It's Called Love (New, Elongated Version)

One

"Love, they say, is a beautiful thing.
Love is a phenomenon that transcends all borders of rationality.
Love can break and make a person.
Only love can bend and mend a person.
Love is simple, yet complicated.
Love in one word, is 'enthralling'."

"You're talking like you don't even mean your own words, like you're reciting a poem." James interrupted a rambling Hilda, mainly to distract her from the lesson. He was already starting to get bored of his sessions with Hilda who only preaches to him about love. Granted, that was what was expected of her as his therapist had recommended the lessons as a way to cure his aggressive nature. He knew it was far fetched, his therapist, Miss Nuna, probably also knows, the idea that he was ever going to get better. His mother who had single handedly raised him from birth had discovered his condition in a very early stage, and for years, she had tried every single method prescribed by therapists to rid him of this overwhelming anger but it had all gone to naught. He never understood how his mother managed to hold up her believe in him ever getting better, because he didn't, he had given up. He had learned to live with it, the feeling of being angry at everything and nothing, he had gotten used to it. And now, he was in his final year of high school, and yet another therapist, had managed to give his mother this ridiculous idea of helping him understand the meaning and importance of love. He stared at Hilda boringly, taking a momentary pleasure in her flustered state at being called out before his mother interrupted them.

"No dear." She interrupted with a skeptical look on her face, staring at Hilda as she carefully placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of her while she held one herself, sitting directly opposite Hilda as she continued. "Rather, it feels like she's talking about something she desperately needs, yet, she withdraws desperately far from it." Hilda looked up only to catch Mrs Wilson's unwavering glance and she shifted uncomfortably on her seat beside James. She felt completely uncomfortable with Mrs Wilson's observations as the fake smile she had painstakingly held up all day easily slipped off her face. Hilda hated that feeling, the feeling of being exposed, the feeling of being vulnerable in front of a total stranger. And in the buzz of the uncomfortable feeling, she packed her bag and dashed out of the house, completely forgetting that her actions might lead to loosing her job. The only one she had managed to get after months of being jobless.

"Hey Hilda!" Hilda turned back sharply, only to see Mrs Wilson catching up to her. She hadn't even realized she had been followed. She wondered if the woman wanted to reveal more, since she could surprisingly read Hilda like a book, or she wanted to inform her not to bother coming to work again. Surprisingly, she did none of it. Instead, she apologized, "I'm sorry if I startled you earlier. I was just worried about you. I should have known better than to go digging my mouth in things that aren't my business, sorry."

"Yeah" Hilda agreed under her breath not sure Mrs Hilda heard but the slight chuckle the woman let out next showed Hilda she heard her and she wasn't angry.

"I'm sorry" she repeated. "But on a serious note," she started with such seriousness and with a level of intensity in her gaze that it put Hilda on edge for a second. "I don't know what you've been through to be so distrustful of the world and I'm not going to ask you. But all I have to say is, you don't have to carry all those burden on your own. When you feel tired, when it's all just too much, when you're at your breaking point, look around you, there will always be someone or something to lend you a shoulder, to comfort you, you just have to look harder than you have been doing. There is love around you, you won't see it until you feel it, you won't feel it until you understand it. You just have to notice it." Then she started leaving, and when she was almost out of sight, she turned to Hilda and shouted " And by the way, you still have your job. I understand, so, I'm giving you the rest of the day off. You only have about two hours left anyway, so, just go rest. You should resume back on Monday". And without waiting for a reply, she strolled out of sight, leaving behind a very confused Hilda.