Page 51 of Beautiful Revenge

“Would I need to share this with you?” she asks, and I shake my head.

“No. The journal would stay private. I just want to see if you can find some sort of pattern in your daily activities that could be triggering these feelings. That being said, while I won’t read it, we can discuss anything you would like that comes out of this exercise,” I explain, softening my voice so she knows how sincere I am.

“I—I think I could do that.” She nods her head. “I thought you were going to tell me to try opening my mind to being intimate more often,” she admits, and I wince.

“Never. While I believe there are steps you and Patrick can both take to get your love life to a place where you’re both comfortable, I would never ask you to force something you don’t feel.”

Her shoulders relax. “Do you think it’s possible for me to get to that point?” she whispers.

“I do. But it won’t happen overnight, and it will take reframing your mind. The current beliefs you have about what sex is supposed to be and how you’re supposed to feel will need to be altered. Your mind is weighed down too much by societal constructs that were engrained in all of us growing up,” I say, standing up when she does.

“Thank you, Dr. Whitmore. You’ve already helped me feel better about everything,” she says, giving me a small smile when she reaches the door to my office and opens it. “I know nothing will happen overnight. That there is no magical cure for how I feel about myself, but I have hope now. That’s something I didn’t have when I walked in here today.”

“I’m glad. We’ll get through this together, Sarah. Every step of the way.”

“For the first time, I actually believe that.”

“Good. Take care of yourself and I will see you next week, alright? Just schedule your appointment with Dylan before you leave.” I wave to my man, shaking her hand before giving him a small nod before moving back into the room to grab my books.

I smile, knowing Sarah was the last patient of the day. Now it’s time to go see my other man and break a sweat with some self-defence work.

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