Cracked

Chapter 6

Time flies when you're having fun. Or pummeling virtual aliens as a healthy expression of rage and bitter sorrow at being practically abandoned by your mother.

Ahem.

Before I even know what's going on, it's lunch time. And because mealtimes are boring and bland and I was still too stuck in my own little world to pay attention to anything, before I even know what's going on, it's group time. The only bit of information I even remotely absorbed during lunch was that Asia ate nothing. Again. If I wasn't so busy hating myself and my mother then maybe I would remember to say something to him about it.

So here I sit, back in group. Asia on my left, Marley on my right. Maybe I should get to know Marley better. Whatever. Not the time.

Janice sits down. She has a weird calming effect on me. I momentarily forget my issues when she makes direct eye contact with me, smiling. My emotions have been swirling around in my head, building, bad voices in my head berating me, everything going wrong in my inner sphere, but that tiny bit of eye contact? That smile? The storm has dissolved.

"Welcome back, everyone. It's great to see you all again. I hope you all enjoyed your lunch."

Sabrina is smirking again. Honestly, fuck Sabrina. What is her issue? What gives her the right? I need to calm down. The storm might be gone but the emotions lingering on the sidelines are still there. Getting away from this crowd of people might give me some clarity, but I can't just get up and leave in the middle of group. I just wish Sabrina wouldn't take out her anger at the world and distaste for therapy on those of us who actually want to try and rehabilitate ourselves.

"Now that we've reached the middle of the day, we're going to move on to a harder question. Because we're only in the first week, group sessions are mostly going to be getting to know you type things where everyone has to speak. For the second group of the day, with family day rapidly approaching, I thought it would be good to talk about our families." Janice smiles at each of us, probably trying to ignore the amount of kids paling and shaking their heads and in general looking panicked at the mention of their home lives. Well, they can't be too bad, right? I mean, they were able to afford coming here.

Terri, of course, is the first one to raise her hand. Janice gives a good natured sigh with a slight laugh before asking Terri what she has to say.

"Well, first of all, I'd like to acknowledge that I'm very blessed to have the family that I have." Terri says with that super model grin. Sabrina, of course, is mocking every word. It isn't even shocking at this point. "I have amazing parents, three younger siblings, and a grandmother that lives with us. I don't have any complaints about my family, really. I just wanted to share first because I'm so comfortable talking about my family and I'm not sure that everyone else is. My siblings are Ray, Michael, and Brielle. I love them to pieces, even if they can get on my nerves. My grandmother is a light in my life, an inspirational woman that pushes me to do my best. And my parents are some of my best friends on the planet. I'm glad that God gave me such a strong family to support me when I went through rock bottom." She crosses her left leg over her right. "That's all I really have to say."

"Thank you for sharing, Terri. Your family sounds wonderful." Janice says. Her gaze shifts to Gina. "Gina, dear, would you like to share about your family?" Janice asks gently, giving Gina's hand a squeeze.

"Uh... huh." Gina says carefully, looking off into space. "I... have a mom... and... a stepdad..." Gina says. "I have... a lot of siblings... I think. I've... met... eight... and I... live with... four." Gina says, wheeze-rhasping between each word. "My... stepdad... has made a few... mistakes... but... I love... my family... all in all." Gina finishes. Even through the hair shroud I can see a soft smile.