I glanced at the person as they moved closer to me, barely registering who it was until they wrapped their arms around my back and I sank into them. A hand touched my face, fingers working to wipe away tears.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisXHNOuSAb
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHtQ01ZBcR
“What did you do?” Christian asked, lifting me into his arms. He turned to stare at the broken mirror and I buried my head in his chest. “Jesus, what the hell happened?”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw48e32hu3X
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bkGdUa8aO
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixObE9GJtU
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kMclc6Vgr
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaqERM31qb
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN65LXEBAOf
That stupid paperweight is all I see when I sit down across from him. He’s giving me a look, his eyes locking with the gauze around my arm. I scrunch smaller in the chair and shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it yet, so instead I tell him a story.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqL72jXj2P
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR2LfJdCga
I talk about my dad. I talk about how he was a good father, always checking to make sure I did my homework, or checked the doors and windows when I got scared, making sure they were secure. Then I talk about the alcohol, the smoking, the constant cheating, and about the day he came home from work early just to beat up my mom.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEQCMptJ1v
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWs3SanW9q
He always told me that crying was weak, which was probably why I rarely did it, with the exception of this morning. In all fairness, I hadn’t realized I was doing it until Christian touched my face.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcK7hR634B
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYSRL7L1gM
I’ve found out the doctor’s name, because I finally decided to look at the name plate. It says in bold capital letters: Dr. John Monroe.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxIOxTQtVc
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWBmdM1gVC
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7FNNEhoxB
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM2aUZpWb9
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVUXLQsKyf
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxc24f6x7O
“Does he know about your dad?”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrVMkEt1Ho
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dp7SPhFa0
“No.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN8dEulL4s
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51HFsfpyw5
Green eyes widened in surprise.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB2gyzA4Xm
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96gi4P3YWG
The entire time I’ve been talking, he wasn’t looking at me, and now I know why. He slides a piece of paper across the desk toward me and nods.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5qzsTXr7z
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVrQru4mI5
“This is my home and cell number. If you need me again, call me. I mean it, Kendall.” Before I can ask what’s on my mind, he cuts me off. “No, your sessions aren't done. I just think you could use some time to yourself. You look like you hate it here.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHVsVtmUOD
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Bl8k2HaX
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJtvsPAYTz
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY1mnf73IH
“Prying?” John smiles and shakes his head. “It’s not my intention. I’m just supposed to listen and give advice. It’s okay, we can reschedule. But remember what I said.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xE4hhHXko
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3DfhRfSMQ
After I thanked him and left, I stood in the parking lot of the office for a while, the sun beating down on my head, warm and calming. I stared down at my shadow on the asphalt, and was startled when I was joined by another.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbEj8rT2MJ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJeTG93Gg7
It’s just a stranger, I told myself, probably a wandering homeless man looking for some money. I lifted my head, the words out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any—”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcG4RPDNbQ
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74UXYUsiZs
“I don’t want anything from you,” a familiar voice spat. Then they whispered, “But now I know your secret. You’re a freak. Here to talk about your daddy issues? Or maybe you’re telling the shrink how much of a whore your mother is.”436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZYeAAbOUt
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhCdbJh2Cl
Cassie Barnes never got any further in her insult, because at that moment, my fist came in contact with her jaw. She stumbled back and slammed her head on the edge of one of those potted plants that was sitting inches from us.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr5qXoTrlA
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT67SToPSX
Just as I heard the sickening crack of Cassie’s skull hitting the pot, I saw the blood that blossomed from the wound. It dripped down her temple. I bent down to see if she was okay, to tell her I didn’t mean to do that, but she wasn’t moving.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ijXGWDrFP
436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuVLl8ks4q
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDYW3dYBPb
