But Descartes says that he cannot doubt whether he has a mind or not. Whether his mind exists. His body is not his mind. Descartes then concludes that there are two types in the world. Firstly, there are the material things by which his body is made up of that. Secondly, there is the spiritual aspect by which his mind is made up of. Therefore, Descartes is a dualist as he believes that the mind and body are entities that exist separately."
Edward looked up at his class again after his long explanation. Many people were yawning. He noticed Joe Lee sitting in the front row doodling flowers on his page. His girlfriend, Patricia, sitting on his left was staring at the flowers in amazement. She should have been listening to Edward's words in amazement.
He shook his head slightly as he dismissed the class, telling them that their three-thousand word essay for next week was due, unless anyone had any misadventures by which they may need an extended deadline. People mumbled 'thanks' on their way out, leaving their professor alone in the lecture theater.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and read Bella's text.
Cheer up, professor. Philosophy isn't easy for all of us. Lunch still on?
He never understood how Bella could guess what he was feeling and text words of comfort to him. Perhaps some psychologists were able to mind-read as well. Maybe that was how the good ones could understand the troubles of their patient so well. Edward laughed at himself, holding his briefcase and walking out. He switched off the lights and went to have lunch with Bella.
Lunch is on, Swan. Bella's phone buzzed with a new text.
"How was your day?" he asked her, pulling out her chair for her. They were at an Italian place. She wanted spaghetti. He didn't mind all that much.
"It was good, I guess," she said, immediately ordering. He knew that she ran on quite a tough schedule. She was one of the finest psychologists in the city. She knew exactly what people meant when they spoke to her and she had a keen interest in helping all those around her. He was glad he could call her a good friend.
"Students seem so bored nowadays," Edward mumbled to himself. Bella laughed, leaning over and patting him on the shoulder.
"It's okay, prof. I'm sure there's a few eager girls who you just don't notice, always vying for your attention." Bella said, digging into her food as it arrived. The steam hadn't even vanished yet. Either she was hungry or she didn't have much time. He settled on the latter.
Thinking back to Bella's words, Edward did notice a few girls at the back of the class who would giggle and watch him. He had no idea what they were giggling about but then he realized, he didn't want to know anyway.
"You look like a hungry lion," he commented, chuckling at the spaghetti sauce that was now gathering around her mouth. She rolled her eyes at him, not really taking him seriously. Bella had the strangest food choices. She'd eat cereal for dinner and sometimes lasagne for breakfast. Edward could never figure her out. But then he tried it. He found that it wasn't all too bad.
Both of them were busy individuals, apart from their day jobs, they were also two people who wanted to write their own books. They thrived on research and knowledge. Constant learning and gathering of facts and information. Edward loved spending time at the university and Bella occasionally visited the psychology department at UDub as well. However, she could always hear her mother's opposition to her endlessly chasing her career and studying things that would never get her a husband.
"Bella, I want grandchildren soon," Bella's mother, Renee, had complained during one of their occasional phone calls.
Renee now lived with her boyfriend, Phil, in Jacksonville, Florida. Bella and Renee's relationship was strained for most of Bella's teenage years, following her father's death. But during Bella's college years, they slowly patched things up again. Bella became more understanding and Renee became more patient.
Edward on the other hand, was fascinated about everything in the world. Even walking down the street with Bella, he would be able to find himself lost in someone else's words, given that he and Bella weren't already in a conversation together. With his handsome, boyish looks, many people were willing to start talking to Edward. Sometimes, Bella would find herself walking and still rambling about something, only to realize that Edward had vanished.
"Well, I've got to head back now," Bella said, wiping her mouth clean. Then she wiggled her eyebrows at Edward. "Cullen, your place, tonight?"
Edward gave her a sly grin. "My place, eight o'clock."
They departed with a hug, both heading down the street in opposite directions. Roads that led to different locations in the day. But roads that united them by night. They were good friends. Friends with good benefits. They both liked it and they wanted to keep it that way.
Love, perpetually.