Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 221

Domestic Chaos

1 Week Later

The therapist's office smells like cinnamon. It kind of tickles my nose, reminding me of Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I sit, tucked into a large, pale pink armchair that squeaks every time I move, with my legs crisscrossed and my arms tight across my chest.

Her name is Cami, and she's young. Maybe like in her late twenties. Her hair is dyed a soft cotton candy pink, the ends curled slightly. She's wearing a chunky yellow cardigan that I

kind of want for myself and I almost feel like I'm talking to a friend.

I tell her about the accident, about my relationship with my brother.

Her neon green nails click gently against the arm of her chair as she waves and gestures,

which she does often.

“That's a lot,” she says in an empathetic whisper.

I blink at her. That's an understatement. I manage a small smile. "Yeah. That's one way to

put it.".

She laughs easily, not in a fake way, but the kind that sounds like warmth. Like sunshine.

I'm not sure if I like her yet.

But I don't dislike her either.

She doesn't push. Just lets the silence linger. I'm kind of thankful for that because I'm not

sure I can get into anything having to do with Zaid, Jake or Aiden.

"Do you still talk to your mother?"

I shake my head. "A lot more has happened since the accident. She's in Arizona. I'm here,

I don't-"

I swallow, tightening my arms around myself.

shakes her head. "We don't have to dive into everything today. Let's go at

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Domestic Chaos

her neglect and her alcoholism. I open up more than I expect

and I can tell

though I only gave her pieces

Watching her lose herself in grief while being forced to grow up far beyond my

Cami validated it all.

I do like

cry all the way home, wanting to get

like

this.

takeout and cardboard. Boxes are stacked

sticky notes

tiny shred of domestic

toe off my shoes and wander to the kitchen,

still shaking from earlier.

aching part of me that wants to sink into Zaid's arms, to

none of this happened. I remember how good it used

the way he rolled his

he kissed me

so much right

myself I'd learn to stand on my

slowly. Let the coolness settle in my

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Domestic Chaos

filling with pictures and scraps of paper. The beginnings of a hunt for a family I've never met. A name here,

on the mattress and let my head fall back against

door. My heart does this stupid skip thing

in," I say, voice softer than I mean

is messy, shirt slightly wrinkled. He looks tired, in the same way I feel. But he

"How was it?"

only nod over

the emotion on my face and sits beside me on the

back?"

think I want to go as often as I can."