Never Meet Her/ Ms. Barnes

The phone rings in the office of Bill Foster, a globally successful and recognized therapist, some even call him a natural healer. "Bill Foster speaking." "How come you never understand where I'm coming from!" The publicly unseen nonchalant ego-driven Bill motions through his pile of work, ignoring his wife's concern. “I can get you anything you desire just let me finish today's workload,” Bill promises. “It's not that simple!", her voice was quickly interrupted by a merging call, which forced their conversation to come to a halt. “Yes, assistant?" “Hey, your 1 o'clock appointment is here.” “Okay, send them in.”Continuing to fiddle through the schedule, Bill doesn't see this appointment,“that's strange,” he thought. His thoughts suddenly are cut off by the sound of the office door slowly opening. “Hello...?”The woman's angelic voice called from behind the door, urging Bill to lean to the right in an attempt for a better view. “Yes, come in.” The door revealed an elderly woman who was fragile, and clothing deemed too heavy for her based on the assumptions of Mr. Foster. The woman graces in awe as she stares around the room, appreciating the successful accomplishments of Bill. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you, even though it's for therapy”, the woman chuckled. “Why thank you”, he responded. Bill insisted that the woman take a seat, as he guides his hands to her seat. “Ms?”... “Barnes”, she inserted. Strangely the initial angelic voice, switched to a cold demanding tone, causing a sudden shift in Bill's demeanor. “Why yes Ms.Barnes, first is there something you feel that needs attention for this healing process?” The woman fixes her grey hairs toward the ground, as her shoulder's illustrated laughter softly bouncing up and down.” Mr. Foster, there's certainly an appointment today, but it's not for me”, as a concerning grin played across her face. Bill, still unaware that this Ms. Barnes was casting a curse on him, mistakenly locked eyes with her sharp, yellow bird-like eyes sealing the hex. “Mr. Foster, hmm let's see he's smart, highly successful yet he's secretly neglectful”, she sarcastically voices. The woman slowly rises to her feet, once realizing Bill was fully under her control. Bill has no control over the situation falls backward in his chair, inviting Ms. Barnes closer as she places both hands on the pinewood desk. Continuing to look into his all-black eyes, she asks “as your mind slowly grasp my commands, are you sure?”Unintentionally Mr. Foster nodded in agreement. Now kneeling on Bill's desk, she commands the spell. “I will understand the nature of a woman, gain the ability to channel their perspectives for once, and value their sacrifices now be!”

While this was happening, the assistant began to grow weary. 2 hours was too long for a session she thought.

The assistant remembered that Bill once said “if I'm with a client, don't call telling me another is waiting.”Having this in mind she decides to walk to the office herself. Upon getting to the door she thought of everything that could go wrong if she interrupted a much-needed session. Strangely, her concern outweighed her fear so, in a low manner voice she called “Mr. Foster?”,with two timid knocks following. No answer came from the other side of the door. “That's strange,”she thought. Gathering the guts, she places her hand softly on the door to reveal what was on the other side, “Mr. Foster!”, she screamed. The office was in shambles, with client information and important documents covering the ground while his back facing window brought in the city's wind. The assistant rushes to Bill's aid, he shows heavy breathing like the one similar to a dream nightmare. Bill has no recollection of what recently happened. He partially regains his vision, slowly noticing Olivia by his side, as he calmly calls her name attempting to reach for her hand. “Mr. Foster never calls me by my first name”, this shocks Olivia more than the current disaster. “I finally feel like I have Mr. Foster's respect, I know it's only because I AM a WOMAN I’m undervalued. Bill suddenly grasps his head with both hands, motioning agony needless to say. Olivia's separate thoughts strangely ran through Bill's head, causing the feeling of disgust from his behaviors toward her.

With the office in shambles, and Bill still unbalanced but regaining some equilibrium, he decides to head home. Olivia follows in a car behind.

Now within a safe range of his home, Bill waves Olivia off ensuring he has it from here. Any other day returning home from work, Bill would be welcomed home by the aura of satisfaction knowing that dinner was cooked. Only, rather there's a different feeling that strikes Bill as the car’s exhaust comes to a halt in the driveway. Instead of rushing for the door, Bill begins fathoming through all the assumptions that came to his brain: “Did my wife come to the office today upset, did I cheat on my wife with Olivia?" “No, that cant be it, he thought. Lost in his train of thoughts, he's quickly brought back to reality when two familiar adolescent voices came knocking at his window. “Dad, Dad, hurry Mommy's not feeling well", they cried. Little to no hesitation, Bill abandons the car racing toward the door as the children lead. “I knew something was wrong”, his face showing evident worry. Bill and the kids reach the home’s open entrance, with the children quickly point to the kitchen. Bill began to slowly walk into the dim light kitchen while signaling the children upstairs, as he met his wife Brittney laying on the floor in all her emotions. As the pain returns to Bill’s head, he reads his wife's thoughts without her even having to say one word. As Brittney begins to slowly blank open her eyes, they met Bill's.“My husband doesn't love me.”“Look at everything I do for us, I cook, clean, cater, have given birth to our beautiful son and daughter.”Her thoughts play in his mind as they stare at one another. She grows in anger stating, “but somehow I still go unnoticed, what more can I do to feel your love and appreciation?”Slowly lowering down to meet Brittney on the kitchen's floor he gathers a thoughtful breath. “I'm inconsiderate of your emotions, I'm sorry.” “Brittney, I don't value your sacrifices, the thought of bringing life into this world, the way you love me and the children, your integrity while standing as a woman in this world.” Breaking down even more, as Bill comes closer to comfort her, she begins smiling as he wipes her tears away . Within their moment, no sounds were present as they were rekindling their love, only the dim voices of their children Angel and Julian rushing toward them. They smile as they fell into each parent's arms, but the children had a surprise. “Okay Julain, show Mommy and Daddy our surprise,”Angel says while getting tickles from Mommy. Julian leaves Bill's lap and reaches under the kitchen counter. "Look,” he tones so eagerly lifting both arms to reveal the gift. Julain reveals a small canvas painting of two barn owls looking off at the moon holding hands, and the title reads "Happy Anniversary." Bill remembers it's their anniversary in that quick moment. The strange but embarrassing face says it all. “I was calling earlier, just for you to tell me happy anniversary, but you never said it , Brittney voices. Bill regains a little memory from the recollection of that conversation, which triggers a playback of the day’s events. “Wait, Julian where did you get that son,” Bill asked. Julain hesitates to answer , thinking it was a bad gift. “Ms. Barnes gave it to me,” he softly speaks.