STEVE: Hello, Amy. It’s good to see you again. How are you today?

AMY: Fine.

STEVE: That’s good to hear. What’s been going on this week?

AMY: I don’t know. Nothing.

Pause.

AMY: My dad hates me.

STEVE: Why do you say that?

AMY: ’Cause he does. He’s always yelling at me.

STEVE: Okay. Why does he yell at you?

AMY: I don’t know. ’Cause he’s an asshole.

Pause.

AMY: He shouted at me about the stupid dishes.

STEVE: What did he say?

AMY: I don’t know. Some shit about money and how he works hard all day.

STEVE: How did that make you feel?

AMY: Angry.

STEVE: What did you say in return?

AMY: I told him mom works too.

STEVE: What did he say about that?

AMY: He went and got drunk. Then he fucked mom.

STEVE: Did that upset you?

AMY: Yeah.

Pause.

STEVE: What did you do?

AMY: I listened to music.

STEVE: Did you cut?

AMY: Yeah, but it didn’t have anything to do with that.

STEVE: Was it to see the blood again?

AMY: Yeah.

STEVE: Why is seeing the blood important to you?

AMY: I don’t know. It just looks pretty.

STEVE: May I see?

Pause.

STEVE: They don’t look too bad. Did it hurt?

AMY: Not really. It’s like, if it’s sharp enough you don’t even feel it.

STEVE: Do you wish it did hurt?

AMY: No. I don’t like pain. Why?

STEVE: Often self-harmers will do it because they feel it’s the only way for them to feel anything. To break through the numbness.

AMY: I don’t want to break through the numbness. I like it.

STEVE: Why is that?

Pause.

AMY: I don’t know. It’s…like it’s comfortable.

STEVE: Can you tell me more about that?

AMY: I don’t know. It’s like when you’re wrapped up under the blankets and all the lights are off, and there’s just…nothing, it’s like you’re in this deep black place where there’s just nothing, nothing around you, no people, no things…it’s not even like you’re floating, it’s just warm and comfortable and black. Deep down, down below everything else.

STEVE: Like a grave?

AMY: Yeah, I guess. That’s one way of looking at it. Yeah…I like that. Like a grave.

STEVE: Why is being in a grave comforting to you?

AMY: ’Cause it’s safe.

STEVE: Interesting. What are you safe from?

Pause.

AMY: Everything.

STEVE: All the things that can harm you?

AMY: And all the thing that can’t. Just…everything.

STEVE: Can you give me examples of things you want to be safe from?

Pause.

AMY: I don’t want to talk about it.

STEVE: Okay.

Pause.

STEVE: Is there anything else you would like to talk about?

AMY: I don’t know.

Pause.

STEVE: Last week you talked about how your parents are going away for your birthday. You said they did ask if you were okay with them not being there.

AMY: It’s not like they wouldn’t have gone anyway. They don’t give two shits about me. […]

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