I glanced at the person as they moved closer to me, barely registering who it was until they wrapped their arms around my back and I sank into them. A hand touched my face, fingers working to wipe away tears.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJmvQy8Zyp
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNFifDJ0zq
“What did you do?” Christian asked, lifting me into his arms. He turned to stare at the broken mirror and I buried my head in his chest. “Jesus, what the hell happened?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VR397Wy1t
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8j0COkhHM
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOavItu3P3
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That stupid paperweight is all I see when I sit down across from him. He’s giving me a look, his eyes locking with the gauze around my arm. I scrunch smaller in the chair and shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it yet, so instead I tell him a story.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoDDXUcbJ6
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VjvpOP2wp
I talk about my dad. I talk about how he was a good father, always checking to make sure I did my homework, or checked the doors and windows when I got scared, making sure they were secure. Then I talk about the alcohol, the smoking, the constant cheating, and about the day he came home from work early just to beat up my mom.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeILaYxHR0f
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kmap3u5YQ
He always told me that crying was weak, which was probably why I rarely did it, with the exception of this morning. In all fairness, I hadn’t realized I was doing it until Christian touched my face.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrJ0gc1yOw
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloY0biREPE
I’ve found out the doctor’s name, because I finally decided to look at the name plate. It says in bold capital letters: Dr. John Monroe.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jKKnXxNba
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzGiE5hMWS
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpG5o7S21e
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJXQYo7Q31
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HFixOrGK3
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIp7Me46BG
“Does he know about your dad?”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhPnA7lqVk
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GDXxt07Rz
“No.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9JZdGWyMD
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUne6taRHO
Green eyes widened in surprise.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2OAsCfB5I
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkDH5YFGEL
The entire time I’ve been talking, he wasn’t looking at me, and now I know why. He slides a piece of paper across the desk toward me and nods.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqwXTfxvbH
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRiVjvTvQx
“This is my home and cell number. If you need me again, call me. I mean it, Kendall.” Before I can ask what’s on my mind, he cuts me off. “No, your sessions aren't done. I just think you could use some time to yourself. You look like you hate it here.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwN6Mj76Bs
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpcuznYD0h
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUW5dQ8B6z
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fJo84zqCd
“Prying?” John smiles and shakes his head. “It’s not my intention. I’m just supposed to listen and give advice. It’s okay, we can reschedule. But remember what I said.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQj9ALDX1n
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv1y2kQWN3
After I thanked him and left, I stood in the parking lot of the office for a while, the sun beating down on my head, warm and calming. I stared down at my shadow on the asphalt, and was startled when I was joined by another.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc1iTDLjvn
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy90ZKtpbiO
It’s just a stranger, I told myself, probably a wandering homeless man looking for some money. I lifted my head, the words out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any—”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsNAFAibKO
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYa6LerYo
“I don’t want anything from you,” a familiar voice spat. Then they whispered, “But now I know your secret. You’re a freak. Here to talk about your daddy issues? Or maybe you’re telling the shrink how much of a whore your mother is.”396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr50hlMs7UL
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPCFApPRUY
Cassie Barnes never got any further in her insult, because at that moment, my fist came in contact with her jaw. She stumbled back and slammed her head on the edge of one of those potted plants that was sitting inches from us.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD8uil5n4I
396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6dqyhrvfk
Just as I heard the sickening crack of Cassie’s skull hitting the pot, I saw the blood that blossomed from the wound. It dripped down her temple. I bent down to see if she was okay, to tell her I didn’t mean to do that, but she wasn’t moving.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYbWZNl9Ih
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As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.396Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMLEfUJH7P
