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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYAknvZyaF
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl9SFDfT3X
“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?”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9I9RhoC5o
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYU5IZ2cTr
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzCokho24u
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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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Dp1TmgJI
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AD9oOBB11
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXwRQKEqDR
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcipjp9pNT6
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWWLW82gqC
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDpUL1kEPp
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpQU8U0ofM
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKSEkF7Gm8
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wr5dzTP4u
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIX6BuqvJv
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejRaYbotgk
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DCxEHwFSD
“Does he know about your dad?”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9MuFubOEJ
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWryGAS5s5N
“No.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2xNivK2er
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xhhj4lJgy
Green eyes widened in surprise.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUwaUbVKna
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHvkdCULu7
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXGyfja1YM
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRvTWUwCNp
“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.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAymd4pbzE
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wL4HQLuvG
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpmoV2vStz
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZCKjeYQIW
“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.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMY9qDAcp5
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeDUkDUtV2
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYI4ed1sHw
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpxlnQJS5m
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—”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9uNXRNqjE
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz4uqUPBVO
“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.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoKam9YrES
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ7NlnrCAi
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi04oCIQHEV
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhl4Q4K0ij
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsayuOn5bQC
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HZkPNeGRI
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl7mLamEnk
