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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMevac0Sc9N
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96DggJnJyc
“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?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDaehr8J5e
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgNF6tHxwL
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD6ZjS2qBM
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JphVy8T21
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyw8QmG08U
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM2Ti4EY8I
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdb4gpGGCw
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAVAM3NsyV
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc2SmXApyY
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1yGG0RD9h
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4Ne9E2nyr
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1FArWqY2d
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O4SrqgHE9
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRAyYriqzA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEW3QU8y15
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMukI9MkEAC
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo3JCVTrjG
“Does he know about your dad?”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XzA0hbACe
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhByHxgCplS
“No.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqiHjWDsYZ
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKS0fAdmjw
Green eyes widened in surprise.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRTFjEmngH
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UQDBvCR0e
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpsl3OvfP9
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lPjIxJ6Ta
“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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMnqX6R454
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeVDhhwkYs
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ5XnqW4ne
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbZu9qABZ9
“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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj38PuPdo3n
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOcB74pgZf
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGQgMgnfVA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68hkxmiGNb
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—”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C3jvr8HBq
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjKCstBiLM
“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.”394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQcjlVKbgr
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISEgcH1NCF
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgESdblxkP
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8JhzyU67M
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3guAoGGrm5
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpManoNRKu2
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DOfEiKcC9
