Page 137 of Made Better Together

-trauma like Connor’s can be successfully treated by EMDR, based on numerous clinical trials

-EMDR targets the amygdala (fear center), hippocampus (memory center), and prefrontal cortex (logic and control center) of the brain

After looking at the references, I skim through a couple of the clinical trials online. Their findings are reassuring.

This treatment works. I just hope Connor reaches out to his old counselor.

39

EDEN

Somehow I muddle through my Genetics class, and that night, it’s back to the Bree-and-Eden show as we sprawl across the living room with our books.

I look over my list of assignments. “Ugh, I’m so behind after this weekend.”

“Frankly, I thought you were never going to come back,” she teases. “That we’d lost you to Vitamin D.” One of her sayings, referring to a certain part of the male anatomy.

“Stooopppp.”

“Hey, we all need a dose sometimes. I guess it’s really Vitamin C, in your case.”

As if that’s his call sign, my phone starts ringing, and it’s Connor.

After our serious conversation earlier, no way am I blowing him off. “Sorry, Bree, gonna take this.”

She waves her hand dismissively. “No worries, I get it.”

“Hey, you okay?” I answer, shutting the door to my room behind me.

“I’m fine. I’m…it was good to tell you all of that, to be honest.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“Trust is the theme of the weekend, apparently.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “That’s not why I’m calling.”

“Oh, what’s up?”

“So with all of the…intensity this morning, I forgot to tell you. I found this list online, and I’m going to email it to you.”

“What’s the list?”

“It’s more like a questionnaire. I guess people experienced with BDSM use it to communicate their likes and limits.”

“Okay?”

“We’re not experienced yet, though. Maybe we should use it instead to figure out what we each want to try? Because…it’s really comprehensive, and there are some…priorities of mine on there. I want to see where we overlap.”

My curiosity is thoroughly piqued. “Me too.”

“Obviously if something isn’t working or comfortable for one of us, we’ll tell each other and stop. Move on to the next thing.”

My body stirs at the thought of “experiments” with Connor, utilizing the list. “I’m in.”

He chuckles. “Was hoping you’d say that.”

When I look at the survey he emails me later, I get even more excited. This could be very enjoyable, assuming we have common interests.

I can’t even imagine the “Vitamin D” jokes if Bree saw the questionnaire. So I keep this development to myself.