Face of Deception

After several weeks of not getting enough sleep from the constant nightmares of the accident, Alexa suffered a nervous breakdown and ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. Her parents’ and grandmother suggested that she temporarily move in with them for a while. Alexa agreed. Shortly after moving in with her parents’, she had cosmetic surgery. The surgeon had to reconstruct both her cheeks and nose using cartilage from her ears. They removed the deep, severe scars that disfigured majority of her. Her facial structure was a lot different from what she looked like before the tragic accident. As her body felt stronger and her mind cleared from the negative thoughts of suicide, Alexa started to slowly get her life back in order through prayer. She still had the bandages on her face from surgery, but she over-looked it.
After many months of debating with her family, Alexa finally went to the Christian psychiatrist they suggested. She felt it wasn’t necessary. There was nothing wrong with her, she thought. She took a deep breath and checked in at the front desk. The receptionist escorted her to a room, and she sat down on the burgundy sofa. Alexa glanced around the room. There was famous artwork on the wall as well as the psychiatrist’s awards and college degrees from the University of Miami. She was a psychiatrist for over thirty years. Moments later a woman walked in the room.
“Hello Alexa. I’m Dr. Wymberlee,” she said and shook her hand.
“Hi.” She stared at Dr. Wymberlee. She wasn’t anything like she expected. She was a short woman, at least five foot five and had gorgeous salt and pepper hair that was nicely cut to her neck.
“So, do you know why you’re here?” Dr. Wymberlee asked.
With an irritating tone she said, “I’m here because my family seems to think I need to be here. Well, let’s set the record straight right now before you say anything. I am not crazy.”
Dr. Wymberlee corrected her. “You’re here because your family loves you and cares about what happens to you.”
Alexa narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. “Is that what they told you? I kind of figured they would sugar-coat the situation to get me here. So let me break it down for you so we can cut out the middleman.” She stared at her with an attitude and quickly expressed the issue. “A drunk driver killed my husband, and seriously injured me. I was in the hospital for seven months and had to learn how to walk again, and now I’m left with these bandages on my face. I’ve tried to commit suicide; I’m having nightmares of the accident and can’t sleep. My husband was a pastor, and I was his co-pastor. We had a ministry together and I haven’t stepped back in the church since the accident. I’m having a difficult time getting my life in order as a pastor’s wife.” She rolled her eyes and continued by saying, “What else do you want to know?”
“Well…I want to know why you’re so angry?” She calmly asked her.
She looked away. “I’m not just angry. I’m…” She hesitated and whispered, “I’m disappointed, and embarrassed.”
Dr. Wymberlee sat next to her. “Okay. Well… let’s start there. Why are you disappointed?”
Alexa started crying. “Because after all I have seen and been through, my family seems to think I’m not stabled, but that’s not true. I’m just hurting and angry inside because I miss my husband.”
“And why are you embarrassed?”
“Because I’m an ordained minister and I shouldn’t be feeling this way. That’s why.”
She pulled a couple of Kleenex’s from the box next to her. “Just because you’re an ordained minister doesn’t mean you can’t be angry or hurt. That’s part of being human. I am here to help you work through those feelings and struggles with the loss of your husband and begin a new chapter in your life. I’m here to make sure you’re going to be okay.”
“Really?” She said with a sarcastic angry tone. “What do you see when you look at me?”
Dr. Wymberlee gave her a serious look and said, “I see a woman who have let the hurt of the past change her attitude of who she is. A woman who is angry with the world but at the same time fighting within herself to get her life back.”
Those words calmed Alexa’s spirit and she stared at her. Everything she said was true. “You’re right,” she whispered.
She smiled and stood up. “So, let’s start over.” She held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Dr. Kristina Wymberlee.”
Alexa looked up at her. She wiped her tears with the Kleenex. “Hi. I’m Alexa Stephens.”
Dr. Wymberlee smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alexa.”
She smiled back.
Alexa met with Dr. Wymberlee twice a week. She still had so much hurt and anger the past couple of weeks, but after a couple of weeks, she became more and more comfortable talking to her. During that time, the bandages came off Alexa’s face. She was very pleased at how she looked that she faithfully attended church with her family every Sunday. The church embraced her with love. Alexa did not get behind the pulpit to preach, and didn’t plan to, at that point until she fully recovered.