Lt. Silveira: Letting the fire die by itself.

[btv.abreu]

((USS Artemis, deck  7, Counselor’s Office))

As Vitor replied to Jashkaa's question he instinctively reacted, closing his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked. The sound surprised even him and he opened his hands quickly, realising they were shaking slightly. He leaned back embarrassed.

Silveira: I am sorry…

Jashkaa waved her hand, dismissively.

Jashkaa: There is no need to apologise, Vitor. This is a safe space.

Vitor nodded, resting his hand on his lap.

Silveira: Like I said emotional control isn’t exactly my forte. There’s that Portuguese expression that fits like a glove to me. I have my heart right under my skin.

Jashkaa: A beautiful phrase Vitor.

Vitor opened his arms, taking a deep breath before leaning forward.

Silveira: So what do you suggest I do?

Jashkaa nodded, her eyes boring kindly into his, and she offered him a reassuring smile.

Jashkaa: Well, apart from regular appointments with myself, I would suggest that you allow yourself to grieve what is lost. Take some time and sit with your thoughts and your feelings, and let them burn - eventually the blaze will die down to a manageable blaze.

Vitor raised an eyebrow from Jaskhaa's suggestion. He thought she would advise him to do something different.

Silveira: I wasn’t expecting that advice…

Jaskhaa: If you would like, we can just sit here for the rest of the hour, no judgement, just companionable silence. It might help you to feel.

That struck a chord on him and he smiled thankfully at Jashkaa.
When he was recovering from his coma Tito visited him often. And they would just sit there, speaking quietly as he used to say.

It helped and with that he found a much greater respect for Jashkaa.

Silveira: I think it will.

With that, Jashkaa closed the PADD and placed it on her desk, folding her hands across themselves on her lap. Vitor smiled, sitting there for a few minutes.
But as he felt the tears burning he stood up and nodded to Jashkaa. Although he was now truly willing to follow her advice, and found his Counsellor, he wasn’t yet fully at ease to cry in front of her.

That he would do in the privacy of his quarters.


End scene for Sil

Lt. Vitor S. Silveira
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287
O238907VS0