AllFreeNovel
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“We’ll never be friends,” I state, and then I turn away and get the hell out of there.
* * *
My mood is in the pits when I walk through the doors to the student welfare centre. As if it wasn’t bad enough meeting Miss Linley this morning, my first group therapy session is this afternoon.
I can hardly wait. Sitting around with a bunch of other damaged students, sharing stories of our childhood trauma and pain. Just what I don’t want to spend my Monday afternoon doing.
Something tells me our stories might be a little different given they attend this school.
Ignoring the handful of students gathered in the hall, I make my way to the meeting room Miss Linley showed me earlier. It’s a light and airy space with a huge window overlooking the woods beyond the campus perimeter.
“Ah, Raine, you made it.”
“Didn’t have much choice,” I murmur.
Miss Linley just smiles. “How was your first day?”
“I stayed out of trouble.” Mostly.
She doesn’t need to know about my run-in with crazy Keeley.
“Glad to hear it. Why don’t you grab a drink and find a seat. We’ll be starting soon.”
I glance around the room, eyeing the girl over by the refreshment table.
It’s her. The crying girl from the dorm.
Her eyes lift, landing on me and her brows pinch as she darts her gaze away.
Okay then.
I don’t bother getting a drink, taking a seat instead. There are eight chairs positioned in a circle, Miss Linley’s chair at the head. I know it’s her chair because she’s draped her pale pink cardigan over the back.
She greets the other students as they enter the room and before long, I’m sitting between a girl and boy who don’t do much as acknowledge me.
“Millie, would you like to join the circle now.”
The girl I came across at the dorm joins us, taking the empty seat opposite me but like everyone else, she barely looks twice at me.
“I hope everyone enjoyed some downtime over the Christmas break.” Miss Linley joins the circle, taking her seat. “However, I know the holidays can be a trigger for some of you. So today I want to spend some time exploring that.
“It’s been a few weeks since we last met as a group, so I want to remind you that anything you share today or in our future sessions is confidential. This is a safe space.”
I press my lips together, trapping the urge to groan. Therapists sure love the sound of their own voice.
How many times had I heard the same bullshit over the years?
Talking about it will help.
It’s good to explore our feelings.
Your experiences don’t define you, Raine.
Funny that, because my experiences have done nothing but define me and my life. And talking about them hasn’t changed a damn thing.
So…” She clasps her hands together. “Would anyone like to share how their break went?”
Her reassuring gaze roves around the room, until it lands on me. But I remain silent. There’s nothing I want to share. Not today. Not next time. I’m only here because I have to be. My presence is the only interaction she’s getting.
