Chapter 273

I couldn’t help but gawk at Alex, not sure what else to say. It had probably been a while since anybody had seen him in town, but here he was in the flesh.

"Hey, no worries. Are you alright?" His voice was warm and genuine as he offered a hand to help me up.

I nodded, feeling a mix of surprise and embarrassment. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. I didn't see you there."

He chuckled softly, a friendly smile gracing his features. "It happens. Are you in a hurry?"

I glanced at my watch, realizing I was indeed running late for my therapy session. "I actually am, but thank you for your help."

As I prepared to rush off, his voice stopped me. "Hey, I know this might sound forward, but I'm a fan of your work. I've seen you all over the news. Keep doing what you're doing. It's important."

Surprised by his recognition, I managed a grateful smile. "Thank you, that means a lot. I guess everyone knows now…"

Alex smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, I've heard all about you, even while out of town. I didn't expect to bump into you like this, but I guess I got lucky."

The realization that Alex had been following my story sparked a question within me. "Wait, when did you return from your team transfer?"

He shrugged casually. "Just recently. I've been back for a little while now."

A sense of intrigue washed over me as Alex mentioned his return to the Coyotes, Timothy's team's direct competitor. "You're back with the Coyotes? That's interesting, considering they're competing against Timothy's team."

Alex's smile widened, a hint of playfulness in his response. "Yeah, it's going to be quite the rivalry. Should make for an exciting season."

His nonchalant attitude intrigued me further. "Aren't you worried about competing against Timothy?"

Alex chuckled, his demeanor relaxed. "Nah, it's all part of the game. Besides, Timothy's a great player. It'll be fun to face off against him."

His easygoing nature and lack of rivalry surprised me. "You seem oddly pleasant about it all, considering the circumstances."

Alex shrugged, his expression genuine. "I try not to take things too seriously. It's just a game after all, right?"

His response left me pondering. In an arena where competition was fierce, his casual outlook felt refreshing. As our conversation continued, Alex seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. I started to wonder if he’d interacted with Timothy yet.

"Hm, you’re not as starstruck as other people usually are when they meet me. How’s that?" Alex inquired, a curious glint in his eyes.

I chuckled softly, remembering the encounters I'd had with celebrities through my work, Timothy being the biggest one. "I've met my fair share of stars. It takes more than fame to impress me."

Alex laughed, his laughter contagious. "Fair enough. You're quite something, Evie."

As our conversation reached its natural end, Alex bid me farewell with a friendly promise. "Well, I won’t hold you up any further. I'll see you around."

Watching him walk away, I couldn't help but mull over the unexpected pleasantness in our exchange. Alex's demeanor had been surprisingly amicable, considering the looming competition between his team and Timothy's.

Entering Dr. Morrison's serene office felt like stepping into a sanctuary of solace. As I settled into the familiar comfort of the armchair, a determined resolve to be more open about my emotions emerged. My mom’s unexpected reappearance in my life had stirred emotions I'd long buried, and I was ready to confront them.

"I've been thinking a lot about my mom and our past," I began, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Dr. Morrison listened attentively, her demeanor encouraging. "Go on, Evie. How does it make you feel?"

I took a deep breath, delving into the complexities of my relationship with Mia, the fear of rekindling something fraught with pain. "I'm scared, Dr. Morrison. Scared of opening old wounds, scared of getting hurt again."

Her empathetic gaze offered me the space to vocalize my fears. "Your apprehension is valid, Evie. You don't owe anyone forgiveness, especially if it compromises your well-being."

"I wish it were easier to just let go. Make things easier for myself," I said. "I don’t even know if she’s aware of what happened to Dad.”

I wrung my hands together, recalling the way his once lively face became gaunt and pale. The way he’d always have bile trickling from his lips, or how he could barely stand throughout the day.

"Evie, what was it like with your father before Bruce and Diane came along?" Dr. Morrison's gentle voice cut through the silence.

The memories flooded back, the dichotomy of my father's presence stark in my mind. "He was... well-enough when he was sober," I began, the words hesitant, as if tiptoeing around the tumultuous memories. "He'd attend to me, take care of things. But when he drank... he fell apart."

Dr. Morrison nodded. "It must have been difficult for you, witnessing that change in him."

I took a deep breath, the memories unfolding before me like pages in a book. "When he was sober, he'd tell me stories, teach me things. But when he drank, he became someone else. Angry, unpredictable."

The weight of those conflicting images—my father as a caring figure versus the tumultuous chaos of his alcohol-induced alter ego—had shaped my childhood. The abrupt shift in his demeanor had been an ever-present source of fear and confusion.

"There was a time when he depended on Mia, wasn't there? As the other parental figure?" Dr. Morrison's question delved deeper into a particularly painful chapter of my past.

The mention of Mia stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me. "Yes," I murmured, feeling the weight of the memories resurface. "He relied on Mia. He always said he didn’t know how to be a dad. When she left, he... he fell apart."

Dr. Morrison leaned forward. "Evie, it's important to recognize that you were just a child dealing with complex circumstances beyond your control. It's not your responsibility to fix what was broken. It never was, regardless of how your parents handled things."

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to force down the tears threatening to come. “They both wanted to forget everything they’d created, including me. I wish…sometimes I wish I could too.”

Dr. Morrison scribbled something in her notes. "It's important to acknowledge your experiences, Evie. You’re already displaying maturity by addressing your issues head-on. Self-medicating and running away will only get you as far as it got your parents."

I nodded in agreement. I probably wouldn’t be a lawyer now if Id gone in the direction either of them did. Would I have met Aria and Lucas? Would I have forgiven Timothy?

It’s only by chance that we managed to run into eachother again. The anger from that one, awful night still affected me after all those years, yet he somehow made me forget and forgive. We weren’t the same people anymore, and perhaps we’d both changed for the better.

After the session, I found myself sitting in my car, the weight of the conversation with Dr. Morrison lingering in my thoughts. I reached for my phone, intending to call Timothy, my heart yearning for his comforting presence, even if it was just his voice.

As I dialed his number, anticipation thrummed through me. But before I could speak, Timothy's urgent voice interrupted.

"Evie, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his tone tense and urgent.

My heart skipped a beat, concern flooding my senses. "What is it, Timothy? Is everything alright?"

He hesitated for a moment, a sense of gravity underlining his words. "I... I can't discuss it over the phone. Can we meet in person? My place?"

His request sent a ripple of worry through me. "O-Of course.”

It seemed that my day was already on a downward spiral.