~Welcome To My World~

"Dolores!" It was a sharp shout from below her room.

That was all it took to get the slumbering princess out of bed and into her bathroom for a bath. Dolores opened her eyes to gaze at her face in the mirror and wasn't so surprised to meet the puffiness around her blue eyes.  She was preparing for a pop quiz last night, when she went into an asthmatic fit, almost passing out if she hadn't immediately reached for her inhaler lying miraculously on her reading desk. She fell asleep in the middle of crying her eyes out.

Not wanting burdening questions from her Dad, she made sure to wash her face real good before taking her bath.

She got out a while later with a white towel wrapped around her hair and another wrapped around her chest as she padded her way across the room into her closet. She laid out the outfit she chose on the bed before moving to the vanity to apply her routinely face care kit.

The door opened and Adelina's head popped in with her gaze landing straight on Dolores whose back didn't turn to observe the intruder.

"Thank you for waking me up on time, Adelina. You are the bestest friend anyone could ask for." Her tone was enriched in the fullness of sarcasm which Adelina didn't fail to miss.

"I'm sorry. I knew I promised yesterday that I was gonna come early and wake you up but I went to bed late and couldn't wake until Noona did. Please forgive me." She wrapped her hands around her friend who simply rolled her eyes.

Shrugging her off, Dolores turned fully to face her. "Why did you sleep in late when you're aware we were going today?"

Adelina avoided her icy gaze immediately the question proceeded from her mouth. Was she going to tell her that she spent the entire night talking to Grayson on the phone?

"I was...working assignments. You know how hectic it has been in school."

Dolores' eyes squinted hard as if to decipher if she was telling the truth or not. She gave up moments after with a sigh that resounded in the room. "I'm nervous."

Adelina took a seat on the bed next to where Dolores sat. "Of course, you ought to be but you can't back down now. We have procrastinated the appointment for too long. We could have gone last week but you said you weren't ready and now we already promised your Dad today to visit the therapist."

"I know, I know. I just don't want things to go south as they did the first time I talked to someone who wasn't Dad or you about my dreams." She chewed on her bottom lip in worry, something she imitated from her Mom.

"Look at me Dolores." Blue eyes reluctantly raised up to meet her green ones. "It's why I am here to accompany you. If she does anything funny, I would show her a bit of my fist."

At that, Dolores bent over in laughter. "You realize she would have you thrown in a rehab before you know it, right?"

"I absolutely one hundred percent know that but it would be worth it if she makes you uncomfortable."

A soft smile filled out on her worried face. "One of the major reasons why I love you to heaven and back."

Adelina tossed her hand dismissively with her eyes never leaving the outfit on the bed. "Of course I know that but tell me that isn't what you intend to wear to the therapist. You're not about to leave this house looking like a bimbo from the seventies." She dragged the clothes off the bed as she walked to the closet. "Not on my watch."

°•°•°•°•°

They finally pulled up in her father's car at a big office stretching high into the sky with windows too numerous to count and they alighted, Dolores, Adelina and her father. The crippling anxiety which Dolores was battling with hindered her from acknowledging the splendid appearance of the skyscraper before her. Over and over again, she wiped her palms, which had gone sticky with sweat despite the air conditioning in the car, on the navy blue plaid pants that Adelina had picked out for her.

As they proceeded to the entrance, nervousness caused her to repeatedly tuck in the already tucked in white chiffon blouse. A gentle hand swallowed her trembling one and she whipped her head to the side to catch the warm smile Adelina was sending her way. She proceeded to whisper in her ears.

"You're going to be fine."

With a firm nod of her head, Dolores nodded then proceeded to silence the thoughts threatening to drown her in self pity. As they got into the building, they were immediately directed into the eleventh floor where they would meet the renowned therapist.

A pretty looking lady sat in front of a computer at the reception with thick framed glasses settled on the bridge of her nose. She was typing away but when she raised her to acknowledge the visitors, Dolores thought there was a semblance of her in the lady but she later realized that it was only because of the glasses she wore.

The receptionist who looked to be in her late twenties, stood up from her chair with an intimidatingly impressive smile gracing her wide mouth. "You must be Mr Damian Huerta and Miss Dolores Huerta, you're welcome. I'll let her know you have arrived already."

She walked back to the landline phone sitting on her desk. She punched three buttons on it, then pressed the phone against her ear. "They're here, ma'am." She nodded as if the receiver was presently in the office. "I'll do just that ma'am."

Returning the phone back to it's place, she turned to them once more with a cheery expression. "Please have a seat as you wait for a few seconds. Doctor Turner would be out in no time to see you." With that said, she resumed her position behind the desk arranged adjacent the brown door which had the name of the therapist inscribed in it.

While they sat, Dolores' eyes skimmed in silent observation, the manner in which the tiles were patterned and the serene calmness that emanated from the scenery in the office. The earthly hues of the color of the ornamental flowers around, the natural scents that floated into her nostrils and the warm colors splish-splashed on the wall didn't fail to deliver it's assignment as it reminded one of happy, sunny days. For a moment, Dolores felt her dampened spirits rise until the door opened slamming her back to earth again.

A couple stepped out biding the receptionist farewell as a middle aged, dark haired woman followed from behind them with scrunched up eyebrows. "Don't forget your next appointment." She called after them.

Her worried expression quickly switched to one of glee when she caught sight of Dolores and her father settled on the rather expensive looking couch. "It's good to see you again, Damian and you must be Dolores. Come on in."

Ushering them in, she gave strict orders to the secretary not to let anyone else in as she needed to be at a meeting immediately she was done. She closed the door behind her before turning back to her clients who were already seated in the chairs and waiting for her.

The woman strode across the room where she settled down on the dark brown leather chair behind her desk. Fingers interlocked, she gave an endearing smile to Dolores who recoiled instantly.

"Welcome to my world, Damian. How have you been? Hope the nightmares aren't reoccurring anymore?"

Dolores' spun her head sharply to regard her father and a tiny pang of betrayal thrummed within her. How come he was also battling with nightmares and never bothered to talk to her about it?

The addressed flashed a smile as he replied, "I've been good and thanks to your prescription I sleep soundly these days. I'm here because of who we discussed last week, my daughter, Dolores."

Hearing her name, she brought her attention back to the ever smiling woman. She watched the woman's fingers reach out in a bid to touch hers but she hastily dragged her hands off the table where it was initially placed, dropping them on her thighs.

That didn't deter the woman. Instead, she smiled brighter than before with her gaze pinned solely on Dolores averted face. "Dear Damian, you would have to step outside so your daughter and I can have a heart to heart conversation." Her gaze left Dolores and fell upon her friend. "That includes you too, honey."

Dolores whipped her head to look at Adelina who didn't even look one bit pleased at the woman's words. Her green eyes sparked with anger as she protested. "I can't--" She was stopped by Damian's hand on her arm.

"Oh alright. I'll be outside, Dolores. Just tell her what she needs to know." She leaned to enfold her in a tight embrace before reluctantly releasing her. Her eyes squinted hard at the woman whose face was still smiling before Damian pulled her out along with him.

As the door clicked shut, Dolores turned to the woman trying hard to maintain her composure before she would be looked upon as fragile and weak.

The therapist waved with the same cheery expression.

"My name is Evelyn Turner but feel free to call me Mrs Evelyn instead of the old fashioned Mrs Turner like your old man calls me." She paused to observe the girl in front of her but she didn't appear to be interested in the joke she was making nor delighted about visiting her office. Her face remained impassive.

Undeterred, she continued, "If you don't want to go too deep into things, I want to just listen to you before I ask a few questions. First of, how are you doing?"

Dolores rolled her eyes as she thought to herself in weariness.

'Here we go.'

~~~{•}~~~

I just resumed school guys and I don't think the updates will be as quick as the previous ones but I'll make sure to drop at least three to four updates in a week. How does that sound?

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~~Tequila~~