"And?", Kim says. "I mean, that can't be the end of the story".
"We've talked about how important it is to be honest with me here, and it feels like the story was only just beginning"
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(css: "font-size: 150%;")[''Prologue 8'']
''Careful Confessions''
[[Continue->Continue0-01]] "Says who?", Kira replies. "It's //my// story".
"I can make that the ending if I want", Kira determines. "Besides, if I told you every single mundane detail of my life, then I'd be here all day, every single day".
"And then you'd never get to any of your other sessions... who probably need it way more by the way... and we'd never have made this progress", Kira states. "progress for Lori, I mean"
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[[Continue->Continue0-02]]"Right, because you've said this is for Lori, and not you", Kim notes.
"Exactly", Kira affirms. "See doc, you've gotten the hang of this. Must be a sign we're done".
"But Kira, having a drink with a guy in a place like that doesn't seem like a 'mundane' detail of your life", Kim insists. "There must be something significant that came of it?"
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[[Continue->Continue0-03]]"Yeah, something //did// -- it's what I already told you", Kira repeats, "which was that when Lori came back, she got talking to Tim".
"Right, I meant you and Samar though", Kim asks. "What happened there?"
"Nothing happened", Kira says. "He's a nice guy and we chatted over a drink"
"That's it?", Kim asks.
"Of course", Kira explains. "I actually kept the conversation going a bit longer just to give Lori more time alone with Tim".
"Are you sure that's how //Samar// saw it?", Kim asks.
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[[Continue->Continue0-04]]Sensing Kim's uncertainty, Kira sits up and takes a more serious tone.
"Oh my gosh, yes Kim, I'm sure", Kira insists. "We didn't exchange phone numbers or hug or anything like that".
"We talked about school most of the time.. homework actually", Kira says. "Like I said, literally nothing happened".
Kira reaches forward and touches Kim's leg, "everything is going to be fine, Kim".
"You just need to relax more", Kira tells Kim as if she were the one doing the counseling.
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[[Continue->Continue0-05]]"Look Kim, I really appreciate that you seemed to be as concerned about the situation as I was", Kira says. "But Lori is going to be just fine now".
"Lori is talking to Timothy again, I'm making new friends at school, everything is good", Kira re-assures.
"And now that Lori is talking to Tim again, it'll be smooth sailing from there", Kira says.
"I know you didn't agree with everything I did along the way, but it was all for the best in the end", Kira concludes. "Everything is good and everyone's happy".
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[[Continue->Continue0-06]]"I hope you're right"
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[[Continue->Continue0-07]]"Oh, I am right, I'm sure of it", Samar replies. "Those guys are a great new group of friends".
"I'm telling you Kim, I had the most wonderful night", Samar beams. "And it's all thanks to Timothy and his friends".
"If not for them, I would have been sitting in the dorm by myself doing homework, instead of talking to the most beautiful woman", Samar admits.
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[[Continue->Continue0-08]]"Samar, I don't want to take anything away from your enjoyment of that evening", Kim begins. "But I would be careful to put too much trust in a friend that is relying on you so heavily to pass his classes".
"People pay a lot of money to be here, and they stand to make a lot more money after they graduate", Kim explains. "There are some who are willing to go to quite the lengths just to get a passing grade".
"Absolutely, but I haven't been helping Ethan or William", Samar replies.
"Yes, but //Timothy// is the reason you're there, correct?", Kim suggests.
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[[Continue->Continue0-09]]"You know, Kim, you're right, you're always soo right", Samar replies. "And I always thought the same thing".
"After our last session, I've been taking your advice; saying 'no' to people I can't spare the time to help without straining myself", Samar explains. "And I was prepared to do the same with Timothy".
"But he invited me out for no reason other than to have fun.. to be with friends", Samar says. "Not homework... and he stood up for me when he felt they were pushing me too hard".
"Some of the things said that night ''do'' concern me, and it's part of the secret I originally came here to tell you", Samar says, "But I'm starting to feel like this is a healthy friendship for me".
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[[Continue->Continue0-10]]"What about Kira?", Kim asks Samar.
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[[Continue->Continue1-00]]"What //about// her?", Lori asks.
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[[Continue->Continue1-01]]"Well darling, you said you talked to someone who'd given you alternative advice and I just figured it was Kira", Professor Taylor replies.
"Was I.. wrong?", she asks.
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[[Continue->Continue1-02]]"Professor... it was //also// your advice not to get the different areas of my life too mixed together", Lori says. "And I've taken your advice on that".
"I guess it doesn't matter who said it -- what matters is that I'm following my heart", Lori tells her.
"And right now, my heart tells me to give Timothy a chance", Lori says. "He's unlike any guy I've ever met".
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[[Continue->Continue1-03]]"//'Love is a madness; if thwarted it develops fast.'//", Professor Taylor quotes. "Mark Twain".
"That's a good one", Lori says. "I don't even know what to say, I just know I need to try this. Maybe it is madness, but I'll go mad if I don't try".
"Don't worry, it's not homework", Professor Taylor says with a smirk. "Just something to think about".
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[[Continue->Continue1-04]]"Just be careful, Lori.... of your friend as well"
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[[Continue->Continue0-11]]"Oh, I will be careful", Samar replies. "I promise you that much".
"Samar, you came to me with a secret that you said was a big weight on your shoulders", Kim says. "But I get the feeling that we haven't touched on it yet".
"I don't want to lie to you, Kim", Samar says. "Like all of us, I may have more than one secret".
"But for now, can we focus on one secret at a time?", Samar asks.
"Certainly", Kim replies. "I appreciate your honesty, Samar".
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[[Continue->Continue2-01]]"I like someone... I think you know who", Samar says. "I just don't know what to do about it".
"Well, that's easy", Kim replies. "When the timing feels right... tell her".
"I suppose you're right, as usual", Samar says. "I just need figure out for myself //when// it's the ''right'' time to tell her".
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[[Continue->Continue0-12]]"Tell her //what//?", Kira asks. "Oh... about Timothy and what I did?"
Kim nods.
"Well... I did", Kira responds.
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[[Continue->Continue0-13]]".... And?", Kim replies inquisitively.
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[[Continue->Continue3-00]]"And it's fine", Kira says. "She said it's fine".
"That's... it?", Kim replies.
"Yeah.. and uhh, actually, she said she really appreciated how much I'd helped her", Kira adds. "Said she couldn't have done it without me".
"Now they're as happy as can be", Kira says. "Everything is the way it should be".
"I'm telling you Kim, if you saw her with him, you'd understand how happy this made her and how worth it this was", Kira explains. "They're both in that really early stage of love and it's great".
"Nobody can ruin this for her now", Kira concludes.
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[[Continue->Continue3-01]]"Ugh, do you see this, Sah?", Casey says. "Some people have //no// standards".
"Talk about desperate", Sahana replies.
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[[Continue->Continue0-14]]"Nothing left to talk about!", Kira says, standing up. "See?".
"And, as much as I //do// love talking to you.. I just have nothing else to say, you know?", Kira explains.
"I ''would'' like the chance to continue our sessions and offer you some more advice", Kim says. "And while I think I can help, I will not push you to continue, if you don't want to".
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[[Continue->Continue0-15]]"Thanks Kim!", Kira bubbles, turning to the exit.
"I knew you'd understand!", she adds.
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[[Continue->Continue0-16]]"Kira, please... wait", Kim asks, getting up to stop her.
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[[Continue->Continue0-17]]"Kira, I just want you to know that you can trust me", Kim tells her. "You'll always be welcome here".
"Oh, Kim.. I know this was a unique situation where you're helping someone you've never even met", Kira says. "And I can imagine how hard it is to let go at the end".
"Kira, I'm just concerned th--", Kim starts, before Kira interrupts.
"--I'm sorry if anything I told you has caused you so much concern and stress", Kira tells Kim. "I know you're new here and not much older than I am -- so if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you".
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[[Continue->Continue0-18]]"Uhh, thanks", Kim replies. "But I think I'll be fine".
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[[Continue->Continue0-19]]Kim watches as Kira leaves the college counseling office, for what Kira insists will be her last time.
"Well, that was... special", Kim mutters to herself. "I have a feeling I'll be seeing //her// again"
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