Writing Prompt: Character Description

This is the first time I've done a writing prompt. Since I was struggling yesterday with getting movement on Not Broken, this proved to be a nice distraction.
In Not Broken, we see some of the sessions Calida has with Dr. Carr. This scenario would have taken place early in their doctor-patient appointments.

**Not part of either Fiendish or Not Broken**

2017

Sessions

By: Meka James

Dr. Carr put her notebook on the small side table. She pushed her purple rimmed glasses up on her nose and gave me a warm smile. “Tell me about the Seth you fell in love with.”

Her question caught me by surprise. Why would she ask that? How was thinking about the good times supposed to help me? I got up from my chair, walking over to stare out of the window.

“He was the stuff dreams were made of,” I said quietly. “It wasn’t just his looks; it was how he presented himself. It was the little things like opening my car door. He made a point of doing it every time I got in or out of the car. No one had ever done that for me before.” I smiled recalling the memory of the first time he’d done it, how chivalrous it was.

“What else?”

This wasn’t right. I shouldn’t be recalling fond memories, yet here I was, reminiscing about the good times.

“He was attentive. When I spoke he paid attention. He cared about what I had to say, about my interests. When he looked at me, I felt desirable. He had the best smile. He was serious a lot, so anytime I could make him smile I took it as a little victory. Seems so stupid now.”

“It’s not stupid. People want to make their partners happy. You’re no different.”

I didn’t bother disagreeing with her, we both knew my need to make my partner happy went above the average person. It’s how I ended up in this mess to begin with. Always the people pleaser.

“Is that all?”

I shook my head. There were a lot of reasons I fell in love with Seth. Thinking about them all now hurt knowing how it all went so wrong. “He was great at playing the piano. He’d told me he’d not let anyone hear him play since his mother died. I was honored he’d let me into his world like that. It was so moving to watch him get so lost in the music. I think I fell in love with him the very first time I watched him play. I just didn’t realize it at the time.” I turned to look at Dr. Carr. “Why are you making me do this?”

“I’m not making you do anything. If you didn’t want to answer the question, you didn’t have to. But if you want to know why I asked, it was to help get your head out of the dark place you stay in.”

“Yes he was great, everything I ever thought I wanted in a man, but it was all a lie! What I thought was a chivalrous act, him opening the doors for me, was just his first step of control. Not letting me leave the car until he was ready for me to go. The way he listened to me talk, was him gathering intel to use against me later. He took my hopes, my dreams, my fears, and would turn them against me, twisting and contorting everything I said to fit his purpose. That smile that I at one time adored, turned sinister when he proudly revealed to me his true self and it haunts me in my dreams. And his hands. Those hands that moved beautifully over the ivory keys of his piano. The hands that would hold and caress me at night, were stained in the blood of god knows how many victims! One of them being my best friend. A person I could have lost because of all those good memories you want me to rehash. My life is dark Dr. Carr. For every good memory I have of Seth I have ten more bad. Recalling the good times only makes it hurt worse.”

I returned to my seat, staring directly at Dr. Carr, challenging her to refute any of what I’d just said. She didn’t. She picked up her notebook and pen and began to write. Pen scratching against paper, I hated that sound.