"You're fucking impossible," Katie grunted, turning her key into the ignition of her car, annoyance evident in her every movement.
"I just didn't like her," Azure mumbled, earning a sarcastic laugh from the Irish next to her.
"It's the fifth therapist I find for you! Why do I even bother? You never like anyone!" Katie exclaimed, frustration dripping from her words as she started the engine, the car roaring to life.
"I told you therapy wouldn't work for me, Katie. It never did." Azure replied, her voice tinged with resignation as she stared out the window, watching the passing scenery with a sense of detachment.
Katie shook her head in exasperation, her grip tight on the steering wheel as she navigated through the busy streets of the city. "That's because you never give it a chance," she retorted, her voice sharp with frustration. "You always find some excuse to avoid confronting your issues, to avoid facing the truth."
Azure remained silent, her thoughts swirling in her mind as she wrestled with the familiar feelings of guilt and shame that always seemed to accompany these conversations. She knew Katie was right, knew that she needed help, but the thought of opening up to a stranger, of delving into the depths of her own psyche, filled her with a sense of dread that she couldn't shake.
"I just don't understand why you're so resistant to therapy," Katie muttered, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of sadness. "It's not like it's some kind of punishment. It's meant to help you, to give you the tools you need to cope with your feelings."
Azure sighed heavily, her gaze fixed on the passing buildings outside the window. "Well you wouldn't be too cooperative either if you went to therapy would you? You have anger issues as big as mine."
Katie's grip on the steering wheel tightened at Azure's words, a flicker of frustration flashing across her features before she took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Maybe not," she admitted reluctantly, her voice tinged with self-awareness. "But I know when I need help, Aze. I know when I can't do it on my own anymore. And I'm not afraid to ask for it."
"I told you I needed help, didn't I? But I also told you therapy wouldn't work. You didn't listen. I don't need therapy, okay?" Azure replied, her voice slightly raised.
"Then what the fuck do you need?" Katie snapped, her frustration boiling over as she turned to face Azure, her eyes ablaze with intensity.
"I don't fucking know, Katie!" Azure cried out, her own frustration bubbling to the surface as she met Katie's gaze with a mixture of anger and despair. "I don't know what I need, okay? I'm lost, Katie. I'm lost and I'm scared and I don't know how to fix it."
Katie didn't answer, her gaze focused on the road ahead, her thoughts a clear mess she tried to sort through. The tension between them hung heavy in the air, suffocating in its intensity as they drove on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions.
As they reached their destination, Katie parked the car and turned off the engine, the sudden stillness jarring after the heated exchange.
"How about rehab?" Katie suggested, her voice low, as if scared the simple thought would anger Azure.
The taller girl seemed to think for a few seconds, her eyes clearly avoiding Katie's. "Rehab would mean taking a break from football."
Katie nodded, understanding the weight of Azure's words. "Yeah, I know," she replied softly, her tone gentle yet firm. "But maybe taking a break wouldn't be the worst thing for you right now. Maybe it's what you need to focus on yourself, to get the help you deserve."
Azure sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her internal struggle. "I just... I don't want to let everyone down," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to disappoint the team, or my family, or... or you."
