Author's Note: Hi folks, firing another one out here. If it hasn't been said before, I am saving what I think is my better work for later submissions. This one is kind of all over the place, something I poked at here and there over the years. I finally managed to salvage it together into something presentable. I wasn't even sure which category to put this, though. NonConsent? Exhibitionism? Mind Control? I chose the latter; please forgive if you disagree after reading the story.
Again, I welcome criticism, no matter how harsh or honest. I'd love to know if you're enjoying them, of course, but I certainly want to get better at the craft. Input is appreciated.
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APRIL'S RADICAL MENTAL THERAPY
"You see, doctor. I'm supposed to defend my dissertation next week and I'm terrified I will just freeze up. People will just gawk at me."
At 5'6", with a thin frame, April certainly had a reason for people gawking at her. Her tits were gigantic. No matter what she wore, she inevitably had the stereotypical appearance of a blonde bimbo. One would look at her and think, 'All tits, no brain.'
But that wasn't April at all. She worked hard to break the stereotype, to always go above and beyond in every challenge or task presented to her, to prove to others she was more than the bimbo her body portrayed her to be.
Dr. Wilkinson very quickly deduced the root cause of April's anxiety. As much as she wanted to be taken seriously for her intellectual accomplishments, she battled with people ogling her as if she were a piece of meat.
Unfortunately, thought Dr. Wilkinson, for April's sake, she needed to understand one cannot simply change human nature's animalistic behaviors. With a body like April's, people were going to stare, that's all there was to it. The doctor knew it was in April's best interest to have her come to terms with this fact.
April was somewhat aware of her shortcomings. Had she felt better about her body, perhaps she wouldn't have minded so much if people tended to eye her inappropriately. What people didn't know is that under her blouse and bra, those huge orbs of flesh were freaks of nature. In April's mind, they were not sexy at all. It's not that she just had freakishly large breasts, her areolas encompassed almost half of the entire breasts and large, meaty, puffy nipples capped them off. April felt her tits were better suited for maternal duties, rather than sexual arousal. The thought of others actually seeing her naked breasts mortified her, and she did everything in her power to avoid it, even if she did realize she was traveling down a path of sexual repression.
"You know your material well," said Dr. Wilkinson. "So it's not a matter of being unprepared, just unable to perform when all eyes are upon you. This is what causes your anxiety, yes?"
"Exactly," said April, happy the doctor understood her problem. She was hoping he could give her the confidence she needed to power through her presentation.
April, I'm sure you've heard the saying, 'Life is hard,' am I right?"
"Well, yes, of course."
"And some of us have more unique challenges than others. Whether one is born with disadvantages either physical or mental, many people are still able to overcome their challenges; sometimes, even their fears."
"OK, so what are you saying exactly?" asked April.
"I am saying that in the short time we have gotten to know each other, I have deduced that you have a problem with people looking at you. I believe you have become so accustomed to people gawking at you in a sexual way - or at least that is how you perceive it - that as a reflex, you hide your body as much as possible. You wear unfashionable attire, hoping to minimize the gazes, but I bet in your case it doesn't help much."
"No, it doesn't," said April, "But you don't understand. It gets embarrassing! I don't like it, so I am trying to just do something... well, naturally, I'm sure you understand... to uh... I am taking a career where I won't be bothered often... microbiology! I love the field and I can work quietly in a lab, undisturbed! There's no shame in admitting that. I just don't like being around people."
"And yet you limit yourself, anyway," said Dr. Wilkinson.
"I hardly see it that way."
"April, in anything you do, the better you can assert yourself, the further you will go. It's not just this dissertation we're talking about."
"So how can I get that kind of confidence with my issue?"
"I think we could both agree you will have to become comfortable with your body."
"But I am!" insisted April. "I just don't want people staring at my tits all the time."
"Well, it is obvious by the manner in which you dress that you are not comfortable in your own skin."
"Just because I won't dress like a slut doesn't mean I am not comfortable in my body! I just don't want all the attention focused on my tits, got it?"
"April, let me be blunt. No matter how you dress, your breasts are prominent. I am not going to pretend people don't notice them. Just because you have them, doesn't mean you have to try to hide them. We must be honest here, April, if we want to solve your problem. If you want to be confident in this dissertation, and for the rest of your life, you either have to be confident in your body or perhaps consider surgery.
"Trust me, doctor, there is nothing to admire about my body, and if I could manage it, I probably would consider surgery."
"Even if you believe that, it's not true for others. Look, let's get to the meat of the matter. Would you prefer to go on behaving as you do now, hiding from others, or would you prefer to be a confident person. One who doesn't obsess over what others are thinking all the time."
April paused for a moment. "When you put it that way, I guess it doesn't sound so bad."
"April, take off all your clothes."
"WHAT!?!?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
April was panicking.
"April, you have to not care, don't you understand!"
"That doesn't mean I can be naked in front of you."
"It's the fastest way to cure you, I assure you."
"Doctor, I mean it. I don't want to be seen naked." April was offended by the thought. She couldn't imagine the humility of having anyone see her malformations. At times, she wished she could feel sexy in front of someone while being completely naked. She had urges just like any other girl. But the self-shaming of her body image prevented her from ever even attempting.