Organization: Conrad South-West Criminal Detention Facility
Client: Turk Roberts — Inmate
Therapist: Dr. Holly Kessler — Clinical Psychologist
Session: 3
Date: 15/2/3552
Location: Interrogation Room 4, Conrad Detention Facility
The room is designed solely for its purpose. Bare walls, a bolted table, two chairs and a camera in the corner. The door opens.
Turk is escorted in by a guard. His wrists are uncuffed at the table. The guard steps back without a word and exits. The door shuts with a dull click.
Turk doesn't look at the camera. He drops into the chair, leaning forward immediately, forearms resting on his thighs. His hands come together briefly, out of habit more than thought, before falling loose again.
A few seconds later, the door opens again. Dr. Holly Kessler enters. She carries a slim tablet but doesn't look at it as she takes her seat across from him.
Dr. Kessler: Morning, Turk.
Turk: Yeah. Morning.
Dr. Kessler: How've you been?
He shrugs.
Turk: Same.
She nods, not pushing it.
Dr. Kessler: This is our third session.
Turk: Is it?
Dr. Kessler: It is. Usually around now, I like to figure out what we're actually working toward. Something like a goal.
Turk huffs, shaking his head.
Turk: A goal. That's funny.
Dr. Kessler: Why?
Turk: I don't have any.
Dr. Kessler: Then we make one.
Turk looks at her, tired more than annoyed.
Turk: How?
Dr. Kessler: Let's start with what matters to you.
He turns away, jaw shifting.
Dr. Kessler: What do you want to do with your life, Turk?
Turk: I don't know.
Dr. Kessler: You can take your time.
Turk: I said I don't know.
Dr. Kessler: Try anyway.
Turk straightens, a sharp breath leaving him.
Turk: Try what?
He raises his voice.
Turk: You want me to just pull something out? You think it's that simple?!
He leans forward.
Turk: I spent years obsessed with that stupid question. So much time wasted trying to figure something out. Trying to find a reason to move forward.
No comment from her. She just watches.
Turk: And there wasn't anything. That's the answer. Nothing. You wake up, you eat, you mess around, you go to sleep. Rinse and repeat. Doesn't matter if you do more, doesn't matter if you do less. You'll live.
He shakes his head harder now.
Turk: They were all okay with it. Just drifting around, aimlessly. I almost gave up. Thought there would never be anything more.
He scoffs.
Turk: Then those guys showed up.
His voice drops a bit.
Turk: And for the first time in my life, there was a sense of direction. I felt like I actually mattered. I was part of something much greater than myself.
He closes his eyes for a moment.
Turk: But it was all just lies. Complete bullshit. And I ate it all up.
Silence hangs, but he keeps going.
Turk: I'm a lot of things but I'm not a killer. Life isn't that cheap. Not to me.
He leans back, running a hand over his face.
Turk: And now I'm stuck here. Back to nothing. Back to being nothing.
He shakes his head.
Turk: So yeah, I've got no fucking clue.
For a few seconds, neither of them speaks.
Dr. Kessler: It's good you got all that out.
Turk doesn't look up.
Dr. Kessler: You've made it clear you didn't come here with a goal.
Turk: No, I didn't.
Dr. Kessler: But you did come here.
Turk shrugs.
Turk: They said I could.
Dr. Kessler: It was only an option. One you took. Why?
Turk: I don't know.
Dr. Kessler: We both know that's not true.
Turk exhales.
Turk: Sometimes…Sometimes it's too much.
Dr. Kessler: What do you mean?
Turk: I can't sleep.
Dr. Kessler: The nightmares?
He nods.
Dr. Kessler: You're willing to talk about them now?
He nods again.
Dr. Kessler: How long have you had them?
Turk: Ever since it happened.
Dr. Kessler: What do you see?
Turk: The same thing everytime. I'm in the chair and I'm stuck. Stuck watching him kill her.
Dr. Kessler: Who?
Turk: Iris. She looks to me. Pleading. Begging me to save her. But I can't. I'm powerless. I know this. He knows this. He turns to me as she dies. Then he comes for me too.
A pause.
Dr. Kessler: What happens next?
Turk: Nothing. Everytime. I wake before it happens. Just before he kills me.
Dr. Kessler: And who is this…killer?
He sighs.
Turk: The marshal that caught me.
Dr. Kessler: Do you know who he is?
Turk: No. I never saw him after that.
His hands start to tremble.
Turk: But he's there. He's everywhere. He haunts me and I don't know how to make it stop. I can't beat him. He's too strong.
His shoulders slump.
Turk: And I'm not.
Another silence
Dr. Kessler: Why do you think this person keeps appearing in your nightmares?
Turk: If I knew I wouldn't be here.
Dr. Kessler: I'll change the question. What do you think makes him so 'strong'?
Turk: Well he's–
He shifts uncomfortably
Dr. Kessler: Go on.
Turk: He's everything I'm not.
A small pause.
Dr. Kessler: How is that?
Turk looks down.
Turk: I saw it in his eyes. His conviction. He never hesitated. Even before he killed Iris, a part of me already understood how dangerous he was. He knew what he wanted and he was going to get it. My life was inconsequential to him.
Dr. Kessler just watches him for a while, thinking. She makes up her mind.
Dr. Kessler: If you somehow became as 'strong' as this person, do you think things would be different?
Turk: I guess so.
Dr. Kessler: I think it's worth a shot. If you can beat him in your mind, then he won't be as scary.
Turk frowns.
Turk: How am I supposed to do that?
Dr. Kessler: We can figure that out over time.
Turk doesn't respond, but he doesn't push back either.
Dr. Kessler: That's enough for today.
Turk nods slightly.
Dr. Kessler: Same time next week?
Turk: Yeah.
A guard enters.
Turk stands, hesitates for just a second, like something's on his mind. He ultimately drops it and walks out.
Dr. Kessler writes a brief note after the session:
"Client displayed significant emotional release when discussing lack of purpose and disillusionment with prior ideological affiliation. Language more direct and less guarded than previous sessions. Persistent existential frustration evident. Tortured by ongoing nightmares. Fear acknowledged; underlying cognitive engagement remains unexplored. Recommend continued sessions focused on identity reconstruction and processing of conflicting perceptions."