Starting Over

Ch 28

It's been nearly two weeks since Wanda agreed to see a therapist. Wanda anxiously shook her leg as she sat in the waiting room. She glanced around at the brightly color zoo animals painted on the walls, which in itself made her feel extremely childish. Her fingers fiddle with the rings on her finger until Natasha interlaces theirs together. Luna sits quietly on Steve's lap, clutching her small fist around his fingers as Lia plays in the floor with a small set of wooden figurines. Nothing seems to quietly the nerves Wanda's feeling. She's reminded too much of the shield mandated therapist, who made her lose herself too deep inside her head.
"You're sure you don't want me to go with you?" Natasha asks again
"I'm sure." Wanda replies, continuing her stare at her boots.
Her shaking stops when she feels the presence of someone else enter the room.
"Hi, Wanda?" The middle-aged woman asks
"That's me." Wanda replies
"You can follow me, would you like Mom or Dad to join you?" She asks gesturing to the family.
"No, that's okay." Wanda manages a small smile
"We'll have her out in less than an hour." The lady smiles, Wanda is surprised by the comfort that washes over her.
"Thank you." Steve replies, Natasha gives Wanda reassuring smile as the doctor leads Wanda to the room.

Wanda is glad that this room isn't as childish, there are some toys in the corner but the room is painted a soothing blue.
"Have a seat." The woman smiles
"Thanks." Wanda says sitting in the arm chair that looks similar to the one in her room, she can easily curl up in it.
The woman smiles taking the seat across from her.
"I'm Melissa, it's nice to meet you." She introduces herself
"It's nice to meet you." Wanda replies back, fingers playing with a rip in her jeans.
"So tell me a little about yourself, if you don't mind..." Melissa smiles
"Well I'm 16, I'm Sokovian, I moved to America close to a year ago, I was adopted...." Wanda starts
"That's great, Wanda! but tell me about you. What are your hopes,  your dreams? What keeps you awake at night? What's your favorite color? I want to get to know you..."
"I'm not sure I've ever had dreams." Wanda starts
"Do you have nightmares?" Melissa asks. She was straightforward, blunt in a way she reminds Wanda of Natasha. Wanda nods slowly.
"That's nothing to be embarrassed about... everyone has them... even heroes." Melissa adds "what happens in your nightmares?"
"Sometimes I'm trapped in the rubble, or I'm back in a cell, or they're screaming at me how replaceable I am. Or I'm left alone." Wanda replies
"How do you wake up from your nightmares?" She asks intently
"My mom.... Nat, usually is there... comforting me..."
"That's nice, it's clear that they care about you Wanda. How do you calm down after your nightmares?"
"Usually I paint or draw, listen to music." Wanda adds
"What kind of music do you like?" Melissa asks
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you..." Wanda chuckles
"Try me..." Melissa encourages
"1940s jazz" Wanda replies "Usually my dads old vinyls."
"Are you and your dad close?" Melissa asks
"Almost as much as me and my mom." Wanda replies
"Wanda, you mentioned you were adopted. Can you tell me about your birth family?"
"I don't remember much about my mom or dad, they died when I was young. Pietro and I lived on the streets until we were experimented on. He died almost a year ago." Wanda says, face falling
"I'm sorry, I'm sure that's been really hard on you. Your nightmares are about them?"
Wanda nods, "mostly..."
"How do you feel after your nightmares, Wanda?" Melissa asks intently
"I um... I just feel..." Wanda replies, she can't describe the feeling. She watches as Melissa stands from her chair, walking to her desk. She returns with a small book, thin with a black hardback cover and a metal tin, full of pencils.
"Can you show me?" Melissa asks, Wanda glances at the items in her outstretched hands and finally nods reluctantly. Wanda doesn't have time to think her hands bleed her thoughts on to the page quickly, she's filled up 4 pages before she realizes any time has based. She looks up to find Melissa's amused eyes. Wanda clenches and unclenches her hand subconsciously, trying to work out the aching from gripping her pencil for so long. Melissa gives her a smiles before asking her if she is finished. Wanda hands her the book in response. She watches as the older woman analyzes her drawings, she feels self conscious. Melissa jots down notes on a small pad of paper before, handing the book back to her.
"I'd like you to keep this, when you have nightmares write them down here. Then we can try to discuss them when you return. I think we've made some progress today. I'll see you again next week?" Melissa encourages
Wanda nods, confusion mixed with a small smile.
Melissa leads them out of the room and into the waiting room once more.
"So I'll see Wanda here next week?" She asks
Steve and Natasha nod in response.