I Wrote These After My Therapist Ghosted Me

By Lauren Rollins

I WROTE THESE AFTER MY THERAPIST GHOSTED ME contains five stories dealing with the concepts of death and family. These stories are split into two parts, “Death and Lack Thereof” and “Interpretations of Family”.

“Secret” is the first story in “Death and Lack Thereof”. Eighteen-year-old Farren has always been a bit of a daredevil, and since discovering her apparent immortality, she’s become more and more reckless. Despite her determination to keep her condition a secret, she lands herself in what normally would’ve been a fatal car accident. When her eccentric brother Ron starts asking questions, it’s up to Farren to decide whether or not to trust him.

“Distance of Death” is the second story in “Death and Lack Thereof”. In this story, the afterlife consists of being tethered to whomever loved you most during your life. One ghost is surprised to find herself tethered to her younger brother, and tries to navigate the new plane of existence in spite of her confusion. She only discovers the importance of her life on the day of her funeral when her father reappears after two years.

“Interpretations of Family” starts off with “Change of Hands”, about fourteen-year-old Maeve and her less-than-fantastic parents. After years of neglect and disagreements, Maeve counts down the days until she can truly strike it out on her own. When the news of impending divorce and being given up to her grandparents comes to her, Maeve decides it’s time to put all the cards on the table.

“Looking For Birchwood” is the second installment of “Interpretations of Family”, dealing with the concept of found family. Thalia is about to leave her hectic life in New Hampshire behind and move across the country, but there’s one person she hasn’t been able to bring herself to say goodbye to yet: her oldest friend Anna. With a week left before her move, Anna suddenly proposes a road trip to retrace the steps of their first ever adventure. The only problem: neither of them can quite remember their destination.

“Thanksgiving” is the final piece of “Interpretations of Family”, about nonbinary Char dealing with homophobic family members during a holiday. When Char gets kicked out of their Nana’s, it leaves things tense between them and their rather passive brother, Will. As Will drives the two of them back to Char’s apartment, the two siblings have a difficult conversation about the homophobic behaviors of their family. Will Char finally find acceptance from their brother?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lauren Rollins
• Release date: Jul 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005867331

Lauren Rollins

Lauren Rollins is a queer author who enjoys working in thriller, fantasy, and action. They are pursuing their BFA in Creative Writing through Full Sail University. Their flash fiction "Distance of Death" was published in Adelaide Literary Magazine and they self-published their short story "The Knife in My Back" through Wattpad in 2018. Lauren writes fiction to escape from their very ordinary life.Follow them on Instagram @thatnonbinarywriter

Book preview

I Wrote These After My Therapist Ghosted Me

by Lauren Rollins

Copyright © Lauren Rollins, 2021

All Rights Reserved

First Smashwords Edition

Smashwoods Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal employment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only, then return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For Kayleigh and Seth, who are my two biggest fans, and for anyone whose therapist ghosted them.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication Page

Table of Contents

Part I: Death and Lack Thereof

Secret

Distance of Death

Part II: Interpretations of Family

Change of Hands

Looking For Birchwood

Thanksgiving

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Part I: Death, and a Lack Thereof

Secret

My only rule: don’t let anyone know you are immortal. Seemed easy enough to do, until I ended up in another what should’ve been fatal accident. All I knew was my car flipped and then I went unconscious.

Waking back up came in stages. The feel of the soft cotton gown and smooth synthetic sheets against my skin as well as the beeping of a heart monitor let me know I was in a hospital. My body dully throbbed with pain.

She looks awful, a female voice said. The voice belonged to my mother.

Well, no one’s runway ready after a car wreck. Farren always comes out alive, a male voice replied. I knew it was my brother Ron.

She’s never been this bad before, though, mother said.

Yes she has, Mom. Did you even know where she was? Ron asked.

"I