Abandoned

A. The Start

"It doesn't matter who your parents are.
Your parents do not define who you are in the future.
You are your own person.
You can choose you become."

'Bullshit. Total bullshit.' Logan thought as he heard those words coming out from his counselors mouth.

"You can change Logan. Tell me, why do you have to hit those kids? What did they do to you? Did they say something that offended you?" Mr Kay, the school counselor probed.

Logan stared blankly at Mr Kay, not answering his question.

Mr Kay sighed. He knew from the day Miss Holmes referred Logan to him, that he would be a challenge.

Logan had got himself into multiple fights, sometimes even initiating fights with peers twice his size. Last week, he came into his office, one eye swollen shut, lip busted open and a couple of blue-blacks around his face. Another time, he almost got stabbed as he purposely attacked a group of gang members in public. But despite almost landing in the hospital, Logan seemed to never care. Every counseling session seemed to be in vain. During every session, it would just be like speaking to a piece of wood. Mr Kay would always ask the question, while Logan stared into space. Only on rare occasions would he actually speak up. The first time Mr Kay met Logan, he had just got himself in trouble with one of the Literature lecturer. Apparently, he told the lecturer to shove it up his ass, when he demanded that Logan perform in the play. When Mr Kay met Logan, he was met with silence until he asked one question.

"Perhaps I should speak your father. Maybe he can..."

"No. Don't call him. I'll cooperate." He begged. It broke Mr Kays' heart. Logan sounded like he was speaking to an officer, to someone with the authority to suppress him.

It worked for a few days. Logan cooperated, usually only answering a word or two at a time. They never had a proper full conversation. He never asked about his father again. He knew that Logans' father has something to do with the way Logan is acting. It was not hard to figure out. Some days, Logan would come into their session, extra quiet and even more reserved than usual. It was not like him. Mr Kay decided to invest his time to find out more about Logan. He requested to see his file from the office.

Logan had a hard life. His mother died when he was 10, from cancer. Everyone knows how hard cancer can be on the patient. But sometimes, people forget to look at the caregivers. It tears them apart. It breaks them when they see their loved ones suffering. Because cancer is a disease that kills not only the patient, but the people around them. Being only 10 when this unfortunate incident took place, must have been very traumatic for Logan. His father on the other hand is a cop. Protector of the country, always abiding by the rules and ensuring that everything is safe. Being a son to an officer must be really difficult. The amount of pressure you have to be a law-abiding citizen, to always do everything right. In addition, who knows what happens behind closed door? The disciplinary action that takes place, especially due to Logans rebellious nature. It is not without surprise that Logan is the way that he is.

"Logan, are you even listening to me?" Silence.

"I am trying to help you. I am not your teacher but I am not going to pretend that I am your friend. I am here to help you. You obviously have something that is affecting you, or you wouldn't be acting this way." Silence.

Logan continues staring blankly at Mr Kay. He looks down at his watch and mentally cursed. 2 more minutes left. But somehow, time seemed to passed by really slowly.

"Logan?"

Mr Kay sighed and rubbed his face wearily.

"I guess that is it for today." Logan immediately stood up and sling his backpack over his shoulders. He walked over to the door, hand on the door handle, ready to bolt.