The Puppet's Strings

Chapter 1: Dreams

"I can't take these dreams anymore! Please make them stop!" Begged a hopeless Aria "I don't know how." replied Dr. Quinsy, her psychiatrist, calmly "I've told you that already." "I know but.....ughh, can we just end our session now? I feel tired and want to rest." Dr. Quinsy nodded "Yes we can if you really feel that way, just remember," she quickly grasped Aria's arm before she left "take it easy ok? Don't take any homework and if someone bugs you about anything, just ignore them. Having no homework might seem unfair to the other students, but they don't know how bad your state is...rest well ok?" Aria nodded and left, as the door shut Dr. Quinsy let out a long sigh "Poor dear girl..."

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The sun, only but a sliver in the horizon. Aria Foster lay awake. She lied to her psychiatrist about being tired just so she could leave, her head was pounding and so was her heart. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand, it read 5:00 am.

School was going to be like hell, just as it is everyday. Her only friend Xianna was the one thing she did look forward to.

Aria grabbed her phone, then stared at it blankly as she remembered Xianna would probably be asleep and knowing she sleeps like the dead, decided not to call her. She sat up and lifted her laptop off the floor, Maybe stupid online games will keep my mind off things she thought, less than hopeful.

About two hours of Tetris and other weird online games later she shut the laptop and sighed, the clock now read 7:00 am.

The sun now clearly visible, Aria crawled off her bed and stumbled her way clumsily to the window. A fresh bit of frost glimmered on the window like an almost beautiful painting. She traced little stars and swirls all around the frozen scene. Her breath transforming into little clouds, slow and deep. "I hate winter." she whispered, although no one was listening, all were most likely asleep or preparing for an early shift.

She thought about how her mom used to wake up around this time to prepare for work, and how she used to try to wake up with her to give her one last hug and kiss before she left.

Her mother had passed away almost 3 years ago now, when Aria was only 14. Her mother was so beautiful, she was tall and slender, pretty face and clear skin. She had elegant, long black hair and blue eyes that shone the prettiest shade of blue-ish violet. She died in her sleep and in her own home like she wished, she had died from Cancer. She had a beautiful funeral and many people got to share their condolences.

You'd think that after three years Aria would have gotten over it, but no. Her mother's passing still affects her to this day. She wiped away a small tear that had managed to roll halfway down her cheek. Aria's chocolate brown eyes were now slightly filled with tears.

Luckily tomorrow is Friday, but unfortunately there's an exam. She picked up her notes and tried to study. Tiredness pulled at her eyes and her neck was feeling sore.

Aria shoved the notes in her backpack, the scene from last Tuesday replayed in her head on some sort of repeat mode. She remembered it as if it were yesterday.

Marissa had closed in towards Aria and Xianna. "So the psycho and the pyromaniac. Always together, always alone. Pity." She laughed rudely. "No homework every day just because you have a little bit of trauma or whatever. Still grieving even after 3 years? Get over it Foster." "Go away Marissa." shot back Xianna "It's more than just that. Mr. Davids explained her situation in front of the whole class, remember?" "Oh sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Pathetic..." she sighed the last part. Aria just stared at the table acting as if she didn't hear the little dispute.

Ms. Yanoskov, the current supervisor of the cafeteria strolled over to the table. "Ladies, sunny day isn't it, considering the cold that is. Marissa, why don't you run off to join your little sorority. And you, Miss Aria, please join me in my office after lunch." Marissa nodded and flashed a fake smile. "Why of course Ms. Yanoskov, I was just pondering how dear Aria here was feeling, I do hope she starts to feel much better soon." she said in a sincere way so fake that even Ms. Yanoskov's eye twitched in disgust.

Shortly after the bell rang, Xianna waved goodbye, she did have a physics class to catch after all. Aria then slowly trudged to Ms. Yanoskov's office. The door opened to a smiling Gloria Yanoskov. "Welcome dear..."