Empathy No. 062
Discover more from Empathy: The Remnant Pieces
DR. BRAWNEY: I understand that you have been spending more time outside of the house?
RODERICK: Not really.
DR. BRAWNEY: But you've been visiting someone's house after school, correct?
RODERICK: Oh...yeah, some days I do hang out at someone's house. I guess you could say I've been getting out of the house more.
DR. BRAWNEY: And whose house is this?
RODERICK: The Anderson house.
DR. BRAWNEY: Meaning Carlie Anderson? You've mentioned her a few times in previous sessions. You've been seeing her?
RODERICK: Yeah, I mean...we haven't really gone out all that much, but I do see her a lot.
DR. BRAWNEY: Is she your girlfriend?
RODERICK: Yeah, she is.
DR. BRAWNEY: Okay. Now Roderick, we're going to talk about some things that might make you uncomfortable. I need you to keep calm and be honest with me.
RODERICK: Okay.
DR. BRAWNEY: Are you sexually active?
RODERICK: I don't...uh, I...
DR. BRAWNEY: Roderick, please look at me. I am not asking this to embarrass you, this is to better understand your situation.
RODERICK: It's just...my Mom, I can't let her...this is confidential?
DR. BRAWNEY: It is unless I have reason to believe that you are at risk. Roderick, you're not in any trouble - control your breathing, just like we talked about.
RODERICK: Okay.
DR. BRAWNEY: All right. Please be honest with me. Have you been sexually intimate with your girlfriend?
RODERICK: ...Yes.
DR. BRAWNEY: Have you had intercourse with her?
RODERICK: ...Yes.
DR. BRAWNEY: Okay. Did you use protection?
RODERICK: Yes, it's...why do you have to ask all of this?
DR. BRAWNEY: Try to remain calm, Roderick. I'm asking this because entering a sexual relationship is a very big step, and I need to be sure that you are mature enough to understand the consequences.
RODERICK: Of course I know the consequences, I'm only here because of the consequences.
DR. BRAWNEY: In the past, you were very apprehensive about fatherhood. It's certainly good that you are practicing safe sex, but as long as you are having intercourse with Carlie, there is a chance that she could become pregnant.
RODERICK: I know what you're doing. I know what you're getting at. I'm not like my father.
DR. BRAWNEY: We weren't talking about your father.
RODERICK: Yes you were! You think...everyone thinks that because my Dad got my Mom pregnant, that I'm gonna do the same thing to some girl. I'm not like that!
DR. BRAWNEY: You've said before that you don't know that much about your father.
RODERICK: No one does, but it doesn't matter. Everyone thinks I'm just some bastard and I'm going to turn into him, but I'm not like that!
DR. BRAWNEY: Do people actually use that language around you?
RODERICK: ...Behind my back. Nobody tells me what they really think to my face.
DR. BRAWNEY: What would you do if your girlfriend told you that she was pregnant?
RODERICK: I wouldn't run out.
DR. BRAWNEY: Okay, but what would you do?
RODERICK: I don't know.