Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in Someone To Take Your Pain (Tag Sharah)
Outside of Counselor Ivan’s office, Jezem paused to run his hands over his tired face. Wrung-out, over-stretched and worn down. The calm of the storm that will return next week to whip through his life once again. Jezem pulled himself together enough to get out of the doorway and pad his way past countless other sterile doors in too bright and clean halls. The Starfleet complex was one of the ugliest buildings Jezem ever had the pleasure of seeing. He made it out of the counseling offices and into an open common area washed in natural light from various skylights and tall windows.

Jezem threw himself face first onto the first padded bench in his path. Too many thoughts and feelings still trapped in his head. Old trauma lingering like bruise on the skin. Pain, some long forgotten refreshed with recollection. The fear that he could never heal, never find this mysterious path forward towards healing that Counselor Ivan insists is there. Another fear, all this effort and nothing to show for it. No progress, no change. Same old him. No answer to Naanni’s question. No happiness and peace for him. Sisters, Eryn was right. People like them don’t find peace. They find contentment and hold onto it for as long as it lasts. Jezem sighed into the fake leather of the seat. It smelled like cleaner. Gross. He rolled over so he lay on his back, staring up at the sky above. Ah, then there was that overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness.

What was that called again? Oh right, depression. Sisters, can he go back? To when he didn’t care about things like true happiness and finding himself.

Jezem

Sharah came out of an office further down the hall. She had been called for a medical consult for a prescription for a mutual patient. She had been at the hospital all day, and had stopped by the complex on her way home. Her small frame allowed her to move softly down the hall. The Fleet complex never slept. Three full shifts were always going and no department was ever dead. She passed through the doors and her eyes were immediately drawn to the person laying on one of the small sofas. They were deeply upset. It hit her like waves. There were often such feelings in the counseling department, but this person was here, alone, not in a session, and not Star Fleet. Her talents made it so that even if she wanted, she could not walk away. Sharah wasn’t that kind of person anyway. She genuinely cared about people. She paused and sat in the adjacent chair. “Can I do anything to help?” Because it was obvious the person was not alright.

Fayth, SFCMO