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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz26p8D2OU
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPCs0k4eyK
“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?”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZILBnfiyj
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnU9l5JFZr
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Just please get me out of here.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1tWqJ9VdI
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmF48QQuCU
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVqJrVYSZ6
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaClzlefKgT
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRDCI1j8eZ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2AGaQWlcI
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRydln4hCWh
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynAgiDNSDk
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM2X9M6dBy
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGjYODYen4
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxTrjET5Wi
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa15mG9nnk2
“Is Christian your boyfriend?”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVjZWXVyoH
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb59QkHDLe
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s just a friend.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B7hfqGjoF
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObp9AHvqs7
“Does he know about your dad?”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2SShw7U48
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV6k2xScKo
“No.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdQrD5GCCw
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaIZFJi1iF
Green eyes widened in surprise.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGe4kzADNM
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmjBAE0O5L
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91SXIiUvW8
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFTWql8u95
“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.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy4f0h42SQ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrh6tMaKfx
“I don’t, not really,” I said, frowning. “It’s just I feel like you’re—”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8nvGiLYsq
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiTgpocIYS
“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.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIPujxExAt
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t9AXnZECL
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigWjBp6uSJ
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYgcJqnwMF
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—”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsusnNZFOe
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbiYTNEadg
“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.”269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRftlkzyWLY
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NxIWzyxmx
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMm7u4Fxea
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWiJGrPS1i
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9WhVccECk
269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcywsHMNHr8
As I stood frozen to the spot, all I could think was, I guess that’s better than gutting her. Less messy.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKsmRGHsqb
