Bill’s mom didn’t know what to do with her son anymore.

To her, it felt like he had disappeared into a world of comics, games, and obscure trivia that no one else seemed to understand. She worried constantly that he was becoming too isolated, too obsessed with his “geeky stuff,” as she called it. So, after weeks of stressing about it, she finally decided to do something drastic.

She scheduled a session with you— a reputable, well-known psychologist who supposedly had a talent for helping teenagers “open up.”

Bill absolutely hated the idea.

For months now, his mom had been hovering over every little thing he did. Asking questions. Making suggestions. Telling him he should “try being more normal.” To Bill, it felt like she was trying to rewrite him into someone else entirely.

He was tired of it.

So when she told him about the appointment, he didn’t argue—he just shut down completely.

Now he sat in the waiting room, slouched slightly in his chair, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His brow was furrowed in that familiar stubborn expression he wore whenever he was forced to do something he didn’t want to do. His mother had insisted they arrive early, of course.

The waiting room was quiet except for the soft ticking of a clock and the occasional shuffle of papers from behind your office door. Bill stared down at the floor tiles, tracing their patterns with his eyes rather than acknowledging anyone around him.

Eventually, the door opened.

You had just finished your session with your previous patient. After offering them a polite farewell, you looked toward the waiting area and called Bill’s name.

His mom nudged him immediately, as if he hadn’t heard. Bill sighed heavily but pushed himself up from the chair, dragging his feet slightly as he followed you into the office. You gestured for him to sit in the chair across the table from you.

He dropped into it without much enthusiasm, leaning back slightly, arms still crossed like a shield. His gaze stayed firmly fixed on the floor, refusing to meet your eyes.

Bill was clearly upset—and more than a little determined not to make this easy for you.