Sienna Galeon

When I was seven years old I once had a rabbit named Edgar Weenie, he was white and had red eyes with big ears. I begged Papa and Mama to buy him when we were in Italy. We visit there for vacations on summers and sometimes spring. When they reluctantly bought him for me. I took him everywhere with me and because I loved him instantly. I was an only child and my parents never spent much time with me, so he was my best friend. But being raised by Greta and sometimes Leo balanced it out too.

One night Edgar got out of his cage and must have hopped away out of my room.

I got up, sleepy as ever and went to search for him when it was in the middle of the night. Papa had always chastised me for not being in bed by eight. But I remember specifically what encountered that night.

Or what I thought I saw.

My tiny feet made it to the door of Papa's office where he forbade me to be in many times. So many men and women go in and out that door. I didn't understand at the time that it was a den for important business meetings.

Peeking my head through the cracks of the door, I see my Papa standing by the fireplace. His back was to me and the flames darkened his features. For some reason I remember feeling eery and scared at that moment. Because something was off--very off.

Until I see another figure walk by from the corner to stand in front of my father.

They spoke in italian, "you've got alot of nerve showing up here, Devon."

"Have you spoken with her yet?" The man asks Papa.

Papa puffs out a breath, "why would I do that? All these years and now you change your mind? What gives?"

The other man, Devon, growls in answer, "I didnt have a choice I was still young. Edmond...you can't keep this from her. What'd you think will happen when somebody finds out? She will be unprotected. So give her to me, I am ready."

"Lower your voice." Papa snaps.

Devon takes a step closer, towering over my father, "you have no idea who you are dealing with. I trusted you. Now there must be consequences."

"Consequences? You dare threaten me boy? You are only 18 for gods sake."

"I'm her bro--"

They both pause when I see my rabbit hop in between them. Edgar Weenie sniffs Devons shoes as they both look down at the fuzzy white fur ball.

"Blood is blood, Edmond. If they find out she isn't blood of yours. She will never be courted or protected. You understand that? Why keep her?" Devon asks.

I couldn't quite hear them. I was to focused on my rabbit, "because my wife loves her already." Papa whispers.

"It's time to let her go, Edmond."

"You should have stayed away." Papa mutters.

It happened so quick.

Papa whipped out a pistol and shoots the man in the face. Devons body falls to the ground, almost crushing Edgar. The gun barely made a sound like it was sound proofed...

My eyes widen with tears as my hands cover over my mouth in shock-terror.

Because one minute my rabbit was by the body on the ground--

To seeing a shoe kicking the white fur ball into the fire place, causing the flames to spark and light up brighter.

I remember feeling my heart thump wildly before I ran away back to my room. Crying in bed until I fell back asleep.

After that night, everything changed.

I remember telling my Papa and Mama a week later of my nightmares, explaining what I seen.

Papa brushed it aside and told me, "it was just a bad dream. And remember your rabbit ran away."

They took me to a private therapist.

And later on my nightmares of that night were replaced with dreams. Dreams of a life I wanted...

Until my therapist told me, it was not possible because of who I am.

I'm sitting here in the kitchen drinking from a bottle when Dimitri comes in, "good afternoon, sweets." He greets with a smile.

I woke up this morning alone in bed. Nico had to leave early for a business meeting across town.

All morning I've been finding stuff to do, like watching TV, eating, and rearranging the living area.

Last night I had that nightmare, and it was odd because I haven't had one since I was little. And when I had those nightmares--the therapist would give me a pill and talk to me about how it was just a bad dream.

I didn't reply back to Dimitri. My mind else where when he frowns down at me and gets closer, "why the long face?" He asks, concerned.

For the longest time I didn't reply back until large hands grab my face and lifts my eyes to meet his.

"Do yall happen to have a private therapist here?" I ask him in a shy whisper.

"We have one over the west wing. He works for Nico."

Maybe I need to talk to someone about this, someone different, with fresh eyes and ears, "can you take me to him?"

Dimitri furrows his eyebrows, "what's going on?"

"Please. Just...I need..." I stammer not feeling the need to open up to him. I needed a professional. "Take me to him, now."

"Okay. Let's go."

I follow behind him to the West wing. Every now and then seeing men walk about. Confused on why they all have band-aids on their pinkies. Weird.

As we reach a glass door that says, 'Hunt Riverton PHD Therapy Clinic'. Dimitri knock several times before a fairly handsome man opens the door. His hair is dirty blonde with striking baby blue eyes. Glasses adorning his face as he greets us with a smile, "Mr. Slain, nice of you stop by. I've been needing to talk to you--"

"Dr. Riverton, meet the Pahkans fiancée, Sienna Galeon." Dimitri cuts him off gesturing toward me with a hand, "make time for her." He orders.

Dr. Riverton looks over to me with a frown, "of course, come in."

I walk in and stop before turning around to Dimitri, "I wish to be alone." I tell him.

He didn't seem to like that but nods, "I'll be outside waiting. I'm here if you need me." He promises me.

I nod watching him close the door behind him. Turning around I see a lounge chair and take a seat. Dr. Riverton walks over to his filing cabinet and opens it to retrieve what looks to be a camcorder and a notepad. He comes over and takes a seat in front of me, a few feet away.

My eyes land by the open tall window seeing trees sway back and forth to the windy day. The sun is shining through the opened blinds, reaching into every crevice of darkness in here.

Silence at first when I meet eyes with the therapist. He is patient, I give him that when leans back with a pen in hand.

I guess he is waiting on me to start.

"My name is Sienna Lionessa Galeon," I say exhaling a long breath, "and I am an Emophiliac."

I thought I'd get a reaction from him but none came, he seems intent to listen. So I tell him everything. I tell him in detail of my nightmare and what have occurred after I'd had it. I told him what little I remember of what was said in that bad dream. Of a man named Devon crosses my mind.

It felt real to me." I whisper to the therapist. "The fear and the heartbreak I felt when I have the nightmare..it feels real. Like...like is really happened."

Dr. Riverton tips his glasses down his nose, "what was your therapist's recommendation after having those bad dreams?"

I couldn't help my voice cracking, "My therapist would give me a pill to calm me down when I feel...upset about it."

"A pill?" He questions with a frown.

I nod. I remember when she left the bottle out and I saw the words on the label, "Propranolol." I recall out loud.

Rivertons eyes widen, "and this family therapist diagnosed you as Emophiliac?"

"Yes."

He writes down on his paper fast and fluidly, "lets move on pass that for a second. Do you usually have those 'bad dreams' when taking that pill?"

I shake my head, "it would stop it for a time. I dont recall getting them much after taking it."

After a moments of silence and him writing down whatever it is he puts the pen down and looks me in the eyes, "Propranolol is a beta blocker. They've been tested and used for people who have encountered traumatic experiences in their life or people whom have posttraumatic stress. It's to suppress long term memories--and unfortunately suppresses subsequent memories as well. But the negative side is that it increases the risk for other disorders, such as phobias, addiction, depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Big words. "What are you saying?"

Dr. Riverton places his camcorder and papers down on the table beside him. Then faces me with a genuine concerned look, "what's to say that your 'bad dream' is real? What's to say that at such a young age you've actually felt and seen on what occurred?" He rambles.

I'm lost on where he's getting at, "I don't understand..."

He fixes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "what I'm saying is if you think you've felt that it is real. What's stopping you and making you think its not?"

"My therapist and my parents--"

"But what about you?" He counters interrupting me. "You said before that it felt real. Do you believe that still?"

Do I? "I think...I think I am done for today. I should get some rest. I'm getting married tomorrow after all." I say with a small smile, hiding my true emotions.

Dr Riverton sighs heavily when I get up and walk over to the door.

"Miss Galeon."

I stop and turn my head to meet eyes with him as he is still sitting in his seat, "there are alot of cases where Emophiliac is misdiagnosed for obsessive relationship--compulsive disorder. It's a disorder where one may obsess over a partner who they hope feels the same in return, or having repetitive thoughts of wanting it to work out but fear it may not."

Something sharp pentrates my heart to hearing that.

Like he can see through me like glass.

It couldn't be, could it?

Was I truly misdiagnosed and mistreated by my family and therapist?

I don't know what to think anymore.

When I walk out I'm met with Dimitri, Donovon, and my fiance.

It didn't take a genius to know Dimitri called them here.

Nicolai scans my face like he is reading a book seeing if he can read me like that therapist's did in there, "are you okay?" He ask me, voice deep and stern.

"I'm okay." I didn't have alot to say. My mind is reeling in so much information with twisted feelings.

Nico frowns, "I don't believe you. You do not look okay, darling."

I needed a pick-me-up for sure, "take me to Starbucks."

Maybe that will cheer me up.