A beach trip that wasn't so pleasant

"Okay," your therapist pushes on, "have there been times you've actually been ashamed?"

The therapist's question hangs in the air, and you take a deep breath, letting your eyes wander around the room as you collect my thoughts. You notice the faint scent of lavender wafting from the essential oil diffuser on the therapist's desk, and the soft hum of the air conditioner in the background. Your gaze settles back on the therapist, who is watching you with an expectant expression.

"Yes," you say finally, your voice barely above a whisper. "There was another time. It was a few months after the incident in the locker room. Jacob, Chrissie, and I had been exploring our relationship, and we decided to take a weekend trip to the beach together."

"Okay, and did you all agree to get undressed during this trip?" your therapist asks you.

You nod, a slight smile on your face as you recall the weekend getaway. "Yeah, we all agreed to get undressed on the beach. We found this secluded spot, away from prying eyes, and spent the afternoon soaking up the sun and playing in the waves." You pause, collecting your thoughts before continuing. "But as the day wore on, we decided to take a walk along the shoreline. The tide was low, and we were exploring the tidal pools and watching the crabs scuttle across the sand." Your eyes glaze over, lost in the memory. "That's when we stumbled upon this group of people having a bonfire, and I wanted to turn back to our clothes."

"But Jacob and Chrissie were curious, and they wanted to check it out," you continue, your voice trailing off as you recall the uncertainty of that moment. "I remember feeling a shiver run down my spine as we approached the group. They were all laughing and chatting, completely carefree, and I felt like an outsider, like I was intruding on their private party."

The therapist nods, her eyes never leaving yours, as you pause to collect your thoughts. You take a deep breath, letting the memory wash over you once again. "As we got closer, I saw that they were all staring at us, their eyes fixed on our naked bodies. I couldn't help but wince at their withering gaze."

"I remember feeling so exposed, so ****. I wanted to run away, to hide from their judgmental stares. But Jacob and Chrissie seemed unfazed, as if they didn't even notice the group of people watching us.

"We walked past them, trying to act as if everything was normal, but I could feel their eyes on us, burning into our skin. I felt like I was on display, like a piece of meat at a butcher's shop.

"Finally, we reached the end of the beach, and Jacob and Chrissie suggested we head back to our clothes. I nodded, feeling relieved that the ordeal was over."

"Okay," the therapist continues, "and what were the long-term effects of that incident on your psyche and on the relationship?"

"I think it made me more anxious about being naked in public," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper.