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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOwBu5Kyyl
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Gg1RoyTb
“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?”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjOXcuqbIw
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“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27Jm6q7exF
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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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3ewEgEMuQ
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLIvGUR7NX
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd527BuYYdZ
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ank6KY8Fg
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW3QFmKtf0
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgAXodRd7J
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YVa34Thy2
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“Is Christian your boyfriend?”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjYL7PKFnO
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“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDNntybbeD
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“Does he know about your dad?”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHReQ2UshN7
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“No.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMXbJaVOL4
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Green eyes widened in surprise.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvQ4wF1nlx
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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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdo6lB0MlL
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqSplZKorM
“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.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9lXtN2imd
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuIH9r74jj
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkOM4dRPu2
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“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.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6N3VdyvqF
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchXaD6HBMj
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlmtBboeFy
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoZDOMzOsU
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—”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR3I4tK48a
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“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.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71qCHkKrEb
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdW3qRYL43
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNcpNVig0l
398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6PmoE0yRs
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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPcF0UOrkU
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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.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwWVKH2yoE
