Story #1

Here is one of the novels, or stories, that I am working on writing. This one hasn't come very far. But I thought I'd post up the first section and see what anyone thought of it. Feel free to review it and share feedback (you can post a comment directly on here). I haven't figured out a title for it yet.

This story is coming from my professional angle: it's a story about a therapist whose client divulges a shocking secret which threatens to destroy the therapist's own personal life--but what can she do about it, without betraying her ethical code of confidentiality to her client?


I looked at the clock. My last patient of the day was probably sitting out in the waiting room. I got up from behind my desk and went out to look.
Sandra was indeed sitting in one of the plush chairs I had chosen to adorn my waiting room, reading this month’s Cosmopolitan. She looked up as I came out and greeted me with a warm smile. “Hey, Doc. Are you ready for me?” She set the magazine down and stood up to follow me.
Sandra was an attractive blond in her mid 30’s, the kind of woman with legs that seem to go on forever and always looked smooth and freshly waxed. I had been seeing her now for seven months. I had found it easy to like and bond with her, despite my typical presumptions about blonds with long legs, big breasts, and lots of make-up. I noticed that Sandra seemed brighter than her usual state over the past few months; she almost had a glow about her. She also had changed from her typical outfit of sweats and sneakers into a cute pink gingham sundress and strappy sandals.
She had come in to see me after the break up of her marriage. She had been devastated by her husband’s infidelity. Sandra hadn’t a clue that her seemingly loving husband was fooling around on her for almost a year with one of her best friends.
“How are you today, Dr. Leighton?” I always hated to be asked that question by my patients. Granted, the question can be just a formality, like saying “hi,” but really, how did my patients expect me to answer? I pretty much had to say “good.” I mean, imagine their shock if I would reply with something like, “Well, my husband and I haven’t had sex in two months and I just saw a couple in here who thinks their marriage is going to end because the wife just doesn’t feel like dressing up like a French Maid anymore and if that’s a problem then whoah! Let me tell you about some of mine!”
Sandra took her usual place on the end of the couch and curled up seductively.
“I’ve been looking forward to coming in here today, Doc. I mean, even more than usual. I have something really exciting to tell you.” Sandra’s chipper state was really a change from her usual one of constant tears and sulking. I wondered what had happened. I was about to ask when Sandra continued.
“I met someone.” She gave me a huge smile and waited for my response.
“You met someone?” I was surprised. Though making progress in therapy, Sandra was still at the point where she claimed she would loathe and avoid men forever more. I had judged her to be nowhere near ready for a new relationship, and was even more stunned that she had been looking for one.
“Yeah. Oh my God, he’s just great. Everything that Clark was not.” She leaned back into the couch, closed her eyes and smiled a dreamy “I’m so in love” kind of smile.
Now I was even more flabbergasted. She had just met someone, and already knew enough about him to make a statement such as this? Both my personal and professional mind were skeptical.
“Tell me about it.” Instead of sharing any of my presumptuous thoughts in the form of some subtle clinical question, I thought I’d let her explain.