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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNWL4m15dt
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLClyeN4rpp
“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?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq5rIjTmvF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tJia8g79m
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6275SKjn8M
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguhRKPoNM6
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfRL9OCR4K
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyGykLY8uX
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAOi4I95Ek
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaO3LqvpzW
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWohniOqV2d
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzW5eJjlNZ
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyg07JetcW
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX96tb1kqB
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HfzOfJH8J
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc7cRrWftO
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOaw2LxVwo
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl0L3M11Us
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONq78fiI3J
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikmdaldFBH
“Does he know about your dad?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcni4wnGPtj
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34Tsbmi3Yr
“No.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxASYSx163E
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRDOIUhOp4
Green eyes widened in surprise.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjFZUqPuPC
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KgxTKCo3g
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RUC77MOPj
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7zmgVo3hG
“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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kOzMo0To7
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeCXfwPmU7
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccngOXt5Ft
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD3WtcWs9W
“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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLVokkQpe5
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviIeXnoo4B
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMobBd5Hc0
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qtQn1QCDe
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—”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKZQLTFMsc
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppZVAwbi1H
“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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfPqDA4A12
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZkV4dKRYk
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc98S0wVmQD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqnW410Uig
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVHvKZuvwf
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B8bWIbXwk
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZpoTvgHRz
