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“We can’t. But we can change your perspective of what happened and give it a new meaning. One that will empower you.”
I must have looked very skeptical, because Gabriel spoke up on my behalf. “That sounds good!”
“Then let me tell you a few practical things,” Bruce said.
“All right.” I studied the man on the screen. His square glasses gave him that look of an intellectual, and if he thought his little blond mustache made him look good, I’m sorry to say it didn’t. His eyes were very intense; I felt like he was looking straight inside my brain, which was unnerving as hell.
“The kind of therapy that we offer is a bit unorthodox, but to simplify it I want you to think of a computer.”
“Okay.”
“When a computer doesn’t function we reboot it, yes?”
“I guess.”
“Yes, and in case of a really destructive virus, we have to reinstall the software.”
“Right.”
“We believe it’s a bit of the same with people. Often we need a simple reboot to make things right again. In other words, we’ll restore your past to make your present better.”
Gabriel raised both brows but didn’t say anything.
“Your uncle already told me you had a rough childhood, so I think you’ll benefit enormously from our program, but for it to have the best impact, you need to bring your parents.”
“My parents?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not happening,” I scoffed.
“Are they dead?”
“I have no clue where my mom is and I prefer it that way, and my dad won’t have anything to do with me.”
“Are you sure? Because it would make a huge difference if you could bring at least one of them.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said firmly.
“Can your uncle come with you and step in for your parents? Worst case, we can have one of our therapists act as your parent during the exercises, but we always encourage having a real parent or at least a family member.”
“No,” I said at the same time as Gabriel said, “Yes.”
I gave him a hard stare and mimedno… he just tilted his head and mimedyeah.
“Did I hear you correctly there, Gabriel? Would you be willing to help your niece through the program?”
“Yes,” Gabriel said loud and clear.
“That’s good, it’s a very admirable thing to do; but I need to warn you that therapy of this kind can get intense at times and you might see sides of your niece you haven’t seen before.”
Gabriel and I exchanged a glance and there was a smile in the corner of his mouth. He didn’t know me – of course he would see new sides of me.
“There are many more practicalities but I think we can deal with those when you get here. You’ll find driving instructions and a list of things to pack on our website, and the price of the course is a fixed rate of three thousand five hundred dollars for the two weeks.”
“What?” I spit out. “I can’t pay that.”
“Do you take credit cards?” Gabriel said loud enough for Bruce to hear.
