HeRo (Sⓗort Stⓞrⓘⓔs)

Killer Therapy

Killer Therapy

♤ ♤ ♤

Canton couldn't help but stare down at the knife in his lap. It glinted in the minimal light, and looked so scary, so intimidating, yet so promising. He looked back up at his psychiatrist.

"You won't regret it, Canton," she cooed. "It will take away all the pain, I promise. You're worthless, no one loves you, just like you thought. Everything you think is right. This will make it better."

When Canton first met Dr. Faria, he expected her to be perky. She was a tall, thin, blonde, with a beautiful smile, and steely grey eyes. He met Dr. Faria over six months ago, and now it had come to this. He curled inside his coat, wrapping his fingers around the sleeves. He was only thirteen, and he didn't know much, but everything she said made so much sense. "W - will it hurt?" He asked her. Dr. Faria would never hurt him, he thought. She was kind, and she told him everything he felt was real. She didn't lie, like his parents. They told him lies. Dr. Faria told him so.

"It won't hurt if you're numb. It will take away the pain."

The young teen bit his lip, staring at the woman he had confided to for the past six months.

She wouldn't hurt him.

She would never even dream of it.

He gripped the knife tightly, and nodded to her. He'd do it. He was worthless, he wasn't good enough. He needed to feel better.

"But Canton, remeber, don't tell anyone. It's only for you and I to know."

Canton didn't speak but blinked in understanding. Dr. Faria stood up and glanced at the clock. Their time was up. She told Canton to pack his knife away in his book bag, and then grabbed his upper arms and squeezed tightly, pulling the boy into a bone crushing hug. It was longer than twenty seconds, when she pulled away. "Be a good boy Canton. I'll see you next Wednesday!"

Canton smiled at Dr. Faria and ran out of the room towards his dad, who had been reading a book.

"Oh, hey kiddo!"

"Hey dad," Canton called out, shaking his brown waves out of his face. "How's the book going?"

Mr. Venlo stood up from his chair in the waiting room and stretched. He handed the book to Canton, which he placed in his backpack. "Pretty good. Ready to go?"

Canton nodded and his dad held out his hand for a high five.

Canton slapped his dad's palm, and they both laughed.

° ° °

"I'm home!" Canton yelled.

His father, Mr. Venlo, had dropped him off at school, around 10am. It was normal, like usual. He walked into class and the whispers began. He was usually the topic of gossip because of Bennett Jenson. Bennett was the schools popular kid. He was once friends with Canton, and then after a chance encounter, the two were never seen together again...Bennett would avoid Canton, and then eventually he bullied him.

It started with getting slammed into lockers. Papers being pushed on the floors. Rumors, nasty rumors. Being pushed around after school. And eventually, he started getting beat up after school for being a "faggot".

One night, a couple months ago, Canton tried to kill himself.

He was ready to drink bleach, ready to do anything to rid himself of the pain he was feeling. To be so alienated, to be so hated for something that wasn't your fault, it hurt. That day, some girls had asked him if the rumors were true. He denied them all; maybe they could friends. And then they started bashing on gays..."They're really gross," the blonde had said to her friend. "My dad says that two guys or girls kissing is sinful, and they're all going to hell."

He lost it.

He politely excused himself and punched a random locker, bruising his knuckles. He was eventually found by a teacher, and was sent to the office. When he went home, the first thing he did was grab a large glass, and poured the bleach into the glass. He remembered distinctly, the sound of his dad pounding on the door.

He had never felt so heavy that night.

He downed the glass, and his dad had busted down the door, finding him coughing and throwing up blood like fountains of gore.

From there he had been sent to several hospitals. It was only a few months ago he was sent back to the school. His father's were so scared to send him back.

"Hey kiddo," Seamus greeted.

Seamus was Mr. Venlo's husband, and Cantons father. He'd been with Mr. Venlo since Canton was about five years old. All his happy memories were with Seamus and Mr. Venlo.

"Hey daddy," Canton said, smiling. "What's up?"

"Nothing," the blonde man said. "Although your father won't stop bugging me about his stupid crossword puzzle. Who even does those anymore?"

Canton laughed they heard Mr. Venlo yell back at them. "I heard that!"

Seamus just smiled and gave Canton a noogie. "Go upstairs and do your homework. Your teacher emailed me. Do it before daddy gets on your ass about it."

□ □ □

Canton stared at the knife as he played with it in his hands. It was eight thirty, and his dads were cuddling on the sofa together; Seamus was still awake, shoving popcorn down his food hole, while Mr. Venlo had long gone to sleep. He thought about what Dr. Faria said. It won't hurt if you're numb. It will take away the pain.

He felt numb.

He had just received word on Facebook of the newest rumor...he had practically raped a straight boy on the bus now.

He felt so much pain he didn't even feel it. Tears dripped down his cheeks, and he couldn't stop thinking about what Dr. Faria said. He wanted to badly to die at that moment. His Facebook comments were the same as always. Recommending brands of bleach. Throwing knives and hemp on his feed. He wanted to let go. Dr. Faria confirmed his fears. He was useless, and was hated.

He quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket, and dialed up Dr. Faria

"I want to die," he whispered into the speaker as Dr. Faria answered the phone.

"I don't want to be here anymore," he told her without letting her speak. "It hurts so much, and I don't want to do it."

The other end of the line was silent.

"Are you sure?"

He swallowed the spit in his mouth, tasting the metallic flavored blood.

"Yes."

"Then do it."

Dr. Faria hung up, and faced the wall of her office. All around her there were pictures of various people. She stared at the picture of Canton...he looked so happy and sweet. Her lips lifted into a devious smile as she pulled out a red marker.

Slowly but surely, she made an X over the boys picture. The woman laughed to herself, placing the marker down, crossing her legs.

"A pleasure to end all pleasures...how fitting."