I walked inside and was greeted by Dr. Valerie Kinbott, "hello, it's a pleasure meeting you Elliott. I'm Valerie Kinbott but please just Valerie. Come in, come in. Your friend Wednesday decided to end things quickly but I hope you'll be more open for the first appointment."
Inside the office it looked pretty ordinary and lighthearted. Not sure what I expected but I thought it would be a lot more serious, at least the atmosphere considering Wednesday's hatred of therapy.
I sat down on the sofa still eyeing the place until Valerie spoke, "so if my report is correct then this would be your first time in therapy?"
"Yes doc."
"Valerie is fine. Listen Elliott this is a safe space and I promise to be understanding and patient. I just need you to open up at your own pace. No one hear will judge you. Please tell me if your uncomfortable and we can take a break anytime."
"Alright Valerie."
"That's great, now let's start somewhere close but not right at home. Your relationship with the Addams, starting with who I believe is your closest relation, Wednesday." She folded her legs and placed her hands on top seeing my reaction, "do you blame or think of her as your reason for being here?"
"Hmm, not really. Sure I got sent here after the last incident but it was probably a long time coming."
"Then what are your thoughts or feelings on Wednesday?"
"The same as the day of the week, its in a middle ground. Sometimes I forget it's even there however it's nice having someone as a friend during my younger years."
"I see... Alright let's move onto Morticia. From what I see here on file she and her husband took you in. It says they even tried to adopt you at one point but you refused. Stating that your mother's last name was yours and you wouldn't form part of any family, leaving her behind. Do those sentiments remain?"
Sneaky trick, making it seem like she'll ask about Morticia but instead ask of my mother. "Yes, I'm still grateful of the Addams letting me live with them."
She nodded but I could tell she made a side note at the back of her head after hearing my answer. Valerie then seemed to come to a decision in her head on how to proceed, "do you mind me asking on your earlier childhood. Before the Addams?"
"Sure, my time with Fester is like an open book, literally, we made it on the front page a couple of times. Unnamed for the most part though."
She smiled politely, "I wish to know about the part barely on paper. Your time in your old cabin. How was it, do you have fond memories of the time?"
I began to clutch my knees with my hands after a sudden wave of nauseousness went over me. "Home?"
"Yes, where you lived with your mother, Olivia."
The sudden sound of her name brought me back to a time, a happy time. The smell of herbs, the warmth of her cauldron, mother's beautiful red hair. But a sudden twitch in my head pulled me out of the memorie, "it was burnt to the ground. Mom included, what fond memories could I have after that? Ain't that in your thin little papers doc?" I said sarcastically in a voice not of my own.
"Forgive me Elliott I didn't mean to delve too far deep on the first day." Valerie changed her posture, dismissing me calling her doc. "Let's move on, how's Nevermore? Are your classmates interesting, have you made any friends? Perhaps gone to lunch or dinner together?"
"I'm not fucken fat." A headache was creeping upon me. "Sorry it's been a bit difficult to sleep lately. Do you mind if I use the bathroom?"
"Ya-yes! Right there on the left-I mean right. I didn't mean to offend, your a dashing young man. I'll just note down how are session has been going."
"Everything alright?"
"Oh yes I'm alright. The session has been... far more illuminating then I hoped for."
I nodded and went to the bathroom. It was cute for a bathroom with a window that Wednesday could no doubt escape through if she wanted. I opened the bathroom sink and splashed a handful of water in my face to wake me up. Then out of curiosity I checked myself in the mirror. My hair that reached below my neck covered most of face. Since when then I stop styling it? I look like some stray from the streets. I ran a wet hand through my hair moving it out of the way. Then I could see my face, sadly even after hitting puberty it resembled nothing close to my mother's face. I like to think it was similar to father's at least. My face was sharp, not quite like a model but from someone elegant with a wicked smile that didn't fit. An odd beauty you'd see on streets once and never again. But my face today is skinnier, there's eye bags forming under my eyes that are standing out more on my skin that's been turning paler. I'm not fat at all...why did I even start thinking that?
I checked under my shirt just incase. A sudden disappointment flew over me. My abs that I worked out for over the years of surviving the gauntlet known as Wednesday had disappeared. Instead I was skinnier than I've ever been, you could nearly see my ribs poking out.
"Elliott you okay in there?"
"Yes, I'm coming out now."
I left the bathroom hiding my anxiety after my discovery. "Anything else Valerie?"
Mrs Kinbott looked me over with sincerity, "do you want to call it a day? I'd hate for you to grow anxious of our time together."
"Ya let's call it a day. Thanks Valerie, I'll be going now."
Outside I found a recently awoken principal Weems, "where's Wednesday Elliott?"
"No idea, I left her with you. I'll go see if I can find her." She nodded and walked away searching. I lied of course, I just wanted to get some coffee after the whole ordeal.
I found a coffee shop and without wanting to found Wednesday, standing over three normies. "Ha, you might get yourself kicked before you can leave Wednesday."
She turned to face me, "enjoyed your session? Is it everything you hoped for, being stuck in a room with a person who asks questions from their textbook like they were thought to do in a university?"
"No not really, but you always manage to brighten up my day with your actions. What did these idiots do?"
"Tyler!? Explain what happened here."
A kid who worked here that I dismissed as a bystander spoke up, "nothing dad, Wednesday here just defended herself against three of my clients."
"This little girl?"
"Wednesday Addams! There you are. I take a ten minute nap and your already causing problems for the sheriff. Come on, I trust the good sheriff here won't blame a girl for defending herself."
Both me and Wednesday started to leave until the sheriff spoke, "hold on an Addams? Your father deserves to live behind bars after what he did."
I looked at Wednesday who had a poker face and decided to ask later if she knew what the sheriff meant. For now I just want to find some coffee and protein to munch down on.