Chapter 4: Ten Minutes

On Tuesday I wore the white dress.

I had decided in the shower that wearing something else would be a fight my mother would win in the car.

Mitch and I did not talk on the drive.

My mother hummed along to the radio and kissed the air near my cheek when we pulled up.

"Make me proud," she said.

Dr. Keene's door was already open.

He waited until we were both on the couch, then locked it and put the key in his pocket, the same as before.

This time I watched where he put it.

Left cardigan pocket, deep, with a ring of other keys.

"Last session you set the terms," Dr. Keene said, sitting down. "Today I'd like to set one."

"Go on," I said.

"Mitch. Stand behind Marin. Put your hands on her shoulders."

Mitch didn't move.

"Marin?" he said.

It was the second time he had asked me and not him.

Dr. Keene's pen paused.

"Let him say no," I said.

"Excuse me?"

"You keep giving orders to him. Let him say no if he wants to. That's the only fair rule."

Dr. Keene's mouth tightened, very slightly.

"Mitch," he said evenly. "Say what you want."

Mitch looked at me, and then at the doctor.

"No," he said.

"Then you're afraid," said Dr. Keene.

He wasn't speaking to Mitch.

He was looking at me.

"A man says no when he's afraid of what he'll do. And you, Marin, let him say it because you're afraid of what you'll do if he doesn't."

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