The Last Session

Written for Writing Battle’s Verdant Raven 250-word tournament. The prompts were ARCANE STUDIES, MARRIAGE COUNSELOR, and RAZOR.

Results: 4W, 6L

Dr. Alma Cortez sat opposite her clients in a large, comfortable chair. They were as far apart as two could be on the well-worn loveseat, she noted. The clock on the wall read twelve minutes until the hour. 

“We’ve given it a fair go,” Lucas said, turning towards his wife. There was a tightness in his voice that Alma had once interpreted as unexpressed anger — but after six months of weekly sessions, she knew it was fear: fear of not being enough, of being told his ideas were worthless. If she could reach back in time and slap his father, she would, licensure be damned. 

“You have,” Alma replied. “Six months, just like we agreed. What do you think, Esperanza?” 

The quivering sigh that passed through Esperanza’s lips was answer enough. “It’s Occam’s Razor, isn’t it? It’s not the dishes or his parents or the bedroom. I’m just…not in love with him anymore.” 

With practiced neutrality, Alma nodded and rose from her seat, reaching for the bookcase where her grimoire was kept. The book was old and worn — she’d had the same one since her days of graduate study at the academy. Back then, Arcane Therapy felt like the magic it truly was. 

Now, it felt like a reason for people to stop trying. 

“Esperanza,” she ventured. “Maybe if you could tell us more about—”

“I’m ready.”

With a heavy sigh, Dr. Cortez opened the thick tome. The text shimmered with hope she could no longer feel.