Chapter 6 Love yourself

Being one of the finest and tallest buildings in the entire Elisberg city, the Saint building was used solely for corporate purposes except for the top floor. The fifteenth storey building was an office for fourteen different companies while the fifteenth floor was occupied by different therapists of the city.

"Good morning Sam," Layla greeted the security guard before entering the elevator. Pressing the fifteenth floor button, she impatiently tapped her foot on the elevator floor, waiting fot the elevator to ascend. She was already super late for her morning appointment and the slow elevator wasn't helping.

As the elevator door opened, she quickly stepped out and rushed towards her cabin.

The entire fifteenth floor had multiple rooms which belonged to each therapist where they took private sessions with their parents. It wasn't some kind of company or association, each room was rented individually so the environment was an independent one.

Stopping right in front of the door which had her name plate on, Layla quickly took out the keys from her bag.

When she saw her client sitting on the bench, she quickly apologized, "Renna I am so sorry for keeping you waiting actually I-" She stopped midway and frowned when she saw her swollen arm. "What happened to your arm?" Without waiting for her reply, Layla quickly opened the door and let her in.

"Have a seat." Gesturing her to sit down on the couch, Layla also settled down in her regular seat which was right across the cilent.

"How are you feeling today Renna?" she softly inquired. Renna was one of the oldest clients of Layla who had been taking sessions from her regularly without missing a single appointment.

Keeping quiet for quite some time, Renna answered, "It's still the same." Looking at her swollen arm and knuckles, she started sobbing. "Maybe it's even worse now."

"You need to let it out, hiding your feelings and emotions will just make things worse. Just let yourself loose and tell me everything you want to." After being in touch with Renna for years, Layla knew everything about her. She was more like a friend to her than just a patient. There were times when she gave her free sessions just to make her feel better but things just kept getting worse because of the toxic marriage Renna was trapped in.

"He came home drunk yesterday and started hitting me again. When I tried to revolt, he pressed me against the wall so hard and threatened me to stay shut otherwise he would kill my family. I-" Closing her eyes, she started sobbing harder.

Leaving her seat, Layla sat down beside her and gave her a side hug to comfort her. "I know I have asked you this question several times as your therapist but this time, I am asking it as your friend. Why are you enduring all of this? Why are you torturing yourself? Why aren't you doing something about it? You can easily report him for domestic violence and set yourself free. If you are scared than I will help you out."

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Renna answered, "It's because I love him and I know that he isn't this kind of a person. I just can't figure out what is wrong with him and how he turned out to be someone who is nothing like him."

"Love isn't something which makes you feel the way you are feeling, it is the most beautiful thing that can happen in someone's life." Pausing for a while, Layla added, "You say that you love him but what about loving yourself first? What about respecting yourself and your body? Renna, if you don't love and respect yourself, no one will."

Looking at her swollen arm, she continued, "Loving your partner is completely okay but losing yourself and your dignity amidst that is not acceptable. If you keep quiet and not speak for yourself, he will keep controlling your life. You need to stand up for yourself without being afraid of anything."

The more Layla looked at Renna's swollen arm, her heart ached for her. For some odd reason, she could never stand someone getting hurt even though that person was not related to her in any way. Her heart would ache even for a stranger whom she was seeing for the first time if he was suffering.

Suddenly, something triggered her. Placing her hand on Renna's swollen arm, she closed her eyes.