Ciarán?" a voice queried from the side of the room. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgdXDzy82x
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdasCoMSzKi
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuOUn01sLx
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWvCK2qri7
He frowns. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Ont3S7AW
Though the painting was a truly a classically modern work of art in its contemporary genre, he still felt the colors were too subdued.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBM80o0PCB
Too structured. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAF4Ml1zFq
Too pale. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ037Og48XN6
Too enforced to be in their respective place. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PyweUl8OA
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuQJSQwlcX
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdnWDT09Cq
Ciarán could see it now, images begin to swirl in his head.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBMQprGx4n
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlf1zIJFRo
Closer and closer, he manages to focus his eyes to the silhouette.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLs77LxhDE
"Mr. Byrne." The voice calls again. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrksyc8S3Cy
This time, the tone laced in subdued impatience.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT9l4LRZAr
And like a pin bursting through his bubble of thoughts, Ciarán snaps back to reality and to the white-clad room.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90wYKtiAnc
Slowly, he lowers his eyes further until they land on the stern-looking figure behind the table882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoXkfHl1ok
His wayward gaze meets her cold calculating stare. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxynv6rV5l8
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuqEt78HUs
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzsWEE6FSa
" Ciarán, are you with me?" She asks, a slight crinkle etched on her brow.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7CFCsY1pY
"Yes?" He hesitantly replies, his voice a bit too husky for his age.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyNNoigIna
"Do you know why you're here?" 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aSZk7Ogas
It was always the same question she asks to start their session. One that which Ciarán always fail to answer coherently.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9fDgwGLz7
"Uhh," he gulped, the sound almost audible in the room. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH3qO0oL3L
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIva2uXNDl
With a deep inhalation, he replies "No."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFhhx8nOO4
He watches as she scribbles something on her notepad. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzNh80BpmR
He glances at the clock on the right side of the desk, listening as it ticks away by the second.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQxCrDzRxZ
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK!882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qnUsOgkHT
" Ciarán, are you aware of the events that led you here?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIamlCJkkwy
He gives her what he hopes to be a sheepish smile. "Honestly Doc, I don't really kn-"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmkBOjm8LO
TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUWUmSUGqw
The clock goes on. Louder and louder like an echo.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wMAm4fOal
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.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLJU4MqdIY
" Ciarán?" The doctor asks again, her pen dangling a few centimeters from her notepad. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DCu5Geglh
Ciarán barely hears her, as if the very waves of sound were stuck, suspended on the surface as the waves they were. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YjfvdKU2T
Ciarán rubs his temple as a new sound begins to appear. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1U4Cv9y6A
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQucrOZsmxf
He continues to rub his temple, shaking his head until it finally disappears. At least, for the meantime.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHe3IwKcKZ
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS6u4jQcvc
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.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0ARXkM1Yy
"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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGXjkRQTCj
Right, as if he hadn't heard that spiel before. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7wJIOj6is
"Well, I don't exactly recall myself asking for help." He mutters, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjFwHO3BiL
He turns his head away, not wanting to see her reaction. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2SkjK4q10
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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnITANc5QS
He didn't see her gaze softening but he did hear her sigh. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl286KdEPm
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ggOyz9Mbk
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.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkB6pXJFau
"Ciarán, what do you see?" she asks, holding up the object closer to him.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB1NYZLwqx
"A quarter?" he responds skeptically, not sure of where the sudden shift of subject would lead to.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ycdTGYUlC
"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." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsGE1efAWf
She places the coin on the table by its rim where both sides can be seen. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq91bllDGT
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?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e7HTqHp7J
Ciarán merely shrugs before the doctor spins the coin. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AMk53ij4A
Round and round, it goes, until all the naked eye could see was a flashing blur. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7ltrx1u2j
"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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHtKDi5fxc
Eyes transfixed, he follows the instructions of her lulling voice. Breathing deeply, he exhales, letting go of the tensions that once knotted his shoulders.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ECM35c9ip
"Good. I want you to keep on doing that while I ask you some questions. You're gonna answer them, won't you Ciarán?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8fowC84WC
"Yes," he breathes out.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa3TSWWjVb
"Very good. Now, let's start all over again. Why do you think you're here?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFqgkhnFEF
"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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy8etVNdYc
"What sort of stuff?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztEeVwsX5N
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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ8boQjev4
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSLihsRIF
"Hush, relax, Ciarán. Nobody thinks that you did it on purpose."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8wjVn0fdT
"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." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioPX2sJLFA
He bites out the last word, remembering the cruel words the others had called him. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtK4q4xgCJ
"But are you?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoGZoGXoqe
"No!" He breaks his gaze from the coin, facing her squarely and shrugging her hand off his shoulder. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiiZdROtNc
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."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuAMFU1LRq
"I don't." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6O4tpNL73
His eyes, while never leaving the coin, widen in surprise. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdITpY624H
"How would you know?" He snorts incredulously. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR28TultODM
The doctor merely shrugs. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExRbj6tB45
"I don't know for sure. But what I can say is you're a special young man."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfP8zh42dw
"Come on, doc. You can't possibly think I would believe that nonsense. You're just saying this for my sake." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mXxV6aia4
She tilts her head to the side, a confused expression on her face. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7fTWWPtjC
"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?" 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagn2Uj0ebQ
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.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHthXW1QtNQ
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." 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh2FDaHidm
She places her hand again on his shoulder, applying a bit of pressure this time. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzmLoZPlID
"Breathe."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdrSqenPu3
He defiantly does so. Again and again he breathes until the flow of air comes easier into his lungs.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C9SPSouvK
"Better," she remarks. "Now, about the girl. Can you tell me more about her?"882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwTaPWSb7l
"What about her?" he asks, unsure at the turn of their conversation.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOkaVEfrWt
"Anything. Any thing you can think or remember about her."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBv5RUcc78
"I don't-" he tilts his head to the side, "I don't know what to say."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrINV5VPpn
Ciaràn thinks back to the blurred form earlier, to the silhouette who had her back against the bright light. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JN7y2t4WV
Slowly, he can see her clearly now. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfR5YH6Gly
The haze disappears, showing the fine details of her face kissed by the warm sunlight. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Fz7iRUiw
Threading across a field towards him, floating like a nymph. Hair as dark as grey ash whipping wildly against her ethereally stunning visage. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3kWVKTLRz
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. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWndnLeWoo
He respires as he watches as her movement in the wind causes the silk strands to lightly caress a pair of wide sensuous lips. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3MK7m0S4o
Her eyes. Christ, her eyes! 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9h0KvvVzF
Like the misty sky from the mountains tops after a cold wintry night and speckled with light silver-grey specks, captivates his senses. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1enQpPuvCP
And when she smiles sensuously, when those beautifully curved lips meet, a merest hint of a dimple appears and he finds his jaw slacks.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dYRLdFhjJ
He really was insane. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXTcQrrpLy
He had to be. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfOcOpiItt
No one could be that beautiful as her and still be real.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kjdiEjBbo
"It's alright, take your time. Just think and say something about her like a"-882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEhuwlomye
"Like a story?" he inquires, the side of his mouth quirking as if amused at the idea.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVfTzbzK9u
"Yes. Exactly. Like a story," she nods encouragingly.882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHddLQVWaPN
Ciaràn lets out a shaky laugh to himself. 882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOXsxoXHr3
"I don't even know where to begin."882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnuV928lYY
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Copyright © 2018 by Andrea Cassandra Lei Meñosa882Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhturRDwjax
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