Tick-tock, tick-tock.

The antique analog clock on the wall had Georgina’s full attention, her gaze unwavering. The room was filled with rhythmic ticking, accompanied by the gentle scribbling of a pen on paper. The seconds ticked away slowly, each one feeling like an eternity as she waited for her release. With only ten minutes left, she could practically taste the freedom that awaited her.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

“Georgina.”

Georgina tore her gaze away from the clock and focused on the woman who was sitting behind the desk across from her. She was pale and had short ash blond hair. The woman patiently waited until she felt she had Georgina’s attention, staring at her with intense brown eyes.

“Yes,” Georgina responded simply.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

“Before our time is over, is there anything else you would like to discuss?”

Georgina tried to keep a straight face. What more did they have to discuss? She knew everything about her and what had occurred in her life in the past two years.

She shook her head, and despite her inner feelings, she managed to muster a smile that was strained but convincing.

“No. I believe I can move on now. I want to focus on finishing college and helping my dad.”

Diane Schultz, her therapist, looked at her kindly and smiled. But her smile wasn’t one of joy. It appeared more sympathetic with a glimmer of understanding and compassion. Or was it pity? Georgina could not tell.

“I understand your desire to move on, it can be hard trying to comb through all the emotions you have been feeling. But the amount of trauma and loss you experienced can take time and hard work to move on from.”

Georgina frowned. The forced smile felt heavy on her face, and she knew she couldn’t keep it up any longer. “Don’t you think that an entire year of therapy is enough in terms of time and effort?”

Diane sat up straight and stopped writing. “I think a year is a substantial amount of time to work on oneself. But some people need more time.” She shifted in her seat. Georgina could tell that she was trying to choose her words carefully. “Your father has asked if I would be willing to schedule you for additional sessions. I told him I would be more than happy to do that if that was something you were comfortable with. Besides, you have things you still need to work through. The last time we spoke you told me that you were still having strange dreams.”

“I don’t want any more sessions.”

Diane stared at Georgina; her expression was now unreadable.

“It has been a little over a year since I started seeing you. I think that’s more than enough. Besides, I know my triggers now and I accept everything that has happened.”

Diane nodded and once again started jotting down notes on her notepad in front of her.

“So, what are your plans for the immediate future?”

Georgina quietly exhaled, happy that the subject had shifted. She looked out of the window and could see the sun shining brightly. Instead of being in this office, she yearned for the warmth of the sun and the freedom of being outside.

“I plan to continue working at my dad’s coffee shop and I want to focus on school.”

“Those are good, obtainable goals,” Diane replied as she continued to write. “Tomorrow is your last day of class, right?”

“Yes.”

“Are those your only plans for this summer?”

Georgina shrugged. “To be honest, I haven’t given much thought to what else I want to do. Other than class and working with my dad, Leilah and I are planning a party for next weekend at Lake Abeze.”

Diane smiled. “I see. Have you considered going on a trip? Maybe getting out of Peri Grove for a week or so would be good for you.”

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Georgina hadn’t considered a trip, but it didn’t seem like a bad idea. “I’ll think about it. A trip sounds nice.”

The sound of the alarm pierced the room. Signifying the end of her session. Georgina stood up and stretched her arms before picking up her purse.

“Thank you for everything, Diane.” She smiled at the woman. She was grateful for everything, but she was ready to move on.

                                             ***********************

Instead of going home after her session, she decided to drive to the lake. Lake Abeze provided her with the peacefulness she yearned for. She always felt that being there had a greater impact on her well-being than therapy did. Every time she visited that place, her mind would become clear, allowing her to gain clarity and work through whatever issue she was dealing with at that time. She did not know if it was the soothing sound of the water or the peacefulness of the wooded area. That place had become her sanctuary since her life had turned upside down.

As she came to a stop at a red light, she reached for her phone and opened the park’s app. There was a specific area allocated for lap swimmers at certain times throughout the day. The park advisors updated the app twice daily to keep potential swimmers informed about the water temperature. It also provided the specific timeframes for the availability of the space.

Georgina was happy to see that she could enjoy a nice swim for an hour. Luckily, she had an extra swimsuit in her trunk, so she didn’t need to go back home and get one.

As the light turned green, she quickly placed her phone on the passenger seat and resumed driving. As she drove in silence, the weight of her thoughts grew heavier with each passing moment. Tomorrow marked the end of her junior year in college, and she couldn’t believe how quickly time had flown by. Most days had blurred together, but a few stood out, bringing a much-needed lift to her spirits.

The trees outside her car danced by in a blur of green as she realized she was nearing the park.

Despite her excitement for summer break and the anticipation of spending more time with her cousin Leilah, she acknowledged the importance of staying preoccupied. She couldn’t allow herself to have much downtime or her thoughts would overwhelm her. That is why she had decided to spend the entire summer working alongside her father.

She slowed down as she approached the entrance to Bethel Park at Lake Abeze. She rolled down her window and caught the scent of freshly cut grass and pine trees. It felt and smelled like summer, and it caused her mood to elevate. She pulled up to the gate and exchanged her payment for a parking pass, then continued past the gate as it lifted.

It was still morning, and the park was devoid of the usual crowds. However, by noon, she knew that the place would be teeming with families and children, all eager to enjoy the cool waters that would give them a release from the heat.

She parked her car as close to the lake as she could and opened her door. It was hard to explain, but a calmness washed over her. As she closed her eyes, the wind greeted her with a gentle breeze that tousled her long, brown, curly hair. The sound of the crashing waves from the lake filled her ears as she took in the scent of the water. Her body relaxed, and she felt a wave of gratitude wash over her - this was the feeling she yearned for, a sense of peace and contentment that could only be found in this place. She didn’t quite comprehend it, but the pull to come here had become an obsession. Being here was one of the few things that lifted her spirits.

After getting out of her car, she walked to the trunk and retrieved her swimsuit and tote bag. As she made her way to the bathroom, she noticed one of the lifeguards looking her way, he was tanned with long black hair. She had never seen him before and assumed he was new. She gave him a polite smile before looking away.

When she entered the bathroom, she was delighted to discover that it wasn’t crowded. Making her way into the dressing area, she swiftly changed into her swimsuit. Just as she was about to head towards the locker area, her phone started ringing.

She considered ignoring the call, but when she looked at the screen, she saw her father’s photo and decided to answer.

She could hear a mixture of chatter and the clinking of glasses in his background. He was at the coffee shop.

“Hi, dad.”

 “Hi honey,” her father responded right away.

Georgina took a seat on a bench that was close by. Deep down, she sensed that this conversation was going to be much longer than anticipated.

“How did everything go today?”

“Everything went pretty well.” Georgina began to tap her foot rapidly. She didn’t want to have this conversation.

“That’s good to hear.” There was a brief moment of silence from her father, followed by the sound of a soft sigh. “I know that you decided to not have any more sessions. While I fully support your decision, I can’t help but be concerned.”

Georgina understood the reasons behind his concern, and she was aware that no matter what she said, he wouldn’t feel entirely at ease with her decision. Despite his concerns, she was adamant about proving to him that he no longer had anything to worry about.

“Dad, I understand that you’re worried, but I’m better. I don’t think another year talking to Dr. Schultz is going to make things any better than they are now.”

“I understand that honey, but...”

“I will be okay,” Georgina said, cutting him off. “I know I screwed up and wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t want to hurt you anymore, so I won’t do that again.”

Her father was silent, and she waited for him to speak again.

“I don’t know what I would do if I lost you, too.” He finally said.

“I know, Dad. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Her father sighed softly on the other end. She could sense that he seemed satisfied with her answer.

“I’m cooking dinner tonight. Do you want to stop by?”

“Sure, I can stop by. Right now, I’m at Lake Abeze. I’m going to swim a few laps before heading home to shower and change.”

“Okay honey, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Talk to you later, dad.”