Chapter 6 The Decision

Emma dreaded the indecision that followed. She knew she would need to stop seeing Ryan as her patient, but the idea of ending their relationship was also smothering.

One day on her way home from work, Emma bumped into her colleague, Dr. Lee.

"Emma, how's it going?" "I'm worried," Dr. Lee said, a look of concern on her face.

"It's going," Emma said, attempting to dismiss her concerns.

Dr. Lee stopped her. "Emma, I know something is bothering you. You can tell me."

Emma paused, wondering whether to confide in her colleague. But there was something about Dr. Lee's kind demeanor that made her comfortable.

"I have fallen for one of my patients," Emma said, as a weight lifted off her shoulders.

Dr. Lee's demeanor grew serious. "Oh, Emma. That is a gross violation of ethics."

"I know," Emma said, guilt-ridden. "But I don't know what to do. I care about him deeply."

Dr. Lee sighed. "You definitely have to break up with him, Emma. That's the only way you protect yourself and your patient.'

Emma nodded, as Dr. Lee was right. But on the way home, she couldn't quite shake the fear that it was a mistake.

Emma sat in her office the following day, feeling tearfully very burdened. He had cheated on her with a girl named Ryan, she said, but she didn't know how to leave him.

Ryan came in smiling. "Hey, Emma."

Emma's heart skipped a beat. She breathed in deep, preparing herself for what was to come.

"We need to talk, Ryan," Emma said, the tone of her voice uncompromising yet gentle.

Ryan said, his face becoming serious. "What's going on?"

Emma inhaled sharply again. The end starts with: "I think we need to end our relationship."

Ryan's face fell and for a second Emma felt a little pang of regret.

"Why?" Ryan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emma sighed. "Because it's not OK, Ryan. I'm your therapist, and it's a conflict of interest."

Ryan nodded, recognition in his eyes. "I know. I'm sorry."

With a sense of sadness, Emma smiled. "Don't be sorry, Ryan. Just worry about yourself, alright?"

He nodded, and Emma looked on as he stepped outside her office, as if she were watching a piece of herself walk away.

Weeks passed, and Emma found it hard to accept that it had ended so abruptly with Ryan. She felt like she was all alone, like a piece of her had been torn out.

She lost herself in her work, a distraction from the pain as best she could. But nothing seemed to work.

One day Emma ran into Ryan on the street on her way home from work.

"Hey," Ryan said, a bit awkwardly.

Emma smiled, a sad twist still in her gut. "Hey."

They paused there for a beat, not yet knowing what to say.

"I'm doing well," Ryan said at last. "Thanks for asking."

"Okay," Emma said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm glad."

They lingered there for another second, the air between them taut.

"I should go," Ryan finally offered.

Emma nodded, a twinge of sadness hitting her. "Yeah."

Emma felt as if she were losing Ryan again as he walked away.

Emma took time to heal as days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. She began dating again, haltingly at first, but with more assurance.

Emma would see Ryan from time to time, but it was already a relief - the pain began to fade.

Later, on her way home from work one evening, Emma bumped into Ryan again. But he wasn't alone this time.

He was with a woman, laughing and smiling as Emma had never seen before.

A pang of sadness struck Emma, soon replaced by a sense of happiness for Ryan.

"Oh," Ryan said, seeing Emma standing there.

Emma smiled, as though the handhold had made it official. "Hey."

Ryan showed Emma his new girlfriend, and she was relieved that she liked her.

And then Emma knew she had finally moved on. She had closure, and she was prepared to begin writing the next chapter of her life.