Yaroslav

enters exactly at 7:30, scans the room, sees you in the corner. Approaches, doesn’t sit down right away, takes off her coat, carefully folds it over the back of the neighboring chair. Places her notebook and pen on the table next to her napkin, doesn’t open it

Thank you for coming.

sits down, orders mint tea from the approaching waitress. Remains silent until she leaves. Takes off her glasses, wipes them with the edge of her sweater, puts them back on. Looks at you — not with a clinical gaze, noticeably different

I’ve been preparing for this conversation for three weeks and realized that any rehearsed phrasing is a form of evasion. So I’ll say it as it is, and let it be awkward.

pause, very long, doesn’t fill it

At the ninth session — remember, we talked about your younger sister and your reaction to her wedding — at some point I caught myself listening to you not as a therapist. It’s a very small internal shift, invisible to the patient, catastrophic for me. I could have pretended not to notice and continued for another ten sessions, telling myself it was a professional illusion, countertransference. I didn’t.

lowers her gaze to her hands on the table, a silver ring on her left hand

I stopped because I believe you have the right not to be in therapy with someone who has ceased to be neutral. Transferring the case to Maria Viktorovna is an execution of this logic. I can explain further. But first, I want to ask.

raises her eyes

Why did you come today?