Do You Understand What You Are Asking For?

The following is a short story written with a purpose to help guide us on our single journey:

Anna Washington arrived at Dr. Hunter's office thirty minutes early because she was just that eager to get all of the answers that she needed to move forward with her life. Anna had done her homework prior to scheduling an appointment with Dr. Caroline Hunter, a renowned psychologist with a proven success rate of ninety percent for all relationship matters. This was Anna's latest attempt to make something happen on her own and with statistics like that Anna knew that she had made the right decision by seeking the assistance of a professional.

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Dr. Hunter sat directly in front of Anna with her knees square, leaning gently in towards her. While peering above her red framed spectacles and with a delicate smile she inquired, "Did your husband choose not to attend this session?"

Anna replied timidly, "I do not have a husband."

"You do realize that you have signed up for couples therapy?"

"Yes, I do. That is my specific problem. I desperately want to be a couple."

Dr. Hunter seemed to stare at Anna questionably for some time but in reality it was merely a few seconds. She asked, "Is that a locket that you are wearing?"

Anna beamed. "Yes, it has a picture of my nine year old daughter Emily" as she opened it for Dr. Hunter to see.

Dr. Hunter realized that this would be a perfect starting point for therapy. "Ms. Washington, let me ask you a hypothetical question. Imagine yourself married and out in the middle of the ocean with your husband and Emily. If tragedy struck and both of them began to drown but you could only save one, who would you choose?"

Instantaneously Anna replied, "Emily! My husband is a grown man who has lived his life, but my child has more life to live."

This was the response that Dr. Hunter had anticipated yet it was all wrong. She said, "Ms. Washington you are not ready for marriage."

Can you interpret Dr. Hunter's message? How could she come to such a drastic conclusion based upon Ms. Washington's response? How do you know if you are ready for marriage and do you understand what you are asking for?