Tethered

Chapter Eighteen

1

Sarah woke up to the sound of rain drubbing on the window. The wind was harsh, screeching wildly, and lightening flashing brightly. Her night, however, was restless. She'd had those terrifying nightmares again. But she forced herself to push it behind her. She forced herself not to think about them, even though she was scared.

She took a quick shower and left her bedroom. Once downstairs, her father sat in the kitchen drinking coffee, with a newspaper in his hands.

She sat opposite from him, then glared at him. She tried not to think about what he'd done. It was obvious that his foolishness was haunting him—and probably for the rest of his life yet for some strange reasons, Sarah didn't want it to and she still loved him.

"Where were you yesterday?" He asked, putting the paper down.

"With friends", she said. Kenneth stood up and poured Sarah coffee. He shoved two teaspoons of sugar into it, and stirred it.

"Here", he handed the cup over. She took it and murmured a thanks.

"I'm glad that you were with your friends", he said, then kissed her on the forehead. "Dr. Scott is waiting."

"She's here?" Sarah asked, puzzled. "This early?"

"It's nine already", he said, and left the kitchen. Sarah sipped her coffee, then placed the cup down.

2

Dr. Karen Scott looked at Sarah with impatience beaming through her green eyes. Cynthia wasn't there and Sarah's nervousness level was rising.

"My assignment", Dr. Karen Scott said, smiling. Sarah vacillated for a moment. She couldn't stomach the shame of this woman knowing what she'd done (even though the doctor already knew). Thunder roared madly, and more rain poured down.

"Come on, now", she said.

Sarah took in a deep breath, then handed the paper over to the doctor.

"Thank you", she said, and put the paper between the pages of her notebook. "How have you been feeling?"

"Okay", she said.

"Good. And how about the nightmares?"

Sarah nodded. "Still there", she said.

"What do you remember? Anything?"

Sarah shook her head.

"Have you tried to figure out why you don't remember?" She asked. "Like where you went to that night before returning home and what happened?"

"I can't", she said.

"Have you ever wondered why you think you did what you did? Like what drove you into committing such an act?"

Sarah shook her head, swelling with guilt. She faced away from the doctor.

"Okay", she said. "Then, I've another assignment for you. Here."

She gave Sarah an envelope. "I want you to look into those things and see if you can remember anything."

"Is this how this is supposed to go?" Sarah asked. "Are you here to make me remember or help me?"

"I can't help you if I don't know what happened before you did what you did", she said. "That's the only record missing from April 28."

"What if there's nothing to remember?" She asked.

"There sure is something to remember", she said. "And that is the key. Now, please, Sarah, do my assignment. I'd be glad to have it after tomorrow."

With that, she organized her things and marched to the door and left.