Bob extended an invitation to Emily: a trip to New York City with his group, dedicated to conquering the dread of air travel. He was taken aback, then disheartened, to discover Emily shared his apprehension and declined the offer. After spe…

Vocation Day had arrived in Emily’s class, and a pang of exclusion tightened in Bob’s chest at not being included. A last-minute request to step in offered a brief reprieve, but Emily’s apprehension solidified when Bob failed to spark the c…

A sharp ache of envy tightened in Bob’s chest whenever Emily spoke of her new tennis instructor. It wasn’t his skill on the court that stirred the feeling, but rather the instructor himself – a man of striking good looks. The instructor had…

Expressing affection to his mother proved a persistent struggle for Bob. He found himself consistently unable to articulate the sentiment of love he held for her.

Bob’s former girlfriend arrived in Chicago with her husband and paid a visit to Emily and Bob.

Carol sought Bob’s approval for a move, intending to live with Roger, her new boyfriend, who had recently separated from his wife. Bob declined, stating plainly that the choice was hers alone to make.

Howard Borden, Bob’s divorced neighbor, harbored a persistent conviction that his son, Howie, lacked genuine affection for him. Subsequently, Howie’s former wife gently persuaded him that, in reality, Howie considered him the most wonderful…

Bob’s desire to watch football every Monday night chafed against Emily’s sense of fairness. Their already limited time together, just two nights a week, felt further diminished by his insistence on the game. She longed for shared enjoyment,…

For some time now, Bob and Emily had longed for a child. At a recent gathering, the topic of children arose, and their sense of exclusion was so acute that they resolved to pursue adoption.

The moment Bob stepped back into the office after his Mexican getaway, Jerry made a startling announcement: he was to be married. The bride, he revealed, was a woman he had met only nine days prior. Cynthia, a striking oral hygienist with a…

For the sake of his own tranquility, Bob resolved to seek solitude. He checked into a hotel room alone, a decision that left Howard Borden bewildered, convinced that Bob and Emily had parted ways.

Howard drifted into Bob’s office, a bit unsteady after his tooth extraction, as if still caught in a pleasant dream. His usual poetic inclinations seemed amplified. Observing him, Carol remarked to Emily, "I want him." Emily readily agreed …

Jerry came to the unsettling conclusion that he lacked the capacity for genuine commitment, never allowing himself to truly invest in any of the women he courted. He asked Bob if he might become a patient. Bob readily agreed, but their arra…

The holiday season casts a somber shadow over Bob’s group therapy, a stark reminder that the promise of joy doesn't extend to everyone. A quiet resolve settles within him, and he extends an invitation to the group: a gathering on Christmas …

Bob and Emily journeyed to a ski lodge, a place rendered nearly desolate save for an irritating couple with whom they were forced to share a bathroom. Following a profoundly disappointing dinner, the Hartleys resolved to depart, only to fin…

At twenty-nine, Carol felt a growing hollowness within her, a sense of dissatisfaction that propelled her to resign from her position as Bob’s receptionist. After a period of absence, she unexpectedly appeared at one of Bob's group therapy …

The gold watch Emily had gifted him for his fortieth birthday remained unworn by Bob. The reason was a belated discovery of its value, a sum so considerable it seemed to cast a shadow over the gift itself. He could not bring himself to wear…

A patient's affection for Bob invariably complicated matters, creating difficulties both within the confines of his practice and in the sanctuary of his own home.

Debbie, Howard Borden’s twenty-two-year-old sister, came to stay with him for the week. Emily arranged a blind date for her with Jerry Robinson, and Howard instantly became fiercely protective.

Bob and Emily wrestled with the question of their future, contemplating a significant shift: whether to relinquish their apartment and invest in a house.

A shadow crossed Bob’s face when Emily announced her acceptance of a full-time position with the Board of Education. She met his concern with a bright explanation: the work filled her with a joy she couldn't imagine losing, while its absenc…

The story reached Bob that a star pitcher for the Chicago Cubs had credited him with salvaging his career. This unexpected praise brought Bob a new patient: Moose Washburn, a reserve player whose struggles seemed to transcend the scope of t…

Bob resists Emily's proposal for a two-month European cruise, haunted by the fear that his practice and the well-being of his patients would unravel in his absence.

Nursing the wounds of a recent heartbreak, Jerry Robinson gratefully accepted Bob’s offer to stay at his apartment for a few days. Bob, however, would soon find his generosity regretted.