Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PuQvegodx
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTG9k2ZJx3
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaVBvTwYBb
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5Gnw84Fa1
He frowns. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFFaisZKlC
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaEAwAjKl3
Too structured. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjrt3suwrE
Too pale. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6pHwrOHjT
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0NC9nsNhO
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga20Z5wfmh
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwogX4NLedL
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rgrY81tro
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoVtxvhuSu
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanhErVQyaY
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpauK0QtQO
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQuQo65xdV
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE46tXCPvNr
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1UoeyxAga
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIS9itLgkQ
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ4nq5znrH
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK0tazxTeh
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh5gdsXuBC
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgCBUMhIwq
"Do you know why you're here?" 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgHqEMhL5Z
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1FGIVIdzb
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhruNXTEQt6
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUtyJnZ6Zh
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl22UX6WK9
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2XgBfGU4t
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI5qhxg3pw
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf9JVoyVDZ
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERZzaUFfHD
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qX2uvrCYi
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3JCEt6l10
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA8HSFa9tS
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.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x2VDWSrHR
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1IiYYBguF
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ydPBhpJV
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83KTwFanBK
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWh1ppIGJa
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9FTg1CG3T
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSD5BuuSHW
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.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitIz7RE6MA
"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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVraVKrlH91
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoB5lJSlu0
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oit4ROpw9
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgmh9XHJPB
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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZkvi5uRSK
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8a0pWHpyY
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gGbeKcQ4D
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.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAe6hU4R8Z
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1GPMGK4lt
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4k3JrAuqh
"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." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63ovXyT5qx
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAFvk6bgZ4
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?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b3sPoEYvf
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4B7xRNVRs
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshzM0hawXY
"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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65PEnlD4M3
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XTDXcPeq8
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWYWZCWtEG
"Yes," he breathes out.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNkCr1d6lo
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkFrNMAkAR
"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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTvXXseZ3X
"What sort of stuff?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEB8IOnY0W
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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO4iNHUClQ
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4SGiRPxBn
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhngAtMgZm
"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." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVHcMUSkY6
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkiox3qXJA
"But are you?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nCurp0DdD
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjknU0h4qTe
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."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHk0asgEyv
"I don't." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQvG1Zta6n
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Yfauz5VE
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPRcqvE8Qu
The doctor merely shrugs. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK3WqfYkQz
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2diCILeSF
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM97RtKzrM3
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdtuEFajiq
"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?" 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7MNQtSQXz
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.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMPGyDm0fi
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." 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghYJbECv4f
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffer9RMH54
"Breathe."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oEJxxDXH7
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB2iE70q1N
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI7yuiub8c
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsgNOxxOim
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqqmB4qWin
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QQccPRndV
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0XK3KW22N
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzFlYZxqSN
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vSy36q86N
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb1vZsFYQS
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. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCZGj9ZaVN
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOdgDUutv9
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcaY9dSnKJ
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXk5QxJYbK
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRT5Hakj29
He really was insane. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejvG961HAq
He had to be. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8385wSYlO
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk4E2ECB9a
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LwRNleFlq
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNDDaOlmhM
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7icgb7xOi
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8sL5pOaHX
"I don't even know where to begin."1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKMal53vPY
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa1068Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHyB67Kqnx
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