Chapter 5 The Revelation

Emma followed along, keeping her eyes on Ryan's face as he spoke. There was something liberating about Ryan sharing his story, a burden lifted from his shoulders.

"Y'all, I've felt like I have sat in the past," Ryan said, instead his voice quivering. "Do my kids not want to spend time with me?

Emma nodded, her face full of compassion. "You're not alone, Ryan," she told him. "We all have these feelings at some point.

Emma's text hit Ryan hard, a lump forming in his throat. No one had ever understood him in this way.

"Thank you, Emma," Ryan said in a voice barely above a whisper. "Just talking to you doesn't write the wrongs, but it makes me feel like I can proceed."

As Ryan made his way out of Emma's office, though, he felt like things were about to get complicated. He was developing a crush on Emma, but he knew it was wrong.

Ryan could not stop thinking about Emma. He realized that he should not stay close by her, but still, he could not. Chapter 20: The Confession. Ryan knew how stupid it was to feel this way, and he understood that he was risking too much. Therefore, he already was not able to live with the guilt of his actions.tRyan sighed when he noticed he was standing near a stranger's door, about to confess something horrible.

''Emma, I have something to tell you'', Ryan began saying while his chest felt like it would burst out. Emma was looking directly at his eyes, ''What?" Emma's voice was soft, calming to Ryan. Ryan hesitated, but the usual restraint dropped, and he let the words fall out of his mouth, ''I have feelings to you, Emma. I know it's wrong, but I could not help''.

Emma still had a poker face, and her body seemed frozen. Ryan was about to apologize for his concern, but Emma did not become colder. She approached Ryan, and her eyes were just inches away from his. ''Ryan, I...'', Emma started to say but did not finish. Ryan sighed, aware of the awkwardness and a young woman's discomfort, ''I am sorry, I should not have said that'', and then the woman smiled. It was a soft smile, and her eyes crinkled: ''I care about you, too''. She added, after a moment of silence, ''But we cannot use our feelings. It is unprofessional''.

Ryan was nodding as a sign of agreement, ''I know. I just wanted to be honest with you''. The woman agreed: ''I appreciate that. Now let's focus on your therapy''. Ryan was nodding as he felt relief. Maybe, just maybe, he could allow himself to move forward.

Ryan walked out of Emma's office with a determined look in his eyes. He knew it would be difficult, but he was prepared to confront his demons.

Ryan walked away and Emma, looked on with a whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. She knew she needed to keep a professional distance, but it was becoming harder and harder to do.

In the following weeks Emma and Ryan kept attending their therapy sessions. Emma knew he was a distraction, but his boyish smile and piercing gaze were hard to forget.

Ryan, too, grappled with his emotions. He knew Emma was off-limits, but there was nothing he could do about the way he felt.

For the next weeks, Emma and Ryan continued their therapy sessions. Emma had done her best to keep it professional, but Ryan's disarming smile and penetrating eyes made her struggle.

One day as Emma walked Ryan out of her office, their hands brushed. It was a fleeting, innocent touch, yet it sent shock waves along Emma's spine.

Ryan also felt a little jolt of electricity. He gazed at Emma, strangely fixated on her eyes.

At that moment, Emma knew she had feelings for Ryan beyond anything professional. She loved him, but she was also his therapist.

Ryan also knew he needed to face his feelings. He could no longer pretend he was not in love with Emma.

Despite struggling with her feelings, Emma knew she had to think about the level of her actions and the consequences. She had to question if she were to start dating Ryan, as a therapist, she could lose her license. But if she didn't, she would lose the chance at true love.

Ryan, however, knew the risks, too. He had known that Emma was his therapist, and that he was forbidden from a relationship with her. But he couldn't help the feelings he felt.

The closer they got, the more they began to tread through their emotions. They started sneaking looks at each other, their gazes meeting in a way that felt both thrilling and scary.

As they were walking out of Emma's office one day, Ryan said, "Can I see you outside of therapy?

Emma's heart skipped a beat. She knew she shouldn't agree, but she could not stop herself.

"Fine," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

Ryan smiled. "Great," he said. "I'll pick you up at 7pm tomorrow night.

Emma had watched him walk away, excitement and panic all at once. She was taking a risk she knew it, but she couldn't help herself. She was falling for Ryan in a big way.

Over the course of the next few days, Emma and Ryan began to bond. They took long walks, had deep conversations and explored the city together. Emma felt more alive than she had in years.

However, as their relationship grew deeper, Emma knew that she was making a mistake. She was throwing away everything - her job, her reputation, her identity - for a patient.

Days turned to weeks and Emma's anxiety deepened. She knew she had to decide, but didn't know what that would be.

Should she follow her heart and pursue a relationship with Ryan, or should she follow her head and end things before they went any further?

It certainly wasn't an easy choice, and Emma knew that consequences would face whatever she decided.