Chapter 1

Marcus sat in the cozy, softly lit office of Dr. Morris, his new therapist. The room was filled with warm colors, with plush chairs and a shelf of neatly arranged books, creating an atmosphere of calm and safety. Dr. Morris, a woman in her early fifties with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, sat across from him, pen in hand, ready to listen.

Marcus shifted uncomfortably in her seat, his fingers absentmindedly fidgeting a ball-point pen. He'd been dreading this session all week, not because of the therapist but because of the topic he knew they had to discuss.

"It all started with Lauren, my ex-wife" Marcus began, his voice tinged with frustration. "She's the reason I'm in this mess. I never smoked a day in my life until I met her."

Dr. Morris nodded, encouraging Marcus to continue. "Tell me about Lauren."

Marcus sighed, his eyes narrowing as he thought back to the woman who had so profoundly influenced his life. "Lauren was... magnetic, you know? The kind of person who draws everyone in. She was confident, always knew what to say, and had this aura of sophistication. I met her at a work event a few years ago. We hit it off right away, and soon enough, we were spending a lot of time together."

He paused, his fingers now tapping anxiously on the armrest. "Lauren smoked. A lot. But she made it look so... glamorous. Like it was this part of her whole persona, and I was so caught up in trying to keep up, that I didn't even think twice when she offered me my first cigarette. She made it seem harmless, like it was just something everyone did to take the edge off."

Dr. Morris listened intently, her pen poised over her notebook. "And how did you feel about it at the time?"

"At first, I hated it," Marcus admitted, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The taste, the smell, everything. But Lauren kept insisting, saying it was just something you got used to, that it would help me relax, fit in better. And I wanted so badly to fit in, to be part of her world."

A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Before I knew it, I was smoking regularly, just like her. It became this thing we did together. We'd go out for drinks, and there'd always be cigarettes involved. She made it seem like such a normal, even essential, part of our friendship."

Dr. Morris leaned forward slightly. "And how do you feel about Lauren now?"

Marcus's expression darkened. "I resent her, honestly. I know it's my fault too, that I made the choice to start smoking. But she knew what she was doing. She knew I was trying to keep up with her, and she never once warned me about how addictive it could be or how hard it would be to quit. She just... didn't care."

His voice trembling with anger and regret. "Now, I'm stuck with this horrible habit that I can't seem to shake. And where's Lauren? She moved on to some other guy, probably doing the same thing to him. She never struggled with it like I did. It's like she could just turn it off whenever she wanted, but I... I'm stuck."

Dr. Morris reached over and handed Marcus a tissue, her voice soothing and understanding. "It sounds like you're carrying a lot of anger and frustration, not just with Lauren, but also with yourself. It's important to acknowledge those feelings as we work on helping you break free from this addiction."

Marcus took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. "I know I need to let go of this anger, but it's hard. I feel like she ruined my life in some ways. Sometimes, I wish I could get back at her. I want to hurt her like she hurt me."

"Don't say something like that. That is just anger talking." Dr. Morris gave him a compassionate smile. "We'll work through that, Marcus. Quitting smoking is a difficult journey, but it's not impossible. And part of that journey is forgiving yourself and understanding how you got here. You don't have to do it alone. I'm here to help you every step of the way."

Marcus nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope despite the weight of his emotions. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a chance to take control of his life again, to break free from the habit that had held him captive for so long. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to let go of the anger he felt toward Lauren and focus on his own healing.

"Take this pill. I'll give you a prescription for more. You don't have to quit immediately. Continue smoking and with time you'll stop smoking naturally. Don't force it, you'll quit when the time is right. I promise you."

Dr. Morris handed Marcus the pill with water in a small plastic cup.

"Thank you, doctor."

Chapter 2

In his second session with Dr. Morris, Marcus entered the therapist's office with a mix of apprehension and resignation. The warm, inviting atmosphere of the room did little to soothe his nerves as he sat down in the familiar chair. Dr. Morris greeted him with a gentle smile, noting the tension in Marcus's posture.

"Welcome back, Marcus," Dr. Morris began, her voice calm and reassuring. "How have you been since our last session?"

Marcus let out a heavy sigh, his gaze dropping to his hands as he fidgeted with the hem of his sweater. "Honestly, not great," she admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm still smoking. Probably just as much as before, if not more. I keep telling myself I'll quit, but... it's like I can't."

Dr. Morris nodded, her expression empathetic. "It's okay, Marcus. Remember, breaking an addiction takes time. The fact that you're here and willing to talk about it is a big step."

Marcus gave a small, grateful nod but quickly shifted the conversation. "I saw Lauren the other day," he said, his tone turning a bit bitter. "She was with her new boyfriend, Phillip."

Dr. Morris tilted her head slightly, sensing there was more Marcus wanted to say. "Tell me about Phillip."

Marcus sighed again, this time with a mix of exasperation and pity. "He's good-looking, really good-looking. Tall, well-built, the kind of guy who turns heads when he walks into a room. I can see why Lauren is into him. But you know what? I actually pity him."

Dr. Morris raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why is that?"

"Because," Marcus replied, his voice growing more somber, "he doesn't know what he's getting into. Right now, he's probably thinking that dating Lauren is the best thing ever. But soon, he'll be smoking just like her. Just like I did. He's going to get sucked into it, and before he knows it, he'll be addicted too. It's like she has this... this power over people. She makes it seem so normal, so easy, and you don't realize what's happening until it's too late."

Marcus paused, his expression a mixture of anger and sadness. "I wish I could warn him, tell him to run before it's too late. But even if I did, he wouldn't listen. I didn't..."

Dr. Morris leaned forward slightly, her tone gentle but firm. "It sounds like you're projecting your own experience onto Phillip, and that's understandable. But remember, his choices are his own. What's more important right now is focusing on you and your journey. It's clear that Lauren has had a strong influence on you, but you have the power to take back control."

Marcus looked up, his eyes reflecting the struggle within him. "I know you're right, but it's just so hard. I feel like I'm stuck in this cycle, and no matter what I do, I can't break free."

Dr. Morris offered him a reassuring smile. "Breaking free from addiction is a process, and it's normal to feel like you're not making progress right away. But every small step counts, even if it doesn't feel like it. We'll continue to work on strategies to help you cope with the cravings and the emotions that come with them. And remember, it's okay to stumble along the way. What matters is that you keep trying."

Marcus nodded, a flicker of hope returning to his eyes. "I just... I don't want to end up like this forever. I don't want to be like Lauren, dragging other people down with me."

"You're already taking steps to change that, Marcus," Dr. Morris said gently. "You're here, and you're being honest with yourself about how you feel. That's not something everyone can do. We'll take it one day at a time, and we'll get through this together."

Marcus took a deep breath, feeling a bit lighter. "Thank you, Dr. Morris. I know it's going to be hard, but I'm willing to try."

"That's all I ask," Dr. Morris replied warmly. "We'll keep working together, and with time, you'll find the strength to overcome this. You're not alone in this journey."

As the session ended, Marcus left the office with a renewed sense of determination. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with Dr. Morris's support, he felt more confident that he could eventually break free from the grip of his addiction and take control of his life once more.

Chapter 3

In her third session with Dr. Morris, Marcus sat down with a nervous energy that hadn't been there before. Dr. Morris noticed immediately, her perceptive eyes picking up on the way Marcus fidgeted with his hands and avoided direct eye contact.

"Good to see you again, Marcus," Dr. Morris greeted him warmly. "How have you been feeling since our last session?"

Marcus took a deep breath, then let out a small, almost embarrassed laugh. "I've been... busy, I guess. There's something I need to talk to you about, and I'm not sure if it was the right thing to do."

Dr. Morris nodded encouragingly. "This is a safe space, Marcus. You can share anything with me, and we'll work through it together."

Marcus hesitated for a moment, then began to explain. "So, remember Phillip? Lauren's new boyfriend?" He paused as Dr. Morris nodded. "Well, I've been thinking about him a lot. I just couldn't shake this feeling that I needed to warn him, to somehow protect him from going down the same path I did. But I didn't know how to do it without seeming... crazy or intrusive."

He looked up at Dr. Morris, searching for any hint of judgment but found only patience and understanding. "So, I made a fake Facebook account," Marcus admitted, his voice a mix of guilt and determination. "I friended him online. I know it sounds bad, but I didn't know any other way to get close to him. I wanted to learn more about him before I said anything about smoking."

"But that isn't the crazy part."

"There is something more than you friending your ex-wife's new boyfriend."