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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxifKQNYBKX
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaZS6Q2YjY
“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?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkrAOoavRh
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZiS17aUDo
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObQkM7xFav
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXpJdfa1ot
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pHbfRbtts
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuFeUNU07E
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YaOKPBmyn
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxS9kSHsuG
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJtxjDew4N
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91X6RyRVIg
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0nQWpMw7w
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVQ29Akwq7
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4G8Whgh5Q
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVpr1tBfij
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODh4p3wXT1
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUTgzuSgo8
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFY8yykyhD
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbTjOWdAGn
“Does he know about your dad?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu1CInHpXw
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYMvbG4OI3
“No.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5XIqal9ZG
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykj5VUHYhL
Green eyes widened in surprise.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcYmbgBC2Y
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjW5zKzbNz
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirxbV4zaKc
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3DyWycyZN
“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.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCvnbs25XO
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofkBTpIhe4
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XX1ehjpnP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡentlKl4rUj
“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.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tzgAc7kDa
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTBgtoSQT3
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TG2MqnjhM
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCELfIDbxD
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—”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVMAgkliJn
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zCte9pIIj
“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.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOHLRnhPPt
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvSDSnvf5W
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfSdxDfAzg
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEQZtQMiAd
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUp0EMiCFF
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDhimoVhJ
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1bNgo9vxq
