Aladdin's Revenge

Here we go.

Rachel, (gasps) you made it.

Well, the others are in here, so follow me.

Hello.

Rachel, this is Nora and Leo.

Guys, this is Rachel,

our number three for the weekend.

You can take a seat and we will begin.

Well, first I would just like to say

that I would like us all to remember

that the next few days are about letting yourselves heal.

About allowing ourselves to first accept

and then move onward from the trauma.

So, who would like to start?

Leo, you were talking earlier about how

you'd like to open up and share.

Alright, I'll go first (clears throat).

Do you ever hear tires scream?

Hm?

I mean, really hear them.

They sound like an animal howling, just before it dies.

That's what I heard.

That sound of plastic

And metal twisting like bones under someone's boot

in the face.

Just a blur behind the wheel

and then it was gone.

They didn't even slow down.

Not a brake light, not a glance back.

Like my brother's life was just roadkill on the way

to wherever they thought they needed to be.

I held him, right there in the street,

blood soaking into my hands

onto my jeans,

eyes looking up at me like he was trying

to ask, is everything going to be okay?

I lied.

And how does that make you feel, to lie?

Like swallowing glass with a smile.

Your story and your pain is something we are going

to process and recover from together.

So how about you?

Would you like to share next?

Gimme that.

Nope.

It's okay.

But understand that in the future,

we will ask you to open up, yeah?

Okay.

Nora, what would you like to share?

Clear skies,

calm waters,

textbook conditions, really.

We checked our gear twice.

Cracked jokes on the boat like always.

I watched him disappear

beneath the surface.

His fins, they're slicing through the water.

There's no signal,

no movement,

nothing.

Just silence

pressing in from every side.

I dove in after him.

I tried, I tried to bring him up.

I did. I tried.

The ocean doesn't give back what it takes.

And how does that memory force you to feel?

Like a part of me is still down there with him

waiting for him to blink.

Therapy is not a magic cure that heals us,

but it helps us to heal ourselves.

How?

I mean how?

What do you mean?

I mean, I've done this a couple times now.

Hasn't worked yet.

She's right.

I've tried counseling too.

Nothing stuck.

So again, how?

By saying things out loud for the first time.

By being challenged to not stay comfortable.

Really?

That's the trick, is it?

Therapy works well when a patient feels seen,

maybe even sometimes for the first time in long time.

Okay.

No offense, but took me half a day

and three flights to get here.

So if it's okay with you, I'm just gonna go upstairs

and pick up room, take a shower

and maybe we'll try this again later.

Of course.

Just pick whatever room is available and it is yours.

What was that about yesterday?

I have no idea.

Like, she didn't seem happy.

- No. - At all.

- Yesterday. - I have no idea.

I dunno, but

It doesn't look good.

I No, it doesn't.

When you're here to share

and then she doesn't wanna share.

Good morning.

Morning.

Here.

- Thanks. - Welcome.

How come you didn't wanna share anything yesterday?

Wow.

Really, Leo?

Two minutes into breakfast.

Just asking.

It's an honest question.

A lot of people like listening

to other people talk about their personal shit.

Um, well.

I,

It's not that I don't wanna share.

It's just difficult for me to talk about, is all.

Especially with people I don't know yet.

Strangers.

Exactly.

Right, it is all good.

Leo is just a dick.

Whenever you're ready, you're ready.

There's no shot clock for this kind of thing.