All Your Fractures

Fifteen.

Touching old wounds won't help new ones heal any quicker.

SUNDAY, 9:20AM

"It's very nice to see you again, Jesse." Jennifer Douglas said, emerging from her small kitchen with a plate of freshly baked cookies. "You haven't been at school lately. Is everything okay?"

Undoubtedly she had noticed the damage on his body even though he'd covered up the best he could. That was embarrassing.

"Yes, I'm fine," He tried a smile, hands pushing deep into the pockets of the hoodie he wore. It's original owner was currently on the porch, since Ms Douglas wanted a one-to-one. "Nice to see you too."

She placed the plate on the coffee table and sat down, expectantly waiting for Jesse to take the seat across from her. He did.

"How have you been?" Jennifer asked. "Finals are in a few weeks, I hope studying is going well."

The days he had been absent from school, Israel had collected his assignments for him. Jesse had always been a mediocre student anyways, he knew what to hope for in the finals. "It is."

"I take it your sister has mellowed down a little?" She said, sending off the red lights in Jesse's head.

"W-what are you talking about?" His eyes narrowed in suspicion. The first time Jesse had been here he hadn't mention a word about his unstable sister to this woman. Had Israel. . . . No, he wouldn't do that.

Jennifer sighed, her tone was soft, "Ms Jara, the nurse, told me she came to see you..."

No. No no no, this can't be happening

"She said at first it seemed okay, but then she heard screaming. And you. And she asked the neighbours... "

Jesse felt like he had been invaded somehow. Like the thing that had been crawling within his gut, chewing him out from inside, was now exposed. It had torn through his belly and now the whole world could see how filthy it was. Him, even more so.

The feeling was sickening, it made bile rise to his throat and his eyes cloud over and his breaths unsteady. His static irises were fixated on the plate of cookies on the table, shocked at the realization that he had been pulled apart. Vulnerable. The flaws and deep wounds were showing now. Broadcasted. Everyone could see them.

He didn't even realize the woman had still been talking until he felt the hand on his arm. Her hand.

Jesse recoiled instantly, shaking it off. With anxiety and disgust and fear, so much fear etched into the cringe on his face.

Jennifer pulled back at that, and then took several steps back when she realized getting closer wouldn't help him stop shuddering. In fact it only made him worse.

"Jesse? Talk to me, are you okay?"

He felt his legs stand, his lips move. "I want to leave."

The woman didn't respond for a minute, and when she did her voice was sad. Contrasting with the smile playing on her lips. "If this was up to me, Jesse, I wouldn't hesitate to act. But it's not."

Jesse's eyes never left the colourful carpet. And he felt as if he would cough up his heart any minute.

"It's up to you. And I'm praying with all that I have that you have the strength to act. Before it's too late."

A voice came from the door. Quirky. Free. Unknowingly and effortlessly saving Jesse's pounding heart from a cardiac arrest. "'Ey Ms, are those cookies I smell?"

Jennifer smiled again. A real one this time. "And to be honest, I believe you can." She went to take the plate and gave it to Jesse. "Leave it on the porch table, okay?"

Jesse dumbly stood there for another moment before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Jesse?"

He paused. "Yes?"

"Come back, okay? If not to talk, just come for the cookies. I'm sure Israel would love that."

Of course he would. He was delighted at the sight of the cookies, too delighted to ask why the 'session', if you could call it that, had been so short.