One Step at a Time

ARYA'S POV The makeshift office was warm and comfortable. Dad didn't want me to leave the estate so he arranged a space in the guest house for me and the therapist to do our sessions. Dr. Elena Rossi sat across from me with a notepad resting on her knee. "How have you been sleeping this week?" she asked. I picked at a loose thread on my sleeve. "The medication is helping. I only had nightmares twice instead of every night." "That's good progress." She made a note while nodding her head. "And during the day? The dissociative episodes?" I sighed and leaned against the plush couch. “I caught myself zoning out yesterday, but I was able to pull myself back." "That's significant improvement, Arya.” She was smiling brightly now, “you should be proud of yourself." I didn't feel proud. I felt numb but at least I wasn't constantly reliving my trauma. "I know you're concerned about the medication," Dr. Rossi continued, as if reading my mind. "That you don't want to become dependent on it." My