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Dr. Balis:
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My goodness, Olivia! What happened? Are you all right?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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I'm okay, Doc. Really, it looks worse than it feels...sometimes. I was...uh, mugged.
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Dr. Balis:
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When did this happen?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Friday night. Last week, I was in the legal department talking to this girl, Caren. She introduced me to another "admin" there named Stephanie. Stephanie and I really hit it off, so we went out for drinks Friday night. When we left the bar, some guys jumped us and beat us up. Fortunately, other people were leaving the bar and helped fight off the attackers. Someone called the cops, so I spent the night in the emergency room talking to the fuzz.
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Dr. Balis:
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What did the doctors say? Are you on any medication?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Well, my neck is strained, so I have to wear this brace for a week and monitor how it feels. At first, they thought my nose was broken, but it's not. So aside from bad bruises, I escaped unscathed.
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Dr. Balis:
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I wouldn't exactly call it unscathed, Olivia. Was your companion hurt as well?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Poor Steffy. They managed to knock out two of her teeth. A fat lip and two less teeth is not a pretty sight. She also has a fractured rib. I'm going to take her some soup tonight and stay with her.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do the police think they'll be able to apprehend the suspects?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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They hope so, and so do we. No one deserves to hurt like this. But I have my doubts about the cops catching anyone.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why is that?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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They kept giving us funny looks and asking weird questions. Like it's so uncommon for two girls to go out for drinks after work. Sheesh! I mean yeah--Steffy is pretty hot, and I'm no eyesore. But jeez! You'd think, living in San Francisco, they wouldn't bat an eye at two chicks going out for drinks, whether or not they are just friends. The damn cops didn't even patrol the area looking for those creeps. They just asked the people in the bar a few questions and took us to the hospital. Well, I don't plan to be unprepared the next time someone decides to use me as a punching bag.
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Dr. Balis:
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What are you planning to do?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Well, I don't know how yet, but I'll be ready. Ooooh. All this excitement is making my neck hurt.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry. Can I do something to make you more comfortable?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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I'll be all right.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. Will your injuries keep you from work?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Nah. Vinnie lets me do a lot of my work at home. He's a pushover, so I'm sure it won't be a problem for a week or so. When I spoke to him this morning, he was really sympathetic. He made a comment about hate crimes being so outrageous in this day and age. That really got my dander up, but I let it slide. If he's willing to let me work from home for a week or two, I'm not about to challenge him on a slip of the tongue. He's a really nice guy. He even offered to bring me some meals and drop off my work so I didn't have to go into the office. I told him that it was really nice but I'd rather come in and get my stuff in the evening when most of the people have left for the day--I don't need people ogling me.
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Dr. Balis:
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How did your father react to this?
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him, Doc.
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Dr. Balis:
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I don't necessarily agree with that philosophy. I'm sure he'd be upset to find out about this at some later date...
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Well, he's the one who blocked me out for the past few weeks. If he doesn't want to know, I'm not going to volunteer the information.
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Dr. Balis:
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Olivia, I thought you enjoyed having some freedom from your father. That's what getting a job at SII was about, wasn't it? And finding someone for your father to date was about keeping his attention off you. So...
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Doesn't make much sense, does it? I guess...well, hmm. I guess it's about security.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, go on.
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Well, it's nice to have someone care for you. He's taken care of me, and I do love him. No one else wanted me, but he did. He has taken care of me all my life. He is all I have--like it or not--so when he's not there, it really is a punishment for me. Doc, if the only thing in the world you had for a companion was an ugly cat that scratched you and hissed at you most of the time but was always there, you'd miss it if it left. That's kind of how I feel about my father. I don't want him gone completely. I don't want to shut him out, nor do I want to be shut out of his life. I just want a lesser degree of butt-in-ski-ness.
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Dr. Balis:
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That sounds reasonable, Olivia.
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Ms. Stillwell:
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Actually, what I need right now are a few painkillers. Do you mind if we end a bit early today, Doc?
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Dr. Balis:
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Sure. Please take it easy, Olivia. And give some thought to breaking through your father's silence. He probably misses you.
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Ms. Stillwell:
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I'll think about it. Thanks for letting me out early. I'll see you next week.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Olivia.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Olivia Stillwell's Communications
