Chapter 9 - Chapter 9

"So Anna tell us about your parents"

I exhaled heavily not knowing this day would come. Not knowing someone would want to know about my parents.

Madam Jane looked at me as if I would easily talk or say something.

"Why do you want to know?" My voice started to break.

"You seem to… I figured I would try to take a survey and you are the first one I picked. I will be filling forms for every student that's why I inquired" She said opening her small book which she carried around during the entire therapy session.

After therapy class there were no classes left today. Madam Jane asked me to stay behind because there was something she needed to ask me. If I knew she would go to "tell me about your parents " zone I would have ran away the moment she asked me to stay back.

"Well my mom work's and I don't remember about my father" the last part came out hard and I felt the friction between my throat and the saliva.

"How about I give you free private therapy sessions?"

"I don't think I could get the time."

"I am sure you can even if it's on the weekend. I went through your school performance and it's below average. I think the problem is from deep inside…"

"No ma'am, I am feeling great. Bye!"

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔.

There was no way I would

As I got out I saw Jaya on the hallway crying while looking at her phone.

"Whats wrong?" I asked her the moment she saw me.

"Nothing, just saw a sad video"

'just saw a video' felt like a lie. Felt like there was more. What if she gets angry if I ask a lot of questions. I let out a heavy breathe.

"lets go home?" I asked unsure of her answer

"I will pass, I have to do some reading in the library"

"Cool" I left her at that and decided to go home, Alone.

As I was walking I felt someone tap on my shoulder. I shrieked and turned to see who it was. It was none other than Alan.

𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

"Do you mind if I walked with you?" He asked while rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

I looked at him and smirked. A smirk that said 'hell NO' or something around 'not even in your wild dreams' but he arched his brow back maybe from confusion or daring me.

Just like any sane human who didn't want the company of Alan I ran as fast as my tiny legs could carry me. I ran without looking back and when I felt I had won I felt a pull causing me to fall.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. My back pained a bit but I still nodded.

He slammed his face with his hand slowly letting his move down and then he looked at me. He smiled and shook his head.

"You could have just said no. You are so dramatic and immature"

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆.

I pouted and rolled my eyes.

"Cute." He laughed at my reaction and walked away.

I sighed and woke up to go home. I managed to reach home without crossing paths again with Alan. When I reached home, I freshened up and did my homework before I went to work.

It was true that my grades were somehow bad considering I read all the time thoroughly. Reading was an escape from my thoughts and everytime I escaped my fears my memory got distorted. All the things would fade even the thing I should remember like the things I was taught in school.

I heard the main door close and knew it was my mom. Maybe I should ask her about my father. I don't know anything about my father which was kind of strange. Telling people I don't know about my father made me feel stupid.

"Evening mom" I said when I saw her.

"evening" she looked at me with a confused look "you are home early"

"School released us early because of individual therapy sessions. I was the first one. "

"Okay"

"Who is my father?" I said it quickly to be done with the fear of asking once and for all.

Her eyes were wide open looking like she was given a death sentence. Her eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise, and although she knew I was expecting answers simply said no and went to her room.

Frustration can leave you feeling helpless and impotent. Whenever I asked about my father she would say: "Bother!", "I don't have time for this!", "No", "Why won't you listen?" "Can't I ever catch a break around here?" Or almost anything else bitter, harsh or cynical.

My brain was tied up in knots, everything seemed like I was moving in a maze where I would end up on the same spot. I couldn't stand the her attitude and left the house slamming the door. A part of me felt what Parkour did to himself was justified, it could be everyone made his life hell and all he did was end the pain.

At the bakery time passed quicker and all the people inside seem to be in slow motion as my vision blurred with tears. I wasn't going to cry but enough was enough.

"What's the matter?"

It was Alan but this time he looked concerned, genuinely.

"None of your business" I said half heatedly even if a part of me was ready to pour all the sadness out.

"Well it is because your sad face might scare away the customers"

"oh" I said then gave him the silly smile he always gave me when I caught him starring.

He did a mental ugh and shook his head. He finally gave up and went to his corner to continue serving coffee to the customers.

Soon, After I was done with my shift I decided to go by a shop to grab some painkillers. As I was near the shop I saw Jaya crying. She was holding her phone while crying.

"Jaya!" I called out to her.

"Sorry we can't talk right now," she walked away and didn't face back.

Something was definitely going wrong and I needed to find out. I needed to help her…