Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovB6hYawOk
The person in question, a boy currently in his teenage years, stares blankly at the John McLaughlin painting hanging on the wall in front of him. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xv7fljvQN
It was the only splash of color that he could see in the otherwise pristine white walls or perhaps even in the whole sparsely decorated room. The settee provided for him to sit on was upholstered in soft white velvet. The smooth linoleum floors glistened like cold hard marble. The table in front of him, though made of stainless steel was topped with white-ash wood, tinted and glazed to an almost-white color, muting down any hint of warm hues from its natural state. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4NiShBsmF
Ciarán lowers his gaze for a moment, watching how the meager rays of sun light floats into the room and hits the glass covering the painting. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13PYBi70g6
He frowns. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCMy1uN6As
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaetPlFo8Yl
Too structured. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Byk7hrjPj
Too pale. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4X54G3WNW
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUzJ8hpBba
For Ciarán, his preferences were more widely attuned with the abstract, where warm and cool colors collide while the viewers' eyes are captivated by the vibrantly wild and raw quality of the piece at hand, never truly sure of whether where it belongs or stay in one place. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA0OW2xVES
Even he would prefer a Noland. Though similar in style it at least had a vivid quality that would contrast well with the sterile whiteness of the room. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRn1UVynGk
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNQV8WvyG2
Colors all around him, hazy and blurred, they appear almost like sfumato except for a form that sharpens in the middle. Its shape resembles a silhouette, obscured by the bright light at its back yet Ciarán could still make out the details. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RxDnch48s
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiODVbmKK8p
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0V5k3ycAn
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YPnLwQNb3
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HwVMyfuGo
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z3xfTH4X8
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgeRqAMipa
The same stare she had gifted him the first time he met her a few weeks ago. The same stare that always made him feel like there's something more lurking from her albeit reserved appearance and charismatic smile. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX455gJM7M7
It made him feel like she's waiting – waiting for something to happen. Only, he wasn't sure what it was. It was times like this that he always dreaded the past few weeks, having to attend sessions with her. Sitting on the same old chair and facing her as he pours out all his thoughts of delusion while she writes them down, each paragraph labeling him closer to being mentally insane. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtD2F0xFN6
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHhdIPIpvh
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQAZju48Ca
"Do you know why you're here?" 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLctJTBkgc3
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UVqZcLM6A
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYOB31iFUQ
He looks around, his eyes darting from side to side, as if the whole room was closing in. He never was good at being asked on the spot. Or being the center of attention – be it in a crowd or with just another person. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d4fTKkPI4
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlfVKg7YjE
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnEi90gfEH
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCFTqcHfqF
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wrGXCTohZ
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuAL7lAKll
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIaHRslgfA
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq0hw9wZzN
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfNiJ8l0P4
Like being in the deepest depths of the sea, it drowns his ears until all that he could hear was the drumming sound of his own pulse.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY26n4T0Exb
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpznl8aiHd
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LB9WOZWAv
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7V2PUWCIs5
This time, it was a piercing sound, almost like a slow drumming of static before turning into a constant ringing. His childhood physician had jotted it down as a mild case of Tinnitus but he knew it wasn't the case. The ringing kept on occurring in sporadic rates throughout the years. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7MFM6LJjA
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsYaJuJhIT
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9Mgd2jHOD
She sighs and walks around the table. She stops in front of him, leaning gracefully on the side of the table. Arms planted by her sides, she looks down and looks at him again in the eye. This time her expression lacks most of their icy reserve.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdQXLmO87B
"Ciarán, I know our last few sessions didn't exactly start on the right foot. I also know that you don't want to be here but please remember that I'm just trying to help you."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld7gUO0iHW
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew7FqAVhnV
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq3jG7FGO4
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WDc312OZr
When he did glance her briefly through his periphery, he adds, "So you might as well just write that down because that's all you're gonna get."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB0NvA9cNl
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi0V1nmYUL
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRURkM4JpW
She reaches in the right pocket of her slacks and pulls out a small silvery object. When she raises it to his view, it got caught in the reflection of the light. The fleeting bounce of light was enough to catch his attention.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFuxlGM4J2
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa1StA6Y8s
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQGBVebuIR
"Now, that's where you're wrong. This," she gestures at the coin, "is more than just a quarter. It's a memorabilia passed down through generations and it holds a certain part of a past almost like a story." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqQ1gTZMv2
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIFv7M71Hd
Still not letting go of the coin, she adds, "In fact, on my grandfather's word and many of those before him, had sworn that they still see glimpses of the past and helps them remember. Now, I don't particularly believe in such phenomena that can't be logically explained and experienced in a non-vicarial manner. Shall we try to find out?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LaGEaE792
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6N6uwY40P
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq8Kf1V00J
"Ciarán, if you may, I need you to look at the coin. I want you to focus on it and slowly, take a deep breath and let it out."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyE3jsSxDq
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxMYHQwORS
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHa6z7BJje
"Yes," he breathes out.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTVhqMnHmk
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWM6jbr8GE
"I," he licks his lips and gulps, a slight a hesitation in his voice. "I'm here because-because... I can move stuff with my mind."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9Z0fk2fQn
"What sort of stuff?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmLTzZPkDv
Another gulp. The clock ticks twice before he answers. "Anything. I 'pushed' the end of a crane to crush Sam's dad. I-I swear I didn't," he breaks off, his chest shaking at the memory, "I didn't mean to... do it."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz79MZBifOG
The doctor lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. Its warmth temperature brought a much-needed respite to calm the cold vicious nerves entangling his lungs. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8QRNVx99W
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrFlQSxz1J
"But they do." He mutters harshly, "you should've seen them. Sam... Mike... Mrs. Lopez...the other kids at school, even- even my sister. They've always looked at me like I'm some sort of a freak." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kQ8CikgQH
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMXBwTovGe
"But are you?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2ki7qnpEK
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6kOZHGAKq
He looks her straight in the eyes before turning his head back towards the coin, "At least, I don't want to be. Maybe I am a freak, I wouldn't know if I were one."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZcBRuvhxJ
"I don't." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RzAAWNIQY
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytnbdIspgE
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXI5KTbK9T
The doctor merely shrugs. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDio735XZYZ
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF7S3EIqq2
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHaPHc9F6D
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNelQmyCne7
"You keep insisting that gift of yours is a curse, and here I am telling you otherwise. Yet, you still won't believe. What really eats you up from the inside? What else makes you think that you're a freak, besides the telekinesis?" 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvS6MhC9E8
He shakes his head, his voice rough, "No, you just don't get it doc. It's not just the mind-moving-telekinesis-shit you're going on. I'm a freak!"
Out of nowhere, the painting hanging on wall dropped on the floor in a loud thud. The glasses on the wall vibrating in a moderate hum, cracks threatening to break the surface. The forgotten glass of water on the table bubbles, slowly tipping off the rim of the glass.
Ciaràn leans in, his eyes clouded with an eery gleam. The coin spins faster than ever, losing its own shape in its motion and appearing like a blur.
He grits,"I'm a freak because whenever I sleep inside my room, I always wake up in who-knows-where. The recent one was in my neighbor's house. In bed. With his daughter. I'm a freak because wherever I go, I see her while no else does– and she distracts me like hell!"
CRACK!
The glass from the windows finally breaks, the water spills upward.
He can feel it now. The power he had been keeping at bay flows through this veins in an electric rush. He clenches his fist to reel it back in. He barely succeeds.
The water stops in midair, the splashes like rain drops floating above them. It suspends on an invisible force.
He motions his head to her and asks bitterly, "So you tell me, doc, do you still deny that I'm a freak? An insane freak?"
"Yes." She simply replies.He grunts and takes a deep breath. Slowly the water falls back down to the glass. The cracks on the window recedes.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkKGsrgM9f
Ciaràn grits his teeth, his gaze unblinking and still focused on the coin. As if by looking away, he would lose grip over his sanity and temperance.
"From what you've just told me, I don't think you're special,"
Ciaràn scoffs.
"Rather, you are a very special young man who had been through so much pain and enmity and in need to relax." 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJpQURG0DJ
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJsmJKOZ3h
"Breathe."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbmQapmjzT
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtkjCvCLiY
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXfVi8Jf8j
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC2NvCVRNx
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUpruDooLl
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99WGzjA8fB
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoduzT0GpWf
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuvPc1Yhpq
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiohYnDRgw7
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOA5QuPVki
He blinks, and all of a sudden he finds himself mere inches from her. She slowly turns her back to him, silently urging him to follow her. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGEoxWKKwA
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5uh2BVYZl
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswpbKEWUTq
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiXPxPgY6D
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo5Ki6cYSm
He really was insane. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUouRao5RoI
He had to be. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0rUA8Ig6I
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcilI97u3Y
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyYZDU5Mtz
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGPgCQC7IW
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjwtnoO0zF
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FXFzWYrjh
"I don't even know where to begin."1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzd1zSMXGw
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa1213Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpQwJiK6Qw
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