Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4WQyhb3lN
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0D2q4Bal0
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGPrD4QwwZ
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyIpJkXWVF
He frowns. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD1tZfLw1b
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXcVnXlMPI
Too structured. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rgyuw6INk
Too pale. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9o8YdkojL
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQss4i8QI3J
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE6hGvb2LL
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrVhKyUK3Y
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiYwBh39Dr
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcjRdlG5aI
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAeHp9IdyH
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAw8BHtD87
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLknoGLRqST
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnitMxDtNkA
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirWJa87vO6
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfAzkK0kKx
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kcerHJVdJ
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeQ4QhxOci
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfhkvxXyKJ
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9dUO2G9x6
"Do you know why you're here?" 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg9h1FkNyK
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVilFPi2IE
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrTuJLZBt4
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVWfzRz1vq
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwukOnI1df
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjXMS3GJyH
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4ozF9RFo4
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PUtxj1Gel
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAukdISVon
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0s3UliRam
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu2xg27qfj
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHpMLCKrHS
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.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE6kE8iQCQ
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gNOT8PJJQ
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbyFxpAIoR
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS7K6jPaz3
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVlwsHbGdC
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkBpBz7b6s
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FZC1MMGIO
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.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncX7ILSGUO
"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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhZmepdlJc
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeDjOm68bl
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69YXQSVyuV
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoczHWvFXmf
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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E7lN5Fnyu
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ya72SOq4i
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy1CIlJF7X
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.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ9Bw8QH0A
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGGCHVHcTI
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjqouaoH5D
"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." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRQBwGUFiA
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIfahg7ADr
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?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdoMPVDEL5
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kuNLwcu5W
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0OmPWyBer
"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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3bKbI54AN
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnsf08Xe0h
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAgPuToZpL
"Yes," he breathes out.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeihwY6JKG
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqcxB5o6E8
"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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvSaSclqdU
"What sort of stuff?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fUqypDN0D
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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUh0jUJNBt
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhhDfIUrWo
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpUKPraFRh
"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." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm8WFEd4ed
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRdSwooGgK
"But are you?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4ZQpYcywH
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWjDkPqqRQ
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."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOBbTtjMD0
"I don't." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyjgwTVgH5
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM0tW8vyOn
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiuGY82Ncg
The doctor merely shrugs. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCGKJlElaq
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhWyRf0fyO
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnQnTcmJ83
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYVyNsiaHa
"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?" 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhBWNyENC9
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.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLNZ4lvsD9
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." 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53iApV4nhW
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeyfGR8Z44
"Breathe."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUq2hMbnbl
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fpXgbTJIW
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLs1pgWXuf
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp65omFnaV
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKfsO3DsoF
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WCogaElSR
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyRGbcH0pT
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYguzMbdAr4
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIZbNmVjuP
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosyWp58P1F
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. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRCE2jtB5I
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm5X3wekCo
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Bm56HHsvp
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8tNxXhNdf
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8RCUk3krN
He really was insane. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy235Y6xDa2
He had to be. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizuyQ7sCaa
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrVB4yGTG0
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHFFfN2tTd
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDwAVeEUKk
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbtEsVKep4
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DZMfk7YM2
"I don't even know where to begin."948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ4HcHd5EK
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa948Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOLxb73beT
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