Toby's vibe sent a chill down my spine as I followed him into his office, trying to talk my anxiety down before it spiraled out of control. "Is everything okay?" Instead of answering, he directed me to sit as he closed the door behind us, which didn't help me feel any better. The silence suffocated me as I waited for him to take the seat in front of me. He wouldn't look me in the eyes... "Toby... you're scaring me... what happened?"
He cleared his throat and finally looked up. "Your client's mom is accusing you of being 'on something' during a session."
My heart skipped a beat then sank into my stomach, sizzling with self-hatred. "W-what? Why does she think that?" Gabe's voice was embedded into my brain, reminding me never to admit to something without evidence, but I was ready to burst into tears, apologizing. I swallowed back a lump in my throat.
"Listen," Toby said, leaning forward and now making fierce eye contact that made me want to squirm away. "This isn't easy..."
My body turned to ice, suddenly wondering if this was a nightmare and trying to find a way to wake myself up....
"You and I both know the truth. And I can't..." he paused and looked away for a second. I'd never seen Toby struggle so much to find words. "I can't allow it to continue. I think you should take a break from being a therapist."
"Is that a request... or a demand?"
