The Shadow Behind the Therapist

Things I did not see, I did not believe in. But then they started.

It was subtle at first. A flicker. A shadow. I’d be in a session, listening, and then—there it was. Behind my client. Dark. Formless. Always just at the edge of my vision.

I ignored it. Fatigue, I thought. Stress. I’d been working long hours, listening to others' pain. But then the shadow... it didn’t go away.

The next time, I saw it clearly—during Amanda’s session. She was talking about her anxiety. Her words were full of worry. And there, behind her, the figure was larger. Darker. Watching.

I blinked. Looked away. It didn’t move. But I couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Do you... feel anything right now?” I asked, the words coming out tight, unsure.

Amanda paused. She looked around, her eyes darting. “It’s... it’s behind you.”

I froze. “What?”

She nodded slowly. “I feel it. Watching me.”

I was at a loss for words. “Can you describe it?”

Amanda looked at me with confusion, fear in her eyes. “I don’t know... It’s just there. Watching. Waiting.”

I felt my heart race. I wanted to brush it off, but I couldn’t. Not anymore.

The next session, I asked her something I didn’t want to know. “If you see anything now... please tell me.”

Amanda squinted, her eyes following something just past my shoulder. “It’s there... always there. The figure. It’s waiting.”

I felt a cold sweat form on my skin. “What does it want?”

She gave a headshake. "I'm not sure. However, I believe it's not just me. It’s always there for me. For you too.”

My stomach dropped. Her words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. “What do you mean?”

Amanda’s voice trembled, “I think... it’s waiting for you, too.”

The days blurred after that. The shadow didn’t leave. Every session, it was there. Always behind my clients, always watching. I couldn’t avoid it anymore.

I sat with Jake, a college student. He spoke of guilt, depression. I didn’t want to mention the shadow, but I had to know.

“Jake, have you noticed anything strange in here?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

He didn’t answer immediately. His eyes moved around the room, then landed on the corner. “It’s there. Behind you.”

My chest tightened. “Can you describe it?”

Jake’s voice faltered. “It’s dark. Like a shadow, but different. It’s watching. Waiting.”

I stared at him. “What do you think it wants?”

Jake’s gaze seemed distant, lost in thought. “I don’t know. But it’s waiting for you. Not for me. You.”

I shivered. “Have you... told anyone?”

Jake shook his head. “No. But I think... we all see it. We all feel it.”

She shook her head. "I'm not sure. I don't believe it's just me, though. The corner. The shadow.

It wasn’t just behind my clients. It was behind me too.

The shadow was waiting. Watching. And I couldn’t escape it.

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