Chapter 10: Unfamiliar Feelings
Dr. Bennet crossed one leg over the other, pen tapping slowly against his notepad. "Have you ever been in a relationship before Cassidy, Ezekiel? A real one—romantic?"
Zeke gave a faint shake of his head. "A girlfriend? No. Fling? Plenty."
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "So... you’ve had casual encounters, but never real attachment?"
Zeke leaned back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "I never saw the point. Feelings complicate things."
Dr. Bennet let the silence stretch before speaking again, voice calm. "Do you think you’ve ever been in love?"
Zeke snorted softly. "No. Not once. I’ve never even liked someone. Not in that way."
The doctor nodded slowly, letting the weight of Zeke’s words settle. Then he asked, "What did you feel when you were with Cassidy?"
Zeke hesitated, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "Peace," he said finally. "She was... quiet. Calm. Didn’t talk much unless necessary. I liked that. I liked the silence she brought."
Dr. Bennet tilted his head. "Because silence felt familiar to you?"
"No," Zeke replied after a pause. "Because her silence didn’t feel cold. It was... gentle. Like sitting beside a still lake. I’ve been surrounded by noise my entire life—expectations, pressure, control. But with her... I could just be. No need to perform. No need to prove anything."
Dr. Bennet gave a slight smile. "So perhaps what you felt wasn’t traditional ’love’ as you define it. But it was something real. Something that mattered."