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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIee6BLPyh
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4kgiDzWsV
“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?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQBpQFkPCf
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6InF7DtH1
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIDRv0lebD
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolxwqS4WzN
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKFymLv2Q
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcjbyrr1Lx
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0quWBXrsZR
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzPL1Pp2Rx
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ274NbyJm4P
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo81JDjwO6
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhZ1kDxCS8
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf4yRGe6Bc
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKWASu8lXs
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvjZjyE6Al
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekc32r0Zok
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1BPgo12dp
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCFXcn4yVu
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp5cHOb9T7
“Does he know about your dad?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT3xpkWjVV
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUsE0Agfbe
“No.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsR6OFNFtp
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7n51NnkNX
Green eyes widened in surprise.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9uLQTIZ3b
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0x6UCCeaN
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1yzYCAnvv
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaP7PpWJSj
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG0Euc5u7g
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYXxlyKn5L
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQfrcbC6yl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4VlLKwsak
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPobmG4QIrX
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf4UGA2skf
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3bCdUXFsm
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQjaJzy5Gr
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—”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikqQjgvGLx
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclZ7ejab47
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSl11i4bBJ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMIw6ab6eE
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EbqJcMeC8
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWafXm8gT1j
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf3i5IAnnv
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyisvBdJnVW
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneHVFnOMHR
