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.

have to dive into everything

1/4

Domestic Chaos

and her alcoholism. I open up

at the corners, and I can tell she's feeling it. Not just nodding through it like it's her job.

end of the session, my eyes are puffy, my throat sore. I'm wrung out like a rag. And even though I only gave her pieces of the full story, it feels like I've

front of me is a terrible thing to go through. Watching her lose herself in grief

Cami validated it all.

I do like

way home, wanting to get

like

this.

and cardboard. Boxes are

notes in Zaid's neat

tiny shred

toe off my shoes and wander to the kitchen, pour myself a

still shaking from earlier.

of me that wants to sink into

I remember how good it used

the way he rolled

kissed me

it so

I can't. I promised myself I'd

slowly. Let

2/4

Domestic Chaos

paper. The beginnings of a hunt for a family I've never met. A name here, an address there. Most of it is scribbled

and let my

a knock on my door. My heart does

say, voice softer than I mean it

paper in his hand. His hair is messy, shirt slightly wrinkled. He looks tired, in the

"How was it?"

can only nod over the lump in my

sits beside me

back?"

I want to go as often as I can." My voice is rough, broken from