Beyond the Frozen Veil: contos, #1

By jessica diogo

Step into a world where every breath is a battle against the icy chill of fate. Join Brenda on her journey through the treacherous cliffs of memory and the turbulent waves of emotion as she navigates the depths of her patients' souls.

Feel the sting of the icy splash that deprives Brenda of breath, as she battles against the frozen hands of despair turning her blue. The sheer cliffs loom like giant palms of a titan, threatening to crush her spirit, yet she presses on, knowing she must confront the darkness within her patients' minds.

In a dance between past and present, Brenda's patient interrupts her thoughts, drawing her back to reality. But it's not just any patient—it's Keith Bates, whose voice carries secrets and echoes of a past long forgotten. As Brenda delves deeper into his psyche, she finds herself drawn to his voice, haunted by memories that refuse to stay buried.

As Brenda guides Keith through the labyrinth of his mind, she confronts her own demons, wrestling with doubts and fears that threaten to consume her. Yet, in the warmth of her cozy office, amidst the scent of brewing tea and the gentle hum of the city outside, Brenda finds solace in the sanctuary she has created.

But the past is never far behind, and as Brenda grapples with memories of pain and loss, she discovers that sometimes the greatest battles are fought within. From the echoes of a childhood piano to the shadows of a troubled home, Brenda must confront the ghosts of her past to find the strength to heal herself and others.

In a world where every word carries weight and every moment holds meaning, Brenda embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. With each step forward, she learns that true healing begins within—and that sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is the courage to confront our own darkness.

Join Brenda on her quest to unlock the secrets of the mind and discover the power of compassion, resilience, and hope in the face of adversity. In the end, she may find that the greatest therapy of all is the journey of self-discovery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: jessica diogo
• Release date: Apr 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224675159

jessica diogo

Ricardo Almeida is a writer and journalist, graduated in the Brazilian city of João Pessoa in 2007. He specializes in investigative journalism. In addition to his journalistic work, he is a speaker and writer. It shares its knowledge at conferences, workshops and publications, with the aim of disseminating information about society. Your commitment is to help others achieve a balanced and meaningful life.

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Table of Contents

Beyond the Frozen Veil

Beyond the Frozen Veil

The icy splash has stung her face, depriving her of breath.

Her frozen hands began to turn blue.

The sheer cliffs and the darkness looked like giant palms of a titan, wanting to crush

her.

But there was no stopping.

They were unlikely to leave her alive.

Excuse me.

Are you listening to me?

Her patient interrupted her thoughts.

Yes, of course, Brenda replied, adjusting her glasses and trying to maintain a composed

expression, voice.

Throughout her career, she had heard hundreds of different voices, male and female, rough,

squeaky, childlike.

Brenda always listened to them very carefully because she needed to understand the client's

state.

And this was necessary to establish the right communication with them.

But this time, Keith Bates's voice affected her in a way that even slightly threw her

off.

That's all I wanted to tell you.

The man shifted in his chair, threw her a quick, puzzled glance.

Everything important.

Do you think this could have caused my panic attacks?

Or do I need to tell you something else?

What an amazing voice he had.

Not just a velvety baritone.

No, there were confidential tones.

Some pouring in the pauses.

It seemed like you were talking to the most humane of people.

Why did these memories rush back into her life as soon as he uttered the first sentence?

Dammit, of course.

This is just the initial stage.

Brenda nodded, making incredible efforts to pull herself together.

You see, during our therapy sessions, I will ask you many more questions.

But I must warn you, they may seem strange and even unexpected to you.

However, every word you say will carry a certain meaning.

Moreover, each word is a small step towards improving your condition.

Well, that's encouraging.

The man smiled, clapping his hands on his knees.

Okay, I understand.

My time is up.

Yes, that's all for today.

You can pay for one session or the entire course at once.

Whichever is convenient for you.

She replied, smiling.

Why did she want this Keith Bates to leave as soon as possible right now?

Yes, this sometimes happened to her, especially when working in the hospital.

There were times when she couldn't establish a connection with the patient, especially

from the first few minutes.

But if she didn't have a choice before, now she could refuse to work with the client without

explaining any reasons.

And this clause was written in the contract.

However, Brenda now understood that despite all this strange dislike for Keith, she had

to continue.

But what had made her so wary seemingly a quite standard situation.

Panic attacks.

Everyone seems to have them these days.

Over her many years of practice, Brenda had developed a range of effective methods capable

of efficiently resolving this issue.

Nonetheless, she felt that Keith was lying.

She couldn't understand why she felt that way.

With the thought nagged at her, Brenda replayed the conversation with the man, reviewing her

notes in her notebook.

Perhaps there was some offhand phrase or gesture that could have triggered unpleasant

thoughts for her.

Brenda switched on the kettle, dropped a tea bag into a ceramic mark, and filled it with

boiling water.

The room instantly filled with a delicate, soothing aroma.

Brenda loved her cozy office.

The heavy blue curtains on the windows.

The desk adorned with intricate carvings.

The antique wardrobe.

The couch for patience.

Two enchairs.

And the bright asters in the vase.

She had always been a proponent of functionality.

Dreaming of a space where every patient would feel comfortable.

A place where they could let down their guard and remove their mask.

A few years ago, she rented this tiny office with a small hallway and a panoramic window

in the old part of the city and bought used furniture.

She sewed the curtains herself.

Planted a ficus with wide glossy leaves and hung a painting on the wall, painted by her

daughter Zabella.

Work was steady.

There were many clients.

But vanity and the desire to boast of her successes were alien to her.

Brenda loved coming to her office long before the start of her appointments.

And at the end of the workday, she often lingered.

Writing in silence.

Pondering about those who had brought their pains and worries into this cozy space today.

The workday came to an end.

Today, she particularly wanted to be alone.

Brenda looked out the window intently.

It was such a great day.

And the whole summer had been dull.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Come in.

Brenda glanced at the clock.

Who could need her at such a late hour?

The door creaked open.

Keith peeked into the office again.

Sorry, Brenda.

I left my planner with you.

He said apologetically.

Looking around.

Ah, there it is.

I thought you had left so long ago.

The woman exclaimed, yes, indeed.

I wanted to stop by a cafe.

Wait out the rain.

Turns out it was closed.

Then I went outside.

And there was heavy rain.

It's a good thing you are still here.

Although I'm by car, the parking is far.

And I'll get soaked by the time I reach it.

You're right about that.

Brenda said, there's no parking near the building.

It's a park.

Many clients complain, by the way, where in your city

can you get a good coffee?

His brown eyes to con a warm golden hue.

Maybe you'll join me.

And you can also show me the most wonderful place

in your city.

Keith said, noticeably embarrassed, the most wonderful place.

A phrase from another era.

Or was it another hook this strange stranger

was trying to catch her with?

Well, consider me taking your bait.

Brenda thought, why not?

She smiled.

I'll close up now and come down to you.

Keith left the office.

Brenda shut down her laptop.

Her gaze fell upon a bright glossy