Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeaYphj9pn
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDe4oVNvEQ
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYJsjqQLRv
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bladCOinb
He frowns. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2ssrPVrhu
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBQHI2dkeA
Too structured. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWRVK8KCLm
Too pale. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcycBkAaFpw
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH51BNyXTH5
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR4ooqBkDu
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO0DjpmFMq
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ3qGAHGUI
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPfAzDjF6S
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuM6h8D8nM
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzNLLSp0J6
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO4yr9ZjJv
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHJKbsgJFJ
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkFxqM2Eif
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPqNXwwyHO
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9knHVgdUj
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqPqRnzxjM
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGClCcWRwB
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB52JozJYi
"Do you know why you're here?" 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfQY3ezgXk
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM7DSBeNI1
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhrHPw2awe
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWk5ZEUhpp
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRI0YsTDsq
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdMJD2Whgz
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4akDDB5yXx
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0euFUY2uOf
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpb9UBqufg
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5QletDszZ
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWJ2JOO52i
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDl0iO6LRG
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.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYkgi7Z3T4
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHwmf5Cs4Y
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJhJO1QWHg
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sIxD4vQXo
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdkSiR0zOT
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7OHd5MYSS
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlifSqu0lk
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.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn1ibNkbcx
"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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduEtPJhPkn
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFJ7GigY89
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd3lGWHRBv
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkHELRbH3u
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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfjqaoqp5I
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiGUvIxbOf
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEi7jS1rsg
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.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhNM46OVAv
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze8hrc3HBs
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyYwJyHLL8
"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." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm3KgReyDX
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j7LJ5ZjFk
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?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWJPpSYqWr
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrJSOuXmsa
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXhKO7DfUt
"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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx42GwTEkSc
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR7KwhVndy
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB1kybWPpO
"Yes," he breathes out.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiwNVy8BCN
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3o1rxcHJ3
"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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreRlv0Gn0o
"What sort of stuff?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jj4CpoiT3
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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns7BsBHkLF
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa0MNr1HJR
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK24MQti9j
"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." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlw2kWIHZV
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDhoNuNryx
"But are you?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8rlAYsG4s
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UV1IqPszX
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."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnggfaAs1tx
"I don't." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUIHbYWTAO
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx4vIMZDRr
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJGQ4kcQlS
The doctor merely shrugs. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItb8P9LmVX
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnrHRvHmXA
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg68hnJbKB5
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9gzxDkmSp
"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?" 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC09aeRP1x
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.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsWpGRcxWk
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." 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1C7pWQNu8
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTFM3X4IEM
"Breathe."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSiP7TOBxN
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ig7MgtbPX
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcbTqmqENg
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTXmlu6i5v
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1env0ZgoW
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVbGe3MguE
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91Cdf8Inci
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE25ZCieT0c
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZM24pedr1
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzDK2Qp7Lm
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. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHSrE1CmIL
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJMSNfAgx7
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm7zoX87F6
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApkLwjdqbH
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0AwyHIJaj
He really was insane. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIEUy7YkQ2
He had to be. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyH0ZNPCMh
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb8KQ22sPC
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY9Wbljrrg
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIiDUMj1Ox
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfJoVQwaQv
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwz2nvgAtl
"I don't even know where to begin."983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhcVfliuP7
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa983Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy2PwUW4dq
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