Shame
Chapter Two

„I… I'm here because I'm a Sex addict."
Wait, what.
„Well, actually more of an orgasm-addict to be honest."
Am I dead? Is this real life?
„I just don't know why but I can't stop wanting to come."
Jesus is that you?
„Miss Belivet? Are you okay?"

Finally realizing how stupid she must have looked, Therese quickly took a sip of the water that was on her office table and hoped her reaction didn't cause Carol to feel insecure.
„Yes, sorry I just, I didn't expect that answer from you. I've read in your file that you have marriage problems and that you are fighting for custody for your daughter. Nothing mentioned what you just said though." Therese explained.
„Well, that might be my fault, actually." Carol shot her an apologetic look and continued to speak when she saw the clear confusement that was spreading all over Therese's features. „You see, I asked Mrs. Matthews to not write any of it in my files. I'm surprised however that she didn't even write it in her notes." Carol clarified.

I'm not surprised at all… Matthews you little shit, Therese thought. Joanne Matthews had always been a good friend and colleague of Therese but she too had some bad habits, the one that gave her the most joy though was to make Therese blush and she quickly found out the best way to do so; talking of anything that involved Sex. Joanne had known for at least a few months before her maternity leave that Therese would be the one who would overtake most of her patients, and so would become Carol's new therapist. She must have removed all the notes she had made that mentioned the sex addiction in order to play a sort of prank on Therese and god knows it worked. Therese was blushing so hard she could feel her cheeks burning with heat. Taking another few gulps of her water she tried her best to calm back down. You are a professional, Belivet! Act like it!

„How come you didn't want her to write about it in your files?" Suddenly Carol's mood had seemed to darken, the shy smile that she had been showing was gone now, just like the glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes was too, gone. Worried she might have said something wrong, again, Therese worryingly apologized. „I'm so very sorry for my unprofessional behavior, Miss Aird. This clearly seems to be a difficult subject for you to talk about and I've been nothing but insensitive this whole time. I really don't know what's going on with me today, please believe me when I say I'm normally not this unprepared. I would completely understand if you'd rather talk with one of my colleagues, I will, of course, not charge you for this session and you-"
„Please, Miss Belivet, it's quite alright." Therese hadn't even realized that she had been babbling until the blonde had interrupted her. And again, she felt like a complete idiot. Embarrassed of herself she looked down onto Carol's file which was still resting in her lap. It didn't take long however until a soft voice pulled Therese from her thoughts.
„I didn't want Mrs. Matthews to document anything about this because I was afraid of… my Husband."
Lifting her gaze up from the file in her lap she concentrated on the other woman again. „Did he not know of your addiction?"
„I didn't have this.. addiction when I was still living with him." Carol confessed.
„Then why were you afraid of him?"
„Well, as you've already read in Mrs. Matthews notes, we are currently fighting over the custody rights of Rindy, my daughter."
„And you were afraid he would use this information to put you in a bad lightning in court?"
„Yes." The sadness in Carol's voice was heavy and it tugged at Therese's heart. She wished she could simply take her in her arms and comfort her but knowing she couldn't possibly do that, Therese's laid a reassuring hand on top of Carol's right knee. To her surprise Carol immediately took hold of it, squeezing it tight. „You were wrong about earlier, Miss Belivet." The blonde gave her a shy smile. „Please, call me Therese." She hadn't even meant to say that out loud but oh well, here we go. Receiving a bright smile from Carol, Therese quickly didn't care about what lines she had just crossed though. All she could think about was how magical Carol's smile was.
„Well, Therese." She grinned. „You weren't insensitive. In fact, I could tell from the first minute we spoke, that you genuinely care."
„I do." They were both lost in each other's eyes until the voice in the back of Therese's head reminded her that she was still at work and that Carol was her patient. And nothing but her patient. She forced herself to withdrew her hand from Carol and continued with their session. „I can understand why you were afraid, however, I don't quite understand how your Husband would have gotten these documents into his hands, they are top secret and locked away. Without your permission, we wouldn't have been allowed to give them to him."
Carol had stood up and started to nervously pace through the room. „Normally I'd agree with you but this isn't a normal case. You see, Harge is a very stubborn man who knows a lot of people, all kinds of people. If he wants these files he will arrange whatever it takes to get them." She stopped pacing and had her back turned towards Therese. „He'd go over corpses to see me in pain." Therese wanted, no, had to close the space between them and walked over to Carol. She wanted to wrap her arms around the fragile woman that had clearly gone through a lot. She settled on placing a comforting hand on Carol's right shoulder though. „It's all going to be alright, Carol. I promise." But will everything actually be alright in the end?

End Chapter Two