Smile

12. February 24th

It was the last Wednesday of the month, the day that I dreaded the most since I arrived in Chicago. Ever since the big incident in France I was forced to go to a therapist. Yet she wasn’t just any therapist. She was the most exasperating, nosey, but the best therapist in Chicago. Maybe it was the fact that she makes me talk about the topics I rather avoid made her nosey and exasperating.

As I got off the metro in Chicago I quickly made my way to her office. It was in some high-raise full of serious, important looking people. Instantly I felt out of place in the elevator waiting for the elevator doors to open on the 19th floor. Realizing that I was getting off number 19 the same number as Jon I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Hello, Ara. Anything new with you lately.” Dr. Laura asked with that perky ‘I’m Barbie fake smile’ look she always had.

“Not that I can think of.” I said playing with the hem of my sleeves.

“So are we just going to sit here for an hour in silence?” She asked again, yet again I was surprised she keeps asking the same damn question because my answer was always the. nothing

“I have a boyfriend.” I said meekly still playing with the hem of my sleeves.

“That’s excellent! How did you met him?” Dr. Laura asked sitting up in her chair looking perky.

“We met at an Art Gallery.” I replied knowing that Dr. Laura was going to go deeper into this topic than needed.

“An art gallery? Oh my, this shows that you guys have the same interest! This is a wonderful start, indeed. Describe him.” She said clapping her hands. I couldn’t believe this women sometimes.

“I guess it does. Describe him?” I asked confused, what the hell did this women want me to say.

“Well, what are his aspirations, is he your age, does he go to college, what is his job, you know basic things like that.” She said grabbing her clipboard and pen.

“His aspiration is to win the Olympic Gold Medal and Stanley Cup, he went to a college in North Dakota for two years. He is a professional hockey player and lives in Chicago.” I said watching Dr. Laura write all of these things down and maybe some other things.

“A hockey player? Are you sure you’re ready for this kind of relationship? Not to bad mouth this guy but hockey guys are the hardest professional athlete to date because they travel so much.” She replied writing while talking to me with concern in her eyes.

“Well we just started to go out so I guess time will tell.” I said losing interest in telling her about Jonathan.

“Have you told you about your past?” She asked peering at me over her glasses.

“No, who would want to date someone broken?” I asked a little rude to her but I mean she’s pushing it a bit.

“Actually, you’ll be surprised at how understanding people can be.” She said jotting something down in her note pad.

“I thought my ex-boyfriend was like that, look what happened there.” I scoffed at her. I was over this whole stupid therapy session.

“Looks like our hour is about up, but before you go Ara. I just want to tell you that by holding all of this in, isn’t health.” Dr. Laura said taking off her glasses looking at me as I inched towards the door.

“If I can survive what happened in France, I can survive anything. See you next month.” I said opening and closing that door so quick I couldn’t even hear her say bye.

The same thing happens every month in the idiotic office. Dr. Laura would ask invasive questions, I get mad and then leave or we would just sit there for a whole hour in silence. She knew what happened so I just don’t understand why she wants me to tell her. Well I don’t even know why I have to go to her in the first place.

Walking back in my apartment I was grateful that Sam had always full day classes every Wednesday. That meant I had the apartment to myself and I wouldn’t have to answer him to where I went. Therapy sessions with Dr. Laura is a kept secret from everyone I knew in Chicago.

To get my mind off of my therapy session I grabbed my laptop and went to NBC’s 2010 Olympic page. Canada just had a game last night when they played Russia, and Canada ended up with the win. So far Canada lost a shocking game to America, after that game Jon was really upset especially since he hasn’t scored in any games yet. They had replays of the four previous games that Canada played online.

I decided to go and change into comfortable close before calling Jon. The conversations that Jon and I had everyday lasted for hours at a time. Sometimes he’ll fall asleep on me since he was so tired from practice and playing. I changed into a pair of sweats and a thin long sleeve. I got a blanket and my pillow getting more comfy before calling Jon.

“Ello, Jon.” I said stretching out on the couch and muting my computer.

“Hey Ara, what did you do so far today?” He asked and for the first time I’ve heard complete silence from his end. Most of the time the t.v’s on Friends and some guy laughing.

“Nothing just stayed in my apartment all day. And for the first time that guy isn’t laughing at Friends.” I said giggling. Well actually the laugh from the guy sounded more like a giggle than a real laugh.

“Sidney? His friend Colby Armstrong came in today so they went to go meet up.” He replied with a chuckle.

“Aww, so you’re alone. Why don’t you go and see your boyfriend, Kaner?” I asked snickering at the groan that Jon replied with.

“So I should hang up the phone and go hang out with the enemy?” He asked playing along a little.

“Well I’ll be in Canada on Friday.” I said getting up to double check my tickets that I’m supposed to leave on friday.

“Before or after the Solvakia game? The game starts about 5:30 Vancouver time.” He asked. Looking at my ticket I realized that my plane leaves at 1:15 and it would take me about 3 and a half hours to get there.

“My plane departs at one fifteen and lands at four forty-five.” I said knowing that I only had a ticket to the final game.

“Mhm, how are we going to do this? What hotel are you staying at?” Jonathan asked.

“There isn’t anything in here saying about a hotel, so I called the Four Seasons and got a bedroom.” I said bringing up the Four Season’s website with a conformation of my hotel room.

“Four Seasons?! How did you get a room so late?” Jon asked totally taken back from the fact that I’m staying at the Four Seasons let alone got a room.

“My grandfather and Issy are good friends, so I had some strings pulled.” I replied. Issy is the founder of the Four Seasons hotel and because him and my grandfather are good friends he can pull some strings.

“You know Issy? Aren’t you full of surprises, what’s next are you going to tell me you know how to speed skate?” Jon asked laughing and I just got quiet.

“My mom is from the Netherlands, during the winter we went to the Netherlands. That’s pretty much their national sport, so I learned how to speed skate.” I said imagining Jon’s shocked face.

“I definitely didn’t see that one coming. But do you want to watch the Slovakia game?” Jon asked. Truthfully I didn’t want to see the Slovakia game. I wanted to see a Canada and U.S.A game.

“Not, really.” I said hoping Jon wouldn’t be to mad that I didn’t want to see this game.

“Really? Okay, good because I don’t have an extra ticket.” Jon said sighing with relief.

From then on Jon’s and I conversation went all over the place. We talked about so many different things that we were on the phone for about 4 hours. Brent came somewhat in the middle of our conversation so I was talking to him for a bit. We both decided to hang up when Sam came to the apartment baring Chinese Food.

Dinner with Sam was pretty much the same. Sitting in front of our crappy television and talking about our day. Sam was half way done with his collection that he needed to present in May. It was going to be his final grade and he is stressing. Since not only is the final due in May but they still have other outfits to do. Photography is getting a little stressful. For my mid-term I need a picture that represents me or represents what I stand for.

Just as I was getting ready for bed my phone started to ring on my desk. I walked over to it and saw that my grandma was calling me.

“Salut mémé” Hello, grandma I said picking my phone after it two rings.

“Comment était la thérapie?” How was therapy My grandma asked me getting straight to the topic.

“Même, comme toujours.” Same as always I replied nonchalantly.

“Arabella, vous avez besoin pour commencer plus d’efforts dans ce!” Arabella you need to start putting more effort into this My grandma replied getting mad at me over my nonchalantly attitude.

“J’essaie mémé, croyez moi. Dr. Laura est juste fou.” I try grandma, trust me. Dr. Laura is just crazy I said trying to get my grandma off my case.

“Comment peut-elle etre fou quand elle est le milleuur thérapute?” How can she be crazy when she’s the best therapist My grandma said not buying the fact that I call Dr. Laura crazy.

“Je ne sais pas.” I don’t know I mumbled to her

“Eh bien, je ne sais pas quoi dire á ce Ara.” Well I don’t know what to say to that Ara She said sighing and I knew she put her hand over her face because thats what she does when she got stressed
My eyes started to droop from how tired I was.

“Je dois aller mémé, je vais vous rappele plus tard.” I have to go grandma, I’ll call you back later I told my grandma picking up my phone charger cord since it fell when I was talking to my grandma.

“Trés bien, Je t’aime Ara. Rendez vous dans un mois.” Okay, I love you Ara. See you in a month My grandma said

“Je t’aime á mémé, pépé et de dire et Martin je les aime trop.” Love you to grandma, and tell grandpa and Martin I love them too.

As soon as I hung up my phone and went to bed I couldn’t fall asleep. All of the memories from France flooded my mind, which is one of the reasons why I hate calling home. Once the tears started to fall they never stopped. So again for the billionth time since 3 years ago, I cried myself to sleep.