A/N: Pictures & videos are up on my blog and my FB group. Also, I'm super busy taking an educational law class right now, so I don't get the chance to respond to everyone's reviews, but I am loving reading each and every one of them. Thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing. My class should be done in about a week, so once class is over, I should be able to get more review replies out.
Today has been…difficult.
It's my first appointment with Dr. Brandon.
I'm nervous to say the least…I don't know what to expect.
It took Emmett nearly half an hour to get me into the car and to Dr. Brandon's office.
It's not that I don't want to get better, I just…I guess I don't know really…it's just so damn hard.
Now that I'm finally in her office though, I'm glad I came. Dr. Brandon isn't what I expected at all.
She's a short little thing with quite a cheery disposition. She was also very warm, welcoming, and understanding when I told her how nervous I was.
We spent some time just talking so she could get to know me, get to understand what I wanted to get out of therapy.
"So Edward," she said. "Tell me what it is you're hoping to get out of coming here to see me."
"Well, um…" I replied. "I…I need to clean my house. I have a lot of things, and it's difficult for me to let any of them go. Emmett says I'm a hoarder. I dunno…maybe he's right. I broke my ankle tripping over my shamwows and…and I don't want to end up dead buried underneath a pile of Gyro Bowls and BeDazzlers."
"Okay, that's a good starting point," Dr. Brandon said, with no sound of judgment in her voice.
"That's it?" I questioned, surprised by her lack of commentary about my home's state of affairs. "You don't have anything else to say? No snide comments about me having a bunch of crap in my house?"
"Honestly Edward, no." she told me. "I want you to consider me a safe place. There will be no judgment here. You said you need to clean your home, that you can't do it yourself. I'm here to help you through that process, if you'll allow me to. And, hopefully, by the time we're done, we'll have figured out why you've been keeping your house the way you do and have given you the tools necessary so it doesn't end up like this again."
"I…I um, I like that. I think I can try to do this."
"That's good Edward, now, I want you to know that this will not be an easy process, it will be hard work and there will be times you'll want to give up. I understand you'll also be working with Bella to help with organizing. A lot of the time, she and I will be working with you together, and sometimes you'll work with us one on one."
"Okay," I answered, sounding a bit more confident. "I'm up for the challenge."
"Good," Dr. Brandon told me, a warm smile on her face. "For now, I'd like to see you twice a week. One day each week we'll meet here at my office. The other, we'll meet at your house and work there. Since we've met here this week already, let's plan on meeting at your home on Friday afternoon okay?"
"Um…uh…okay."
Crap. I didn't think she'd want to be at my house so quickly. She's so tiny. Maybe I should tell her to wear a GSP tracking device or a bell or something so she doesn't get lost amongst my Swivel Sweepers and Smart Mops.
"Edward."
"Huh?"
"It will be okay. I'm not going to judge you or your home. My only expectation is that you are open with me so that I can help you."
"Okay," I replied, feeling a bit more relieved, but making a mental note to keep a close eye on her when she is at my house.
After scheduling my next few appointments with the receptionist, Emmett and I left and went out to lunch. We talked for a bit, about Dr. Brandon and other inconsequential things, and for the first time, I feel like maybe I could actually change this time around.
A/N: Chapter 5 will post tomorrow. For those of you wondering when Bella will official make her first appearance, she will be showing up in chapter 6. Also, I know we've all seen a few infomercials from time to time, and I would love to know if there are any items/products you'd like to see me work into the story as things Edward either has or will purchase.