IDEA 1

Question 1

1) THERAPIST: And how has this week been for you?

Answer 1

MICHAEL:
Yep, good! Really good. Not much to report on really, yeah.

(And then)

Can’t complain. Spiralled a little bit, but like, nothing in comparison to how it used to be, how bad I used to get.

Question 2

2) THERAPIST: What happened?

Answer 2

MICHAEL

Oh, like nothing. I just uh, I saw Ellie at work, yeah, it was totally fine really.

Question 3

3) THERAPIST: What was the nature of the exchange?

Answer 3

MICHAEL:

Oh, small talk. Nothing uh, nothing serious.

(The THERAPIST tilts their head at MICHAEL as if to say, “is that true?”.)

MICHAEL (CONT’D)

Genuinely. She asked how my weekend was, what I did. I said mine was good, and apparently hers was “really good”, whatever that means. Probably out with someone, I guess. But that’s uh, yeah, that’s fine.

Question 4

4) THERAPIST: Is it fine?

Answer 4

MICHAEL:

She’s uh, she’s free to, you know, we’re not together. It’s been around 8 months I think?

January, February… Yeah, 8 months. So it’s fine.

Question 5

5) THERAPIST: I think last week we spoke about not engaging, remember? Boundaries? Part 1:

Answer 5

MICHAEL:

Oh no, totally, I remember, I just uh, of course I didn’t have to have the conversation but it felt rude, I guess, to not say anything.

(And then)

Although I could’ve just politely said, I’m busy.

Question 6

6) THERAPIST: I think last week we spoke about not engaging, remember? Boundaries? Part 2:

Answer 6

MICHAEL:

(And then)

When she asks me how I am, I think, oh she, she still cares.

She wants to know. It’s not just, I wasn’t just some sort of, I don’t know, like “moment in time”: That what she said about wanting a future with me was real in the moment, even if she changed her mind. Which is obviously fine.

Question 7

7) THERAPIST: I think last week we spoke about not engaging, remember? Boundaries? Part 3:

Answer 7

MICHAEL:

(And then)

I keep thinking she cares. Still, even now.

But it doesn’t cost a lot to say, how was your weekend.

I can’t believe I’m still here, you know?

Still getting caught up, a lump in my throat, like a sick feeling, wondering if thinks about me at night.

Hugs a pillow or something, thinking it’s me.

Question 8

8) THERAPIST: I think last week we spoke about not engaging, remember? Boundaries? Part 4:

Answer 8

MICHAEL:

(And then)

Anyway, I’m not the first or last person who’ll get broken up with.

Everyone goes through it.

It’s just, learning to live without someone that you imagined would never leave your side… that’s, I can’t seem to get there. And I don’t know why*

Question 9

Whole monologue

Answer 9

THERAPIST
I think last week we spoke about not engaging, remember?
Boundaries?
MICHAEL
uh, of course i didnt have to just
have the conversation but it felt rude, I guess, to not say anything.
(And then)
Although I could’ve just politely said, I’m busy.
(And then)
When she asks me how I am, I think, oh she, she still cares.
She wants to know. It’s not just, I wasn’t just some sort of, I don’t know, like “moment in time”.
That what she said about wanting a future with me was real in the moment, even if she changed her mind.
Which is obviously fine.
(And then)
I keep thinking she cares. Still, even now. But it doesn’t cost a lot to say, how was your weekend.
I can’t believe I’m still here, you know? Still getting caught , a lan in me erit it shea
sick feeling, wondering
thinks about me at night. Hugs a pillow or something, thinking it’s me.
(And then)
Anyway, I’m not the first or last person who’ll get broken up with, Everyone goes through it. It’s just, learning to live without someone that you imagined would never leave your side… that’s, I can’t seem to get there. And I don’t know why.