Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCxCSsXwko
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF014qkxX0
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIhO4JUZtE
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL7WK8Jvzr
He frowns. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4UkYfp60I
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq93sj71T2v
Too structured. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriTjbnPE0e
Too pale. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hdfBzqIbO
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6lLdJx8m0
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJTC8WJo6d
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlKpBKnyXX
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjheQ2acAnl
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgYHfvaAHx
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR6edvLLBL
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1YbbEGBO5
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq60imPDprA
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS80aR08YI
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JsMwOzwcX
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomZ1lWibml
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpsinri1lC
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP6ay6q5r6
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4poB4Qo0Cw
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMACnlnLaq
"Do you know why you're here?" 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvyP8OwI6f
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2gzfrwsa3
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArjz7xrfGI
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSavIuCLwS
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykhpVv44OL
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJawdLHrvv
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFPJdYJMoM
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLafQSrobc
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdK7IiJ4pZ
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNjhinMGEi
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNX3rxPjrN
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbE03R81J6
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.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65zGlCSYxp
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGl0VD4pCO
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡralmhk5cS9
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YpAO10twq
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4tEHKkXJb
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd2xrbjk36
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSalyASiUFU
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.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9qPE1F4nT
"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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCdvmKiI4w
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcjh3Qe4Jr
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd2uqQSXV5
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV6h7fB1M5
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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjeHrOFMFq
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDhfzStaC2
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrokDqCWhvV
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.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIkfCKzjpZ
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC58nStbSct
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4b0peHvGp
"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." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3u7YgT9Az
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2EpCwPpGO
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?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqcs8WaMrw
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWJDZY5t4C
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuXydwb1sm
"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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLGz12TbzE
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeewpHXca4
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklZCZJFyzC
"Yes," he breathes out.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGU1eKMT0J
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQlciZo7fO
"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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVudj1QcY4
"What sort of stuff?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl918JYn4q
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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuUxOAwMtQ
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS5lcYfM8E
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFYNBXlbna
"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." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1obdrJz01i
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5eB46NnNJ
"But are you?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawAL19cjMf
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacQGn7yEH4
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."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMEPF5Yltn
"I don't." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeWYvZYkae
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU65KwzQo8
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh5RMFRU3u
The doctor merely shrugs. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGPoFOsGNR
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRpIXgFNfy
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbavkgfy78l
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZI7diYygd
"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?" 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH3CIp05gZ
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.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7hNCBwwYF
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." 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7imcA9KEj
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuoYpcOO6q
"Breathe."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV3p1PH8bE
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK2FoykgiL
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrtqypexlt
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQjo0rVDVk
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsq6iXCSLp
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPirXAA4PsP
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO9CXRUFJK
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTselUsMze
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVR3zQc9Ie
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8oAHC8poJ
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. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DVx9hyF6s
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY0CORIAxO
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAjgkeMSJv
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yN6ha0I0B
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MIXy8pGdg
He really was insane. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEHRLdHtRy
He had to be. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56A9hA77tO
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnbKaB672e
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKomqc99a2w
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpjlixvzWD
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF5g08o25O
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVKZemKib4
"I don't even know where to begin."1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfmdOa91Hh
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa1028Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lRknqxW2l
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