Invisible
by M. E. Holland

Invisible is the story of Genovese, a woman who is rapidly reaching the end of her frayed rope and her attempt to find her life’s purpose before it’s too late. She has struggled her entire life to say the right things, do the right things, and be the right things, only to learn well into her journey that her instincts have betrayed her at virtually every turn. After losing her family in a series of heart-wrenching events, Genovese searches her soul for a reason to carry on, for hope has abandoned her long ago. Desperate for relief from her despair, she seeks out Dr. Jared Danrold, a therapist whom she knows only through a local TV appearance, and compels him to take her on as a patient. Together, they search her past to find her future. As her therapy evolves, Genovese finds herself (through a series of flashbacks) chronicling her life’s trials and miscues for the first time. Dr. Dan’s questions work to peel away layers of shame, doubt, anxiety, and misconceptions in an attempt to reach the heart of her discouragement. But the more he peels away, the more he finds out about himself and what has attracted him to this case. He worries about where the session is going, so much so that he reaches out to his therapist/mentor once Genovese steps away. His mentor warns him of the dangers of counseling this particular patient and his ethical responsibility to Genovese. Dr. Dan ignores this sage advice and, as if accepting a challenge, presses on. Finally, they reach a point where Genovese begins to understand how her upbringing and decision-making have informed the specific choices she has made and have defined her life’s path. Dr. Dan’s final question gets them to the core of the matter and the origin of her misery.