Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL1oWWdJj9
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgfQ9hvdyK
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8gNp7twz8
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRa3khbkAk
He frowns. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB4bDSYv80
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVJFq4K3ye
Too structured. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRywYCUmtD
Too pale. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcj6PmdG30
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q6WsHpczf
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNLgf4iQZt
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc3fhwdNGE
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGJPyaLabi
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttpCjgym5s
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzTlv0ivgo
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOErQi6vRly
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYnoHYpcLV
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTVEtQlKvW
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fs8th4S9q
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLgBXnozni
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsalHwOEhFC
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtXVhv66bM
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9SObsAnrb
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV3b3y8PJW
"Do you know why you're here?" 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCdVJ1Y2eh
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCB8nNVbfn
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasZ047otr2
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0477pPxcsy
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4e8nvY2i2
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kN9cuNDIs
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7NO9xSwW8
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh1mEcD4az
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzfdEQF7oJ
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS67avzOpV
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4meI228sa
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYU0D4oVms
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.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzoIXOMyMe
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xRqNuZSXw
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUkZYGrYzS
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVcDZLGFZ1
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPocSb3oBMW
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TiDVlbF89
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwAkOqg82O
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.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQTxlpj5gz
"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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDodSCn8hY9
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQC1gG0Wrd
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtROUlvFXU0
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpzl629eLh
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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGpOxbmQjC
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1834qTWcw
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RrBc7mYkM
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.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz07VK7rFik
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapHuIJd4wg
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHEVlznxs2
"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." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYZBbhL4gX
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXVRbtg9n8
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?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQEAclU7JN
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CLuX0FKQn
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwRiWFMGvP
"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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc3jOmf40Y
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclr6pwSUJ4
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZd3nqr634
"Yes," he breathes out.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcylOyMkTp
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W9iilsnZP
"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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuQ9aAiUrd
"What sort of stuff?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrENZi8wNdc
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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVbEXAlcrG
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsinlihw0Hu
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqqt7vlNaD
"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." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNreu9wDYrh
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcwvEI0rrP
"But are you?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTiDNj16CO
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoybAcyLexa
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."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDHxhC2KNV
"I don't." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSmZhyJ7bL
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6SCVftGwk
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg1wuUQLZ4
The doctor merely shrugs. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQT4FRevcy
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3tMCXcYE8
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U0YaKbaWz
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc6H5Lnf1P
"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?" 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkuHeqhZ1c
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.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaaBXMxNi7
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." 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDDcGhCKuw
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fUYilggxh
"Breathe."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BX2CmytKS
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwnjYJ4iq4
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmphLDWKF3
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDbHLyp4Ew
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMATBKZbSC
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizEa3B0Are
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFJPgcAxvC
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BFtUIE5eC
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKENatBXEK
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49EmVSnb3g
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. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYhAQJBTyM
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjSmI6cpM8
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFNskXwhVI
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs2G75PbZA
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpTVF17xpq
He really was insane. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7LGSSntbF
He had to be. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6kASoLKV0
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFqraKgwJe
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEMJTCMxi3
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J2J6Q0kYf
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8e5KMVKEK
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOVPJApwGB
"I don't even know where to begin."1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0Sg7f9fHm
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa1200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqhi37QYVX
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