Page 3 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

Like facing the feelings I'm having about Granny.

I take a deep breath. "All right, you win. I'll go in now, but I'm not promising that I'll go every week."

Rattle seems satisfied by my agreement and makes his way to nestle back in the bun of braids at the top of my head. At least he's out of the way there and isn't proclaiming my status as a gorgon to everyone in sight. Though my glasses probably do that to anyone in the know.

I make my way up the steps and head inside, following the directions from the email I got about the session until I come to a room I swear I didn't know existed. Uncertain what to do, I knock a couple of times and push it open.

Half a dozen people sit in the room, most of them fellow students, but one is older and has a staff lanyard around her neck.

"Welcome," she says. "You must be Rhea."

"How did you know?"

She gives me a friendly smile. "Your student ID profile was attached to your request to join us."

"Oh. Right." I step inside. "Yes, I'm Rhea."

"I'm Bobbi, the councillor. Why don't you take a seat?"

I nod and search the room, spotting one next to a tall dark-haired guy. I make my way over and slip my bag off my shoulder and onto the floor.

"I'm Jack," he says as I get myself settled.

"Rhea," I respond.

"I'd say it's good to meet you, but considering where we are, I'm not sure that's accurate."

I manage a small laugh. "Yeah, fair point. I don't even know if I'm ready to be here."

"I felt that way the first time I came too," he admits. "But Bobbi doesn't make anyone talk if they don't want to. You can just listen."

I nod. "That's...nice? I don't know how to talk about any of this stuff."

"No one does. And I think it is nice. Kind of." He sighs. "It's also all really horrible."

"Yeah, it is that." I look down at my hands.

Bobbi comes over and leans on the desk next to me. "Do you want to introduce yourself to the group, or do you want to stick to a one-on-one conversation?" she asks me.

"Erm..." I look at Jack. I don't know him, but considering he knows how this works better than I do, I kind of like the idea of guidance.

"I was thinking I might prefer a one-on-one today," he says. "If Rhea doesn't mind?"

I nod. "Yes, that maybe?"

Bobbi gives me a reassuring smile. "Of course. It's up to you. The important thing is that you take it at your speed. Let me know if either of you need anything." She gets up and heads over to talk to one of the others.

I stare after her, unsure what just happened. "Does she usually just give up so easily?"

Jack shrugs. "What's she giving up on? She's here to help, sometimes that means monologuing, and sometimes it means talking to one person who might understand what you're going through."

"I guess I thought it was going to be more of an AA thing where everyone has to tell their stories."

"Nah, no one really does that."

"That's oddly reassuring." I sink back into my chair. "What do we do now?"

"Up to you," he replies. "We could talk about who brought you here, or we can talk about what your favourite rock is."