In Dreams (Paperback)

Pages : 366
ISBN : 9781399977623
Weight : 350g
Dimensions : 203 x 20 x 127 mm

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- Coming out
- Dream symbolism
- Sexual awakening
- Cultural challenges
- Therapist / patient
- Celebrity

Nestled in the heart of Notting Hill, London, on the second floor of a mews house, lay the office of Emma Parker, psychologist to the stars turned dream coach. Rebecca glanced up at the building that looked just like the pictures she’d seen online: pastel pink with white windowsills and bright pink geraniums in the plant pots by the entrance. Tucked away in one of the quaint, terraced buildings, there was no sign of a business apart from the small plaque next to the doorbell that said, London Dream Clinic. Rebecca felt nervous as she rang the bell. Dr Parker’s long waiting list had given her months to anticipate her first appointment, but she still had no idea what to expect. Finally, the day had come, and she sincerely hoped Dr Parker lived up to her reputation as she was getting more tired by the day and waking up at five am to head for the studio had become a challenge. On top of that, fatigue was starting to show on her face, and make-up couldn’t disguise the bags under her eyes anymore. Working as a morning TV presenter and being in the public eye, viewers had started to question her well-being, and she didn’t like the gossip that was spreading over social media.
The door buzzed, and Rebecca let herself in. The narrow staircase leading up was steep and a little worn, with chipped paint on the walls and a damaged wooden handrail that had come loose in places. Definitely not an entrance to a three-hundred-pound an hour clinic, she thought when she reached the second floor and took a moment to steady her breath before knocking on the door. After trying just about everything, Dr Parker felt like her last and only hope, and desperate to solve her sleeping issues, she mentally braced herself for her session.
“Hello, Rebecca. It’s nice to meet you. Please come in.” Dr Parker smiled as she opened the door wide. Rebecca was still out of breath, and Dr Parker put a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry about the stairs. It’s an old building.”
“No problem. I’m just out of shape; I haven’t had the energy to go to the gym lately.” When Rebecca entered her office, she noted the woman was nothing like she’d imagined. From the stylish black and white headshot of Dr Parker – the only photograph on her website in which she wore a simple, black turtleneck with her hair pulled back into a blonde ponytail, she was surprised to find that this woman looked quite the opposite. Dressed in an oversized grey jumper, black leggings and white trainers, and her long hair gathered into a messy bun, she could have come straight from the gym. At first sight, there was nothing remotely slick or pretentious about her. “You look so different in real life.” Rebecca looked her up and down. “I mean, not in a bad way,” she added. “Just different.”
“I get that a lot. I need to update my website, but it’s not urgent so I keep putting it off.” Dr Parker gestured to a deep, white three-seater couch with knitted throws draped over the backrest. “The photograph on my website is at least fifteen years old, taken at a time when I was trying a little too hard to establish myself professionally.”
“You certainly succeeded,” Rebecca said, pleasantly surprised that her new therapist didn’t shy away from sharing such personal information.
The old, white-washed wooden floor creaked under her feet as she crossed the space with tall windows. The room felt light and romantic, as if dreams themselves were woven into the very fabric. Soft, pastel hues adorned the walls, and delicate fairy lights twinkled around the open beams, casting a soft, ethereal glow that danced across the ceiling. The scent of lavender and vanilla lingered, and a vintage sideboard was standing against the left side wall, its surface adorned with an assortment of journals and well-worn books. A dreamcatcher hung above it, its delicate feathers swaying in the breeze of the open windows. Crystals of various shapes and sizes were displayed on the windowsills, capturing and refracting the sunlight and infusing the space with a touch of mysticism. A plush armchair stood opposite the couch, and in between was a low, wooden coffee table. Thick, neutral-coloured rugs were randomly scattered over the floor, and dream-inspired artworks graced the walls, depicting ethereal landscapes and surreal scenes.
Fascinated, Rebecca took in every detail. “I love your office.”
“Thank you. I’ve tried to make it as comfortable and inviting as I could. I spend a lot of time here, after all.” Dr Parker grabbed two mugs from a small cabinet that held a coffee maker and a kettle. “Coffee? Tea? Or I have sparkling water if you prefer…”
“Oh, I’d love a coffee,” Rebecca said gratefully. “I didn’t think you’d have any, and the coffee shop around the corner was already closed for the day.”
Dr Parker chuckled as she turned on the Nespresso machine. “Hey, just because I’m specialized in sleep patterns and dreams doesn’t mean I’m the coffee police. I love a good cuppa.” She put two mugs with black coffee on the table along with a small jug of milk and a bowl of brown sugar cubes. “Do you mind if I call you Rebecca? Or do you prefer Ms. Pandey?”
“No, Rebecca is fine.”
“Excellent. I prefer to keep it casual too, so please call me Emma.” Emma grabbed a notepad and a pen from her coffee table and sat back in the armchair. “I like to use pen and paper in my sessions, then I’ll type out my notes later. You’re welcome to read anything I write if it makes you feel more comfortable, and our sessions will, of course, remain strictly confidential.” She tapped her notepad a few times and studied Rebecca with curious eyes. “I’d normally start with asking you what you do for a living, but I happen to religiously watch ‘Tails and Tales,’ so I might as well admit that.”
“Oh… You watch my show?” Rebecca’s brows shot up. “You don’t fit the profile of my audience pool. It’s not exactly highbrow,” she said with a hint of humour. She felt flattered that Dr Parker knew who she was, and even more so that she liked the morning TV programme that she presented and co-produced.
“Quite the opposite. I enjoy it. It’s cute, positive, and entertaining.” Emma shrugged. “Animals always make me laugh. I have a cat myself, and I share a dog with my ex. My cat, Penny, is an exceptionally good thief who steals all kinds of things when my neighbours leave their windows open.”
Rebecca sniggered. “You should sign her up for the programme. I’m personally involved in the selection, and we’ve never had a kleptomaniac cat before.”
“I’m afraid she doesn’t steal on command, and I certainly don’t encourage her,” Emma joked. She opened her notepad and smiled. “Anyway, enough about Penny. As much as you seemed to have a pre-conceived idea of me, I probably have one about you. That’s what happens when you see someone on TV every day. You think you know them, but you don’t, so why don’t you start telling me a little bit about yourself? Your family, your upbringing, your personal life, your routine… Just so I can get to know you. After that, we’ll delve into your issues.”
“Okay.” Rebecca’s nerves subsided as she stirred sugar through her coffee and took a sip. Emma made her feel at ease and the session felt casual so far, like she was talking to a new friend. “I was born in London to Indian parents. They immigrated from Mumbai after they got married and I’m the youngest of three children. I have a brother and a sister. My mother is a housewife, or a homemaker as they say nowadays, and my father was a physiotherapist and he’s retired now. I have a good relationship with my parents and siblings…” She hesitated. “Well, as good as it can be, I suppose. My siblings are married with children, and I’m the only one apart from one uncle in the family who never got married.”
“Was that ever an issue to them?” Emma asked.
“Yes, it was a struggle when I was younger. They pressured me to find a husband; they’re quite traditional that way, but I fought hard to follow my own path. I studied journalism and made it very clear to them that my career came first, and they finally gave up on the idea of me becoming a wife and mum anytime soon. I dated a few men, had two long-term relationships, and was even engaged to one of them, but I called it off as I didn’t feel marriage would give me as much happiness as my independence did. Breaking off the engagement was difficult. My parents and my fiancé’s parents were close, so it caused a lot of drama.” Rebecca winced, remembering the awful fights they’d had and how she’d nearly lost all contact with her parents. “But that was a long time ago and now we’re fine. We argue, of course. I think every family does, but nowadays we bicker about insignificant things rather than big life choices.”
Emma nodded. “So, would you say your personal life is fairly stable?”
“Yes,” Rebecca said. “My sister had breast cancer, but she got the all-clear last year, and since then, there’s been very little drama.”
“That’s good.” Emma jotted a few things down before she looked up again. “And are you currently in a relationship?”
“No. Even if I wanted to, my job is hectic and I’m always tired, so I prefer to spend my weekends alone in bed.” Rebecca held up a hand. “That doesn’t mean I’m a loner. I have dinner with my family twice a week, and I often see friends or colleagues for a late lunch after work.” Leaning back and crossing her legs, she realized that, apart from her sleeping problem, her life was actually pretty good. “All in all, I’d be happy if it wasn’t for my lack of sleep wearing me down.”
“And that is why you’re here.” Emma leaned forward and shot her a reassuring smile. “I can help you with that.”