Yes

Lauren thought about everything the doctor said.

Hesitantly she said “do you really think, if I did all that, I would be okay?”

“I honestly do.”

“Okay. Then I... I will try.”

“Thank you for trusting me, Lauren, this is a huge step.”

Lauren tried to tell herself she could accept her body in time. Maybe even like it. She had been so negative about it for so long though she wondered if it was really possible.

“Let’s work on a time table that we can both agree to so that way we can have goals and measure progress. Also try to remember one of our goals is to see you reenter the outside world and your release is tied to your ability to take care of yourself in a mentally healthy way.”

The doctor had her pen pointed to her calendar on the next week. “When do you think you could be up to an hour of mirror time?”

Lauren gulped but with this new found trust came an eagerness to seek the approval of the doctor. Along with Nurse Karen, she was the only person who knew her body and seemed to care about her. She wanted to impress her.

“I will spend the night naked, starting tonight. I’ll leave my gown outside.”

The doctor smiled but knew Lauren was just trying to impress her and not actually do what was best for herself.

“Lauren I appreciate your rush to engage the treatment but that would be over doing it. How about we split the difference. Try an hour tonight, if you want that to be your goal. If you can’t make it that far then that’s fine because my goal was you would build to this over a week.”

Lauren nodded and an alarm went off.

“That’s the end of our session. I will see you later at group. Do you think you can handle group in your current condition?”

Lauren looked down and realized everyone would see she had her flat chest behind the gown.

“Is it important that I go?”

“Yes but I’m not going to rush you into it. If it takes you a while to get there so be it.”

“Is there anything else I could do? I just.. I’m really nervous. They might say something hurtful.”

The doctor pondered for a moment...