me vs. therapy

'what's going on with your face?'

Scratch, say; 'umm, what do you mean?'

'your face...it's all blotchy and red. too much sun?'

Scratch.

'well?'

'no.'

'well then were you in a house fire?'

'no. i had a procedure...ok?'

'what kind of procedure?'

'a friend, she works with lasers in a salon. she did it for free.'

'looks like it.'

Scratch.

'so why did you do that and please tell me it wasn't just because it was free.'

'i grew up on a lake. i had all this sun damage.'

'yes, now that you're pushing 40 i'm sure time is catching up with you.'

Scratch.

'should you be scratching it?'

'oh, i don't know but usually when something on my body itches i scratch it.'

'do you have a lot of things that itch on your body, because if so you might want to get that looked at.'

'you're hilarious.' Scratch.

Look over at Satan, Satan scratches.

Look back at therapist, say; 'look, i've wanted to try it, she offered it for free so i did it.'

'ok. well, if you are happy then that's what matters.'

'i am.'

'when do you think the skin will stop falling off?'

Scratch. say; 'she assured me within a week. until then i have to stay out of the sunlight completely.'

'or else you vaporize like a vampire?'

'i don't know if it's that dramatic, but maybe.' Scratch.

'you're making me want to itch.'

'i'm really sorry my pain is making you uncomfortable.'

'i'm really sorry too. so what else is going on with you?'

'er, nothing.'

'that's definately a lie.'

'nope.'

Scratch.

'angela, i've known you long enough to know exactly when you're lying.'

'so.'

'so, who is she?'

Scratch. Stare.

'well?'

'i don't want to jinx it. besides, she reads all my blogs.'

'so?'

'what do you mean so?' Scratch. 'if she reads it then she'll know all the stuff she's not supposed to find out yet.'

'oh that's right, you have these rules.'

'yep.'

'they've worked out so well for you in the past.'

'hey, i like my rules.'

'i know. you like everything you do regardless of if it works or not.'

'you don't think it works?'

'would you like me to go back through my notes and read back to you all the ways it hasn't worked?'

Scratch.

'that's what i thought. drop the rules. be yourself.'

Look over at Satan, Satan shrugs. Look back at therapist, say; 'ok'.

'promise.'

'yes. i promise.'

'good. i'll see you next week. and please don't scratch like that in front of the new donkey.'

'she's not a donkey.'

'hm, that's a good start.'