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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ9OJqg0nw
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRWMIw381o
“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?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODwo5S1oJV
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdHO9MFFMR
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWKlfZtGfO
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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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QSThbHpni
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqkw9258qJ
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CtdNJlzoE
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kzl4AA4Rb
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD39s9ypAC
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUJLy4BPJO
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo2cpq4rLC
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNiwgWuYOR
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OZIF9m7N1
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXvhOc93cE
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yYfvo5ub1
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1WNRgw5PS
“Does he know about your dad?”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKxcbRCkin
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfai4U53Jd
“No.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtisAfnaEW5
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TxIBtGWD5
Green eyes widened in surprise.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKPgsmtMI2
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8K52M0ZAK
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72oF15M9Pn
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd1XNzhpx5
“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.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr0mZY51eX
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ42IWIGxOi
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7JKf8QfMo
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB6Ct9iJ7L
“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.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGNDZ1tKsJ
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0umnz6VN9
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF3ohA5PH1
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWcObZwcIE
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—”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuA5xtvcIL
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa12ca8eaap
“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.”367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvheGCO3AVu
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R9SxjSRPr
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBYnajuX5k
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoYKyxDSFF
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.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXGDhKTvza
367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQmgPPAz5T
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYCmuctxp2
