Splinters: Part One

Part One | 7

"I'll tell you about her, but I won't talk about when or how she left."

Dr. Hamelon waited for a moment and then said a soft 'okay'.

I started again, keeping my voice steady. "Her name was Marie. I don't think she ever married my dad. Sometimes, she'd come home and she wouldn't say anything to me. She and my dad fought a lot and sometimes they acted like they didn't know the other existed."

"Did that hurt you?"

"No. I, uh... I was too young."

But it did. It hurt me a lot. When my dad walked through Central Park, I'd see other kids with their parents. Smiling. Laughing. Why couldn't my parents love each other like that? Why did they have to be mean to each other and have to stay away from each other? They never slept in the same bed. It was always my dad and me in the bed and sometimes, when my mom stayed overnight, she slept on the couch and then she'd leave to do whatever she'd do and then come back.

"Did your parents not being together the way you wanted hurt you, Brayden?" she pressed again, a bit more firm than the first time.

"Yes." I whispered.

Dr. Hamelon sat back against her chair and sighed.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore." I finally let out, clenching and unclenching my fists.

Dr. Hamelon sighed. "I think it's good enough as it is. You even letting me in is making progress, Brayden."

...

"Naturally, there's some trauma we should unpack. Especially about his mother."

Dr. Hamelon promised she wouldn't tell Melissa about my mother and I was praying to God that she was keeping her word. Melissa sighed in what sounded like aggravation. I sat in a chair against the wall in the lobby while Dr. Hamelon and Melissa spoke to each other across the room. Little did they know that they're 'quiet-talk' was easy to hear. I was grateful only I was in here.

"I recommend taking it slow with him. He has a hard time with the idea of a family."

Melissa nodded eagerly. "I thought so. I knew it was a bit hard for him so I didn't want him to go to school the week he moved in. It was so-"

"Brayden getting used to his new life has nothing to do with this, Mrs. Pierson. His idea of parents, well... It's not what you think. Forcing him to talk about it is not something that you should do. Frankly, he's insecure, and scared of what you'll think of him."

"I need to know what she-"

"You will know," Dr. Hamelon assured, putting a hand on Melissa's shoulder. "When Brayden's ready to tell you."

I watched as Melissa glanced at me with a sad look and then agreed. When Dr. Hamelon left, Melissa put on a smile that could've easily fooled anyone of happiness if it weren't for the conversation I'd just witnessed.

"Let's head on home, Brayden."

I nodded and got up. She and I both left the therapy office and got inside the SUV. We both buckled our seatbelts before driving off. The therapy office was about fifteen to twenty minutes outside of Barrington so Melissa thought it'd be good if she started a conversation, one that I wasn't sure should be spoken just yet.

"Have you thought about wanting to drive, Brayden?"

I looked away from outside the car window. "Drive?"

She nodded. "You're nearly sixteen. Have you ever thought about getting your driver's license?"

I shook my head. "Not really."