Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbLdRLHSyl
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7VG2kPsP0
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTHbFKZChD
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34Gk9H5QXR
He frowns. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1C5e28xLo
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkx3Jgm6zc
Too structured. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMW0UPXN5A
Too pale. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8aFhqFsuc
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLARZe3h4V2
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq4wSBQ5GC
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae0m1p6dYD
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfHinWcWef
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby58JRyDRk
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDICsnskxw
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0sEOipXsI
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE0mR8lPpK
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLMjWI8iUl
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5CPTRZKT8
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvy3SyUhDe
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0VUQhLf7c
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtU8BjtkHx
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI27S0kylhE
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6w7mQJk5M
"Do you know why you're here?" 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSkNEq4vqC
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkaRqpaXQ0
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc67gvQG5v
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha1ne113ev
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReshnfB6f9
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoNhf1WDRL
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6niYFAEdRY
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7uesOXYKk
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60dj76P1qX
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURq6PYrzS6
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNdwQEfhNg
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzkGeJswS6
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.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JxvDMi9uM
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR01n6GZhgF
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINUG4B0fM9
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoCpA4hkSA
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp3OVQQbFV
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrAMPrhm6v
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEqnZO7qo5
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.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrPtGqRMLX
"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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG39KBIbjn
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DSVMCaFHi
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcYeehemyq
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WO41H4FhQ
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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLWJPHosgc
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTHctcpRQm
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVI7VyCIna
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.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IZNTzrWC6
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9CKOss91U
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDvBov0k7G
"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." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FhgtzN6mB
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfzdBILCPP
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?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnbm9YfFqR
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwEjg5Oygk
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTXkVkC99A
"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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ698z0ylF
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65R8Ky4otz
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTOnQ0yNkD
"Yes," he breathes out.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfLgcD7eZZ
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurcpFY1JqD
"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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rAYO8JDOI
"What sort of stuff?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj14QEvwSl
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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULZJMqOxUw
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWMO2Qk0kx
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79eYnxJmt6
"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." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyXcEBZ74Q
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzVcBfxoSi
"But are you?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwE86gUGPP
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8TnbQCGxk
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."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX19ybasEls
"I don't." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5abmqPHnN
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJejRVTS8Tj
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8YdYIHSd2
The doctor merely shrugs. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMGKdNg5M0
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCT6787H6P
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOBxIULyjL
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NlEBdchHl
"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?" 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2vY146Y1o
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.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjzQqnH28v
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." 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqpGdZV95v
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM9me4infC
"Breathe."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlr3T0hCcG
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAkC3cFjIH
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMPO8GBwx4
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lwPNxVwB4
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HJ80wsms6
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4scToSUMW
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFO3JuGYaL
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6myGh41Qx
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE8DAK9yVu
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5HrlDVGhF
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. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg47wR6ihLR
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUKAreDvhU
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz5hEupRF7
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWOcIAHao7
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERoqhlUtzB
He really was insane. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8fOKrgRTy
He had to be. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSEDaNQibe
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUYiqW73vj
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsLmvDYACP
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6rlTpjYFO
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qxXjnKby1
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBSei8gHia
"I don't even know where to begin."1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEEwlXYHmV
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa1124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu5vI3dK7j
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