The girl let out a tired sigh as she sat down in front of Anne-Marie. For the first time, she could see the thinly veiled sadness
"How are you feeling today?"
"I feel more sad than usual."
The girl's melodious voice seemed blank and empty rather than calm or strong.
"How so?"
"I feel like my life is even more pointless than usual. Why am I doing this? I just feel this inexplicable emptiness that's been sucking away all the emotions I have. I feel like there's no point in waking up in the mornings because it's just going to be the same repeat of events, again and again and again."
"What made you feel even more sad than usual?"
"I have nothing to live for."
The girl said it so factually that it scared Anne-Marie. This was the girl's first downfall of the many that were to come.
"What about your parents? Do you not love them? Don't you think they are worth living for?"
"How do you judge a good parent from a bad?"
"I guess if your parents are loving, and caring and have your best intentions at heart then they're the best parents you could ask for."
"I don't think my parents like me very much."
"Why would you say that?"
"I just don't care. I don't care about the money, my grades, football, clothes – anything they want me to care about really."
"I'm sure they love you very much. They sent you here so you can feel better about yourself."
"Is that what you think?"
"I...yes."
Anne-Marie had hesitated.
"I'm the perfect daughter. I truly am. I never get into trouble, I get the perfect grades I am the best striker in my school and in this district and in this state. I have the perfect social life and I have the perfect looks. At least, that's what they say to their friends."
The girl was not boasting, but was once again factual. And really, where was the lie? She was virtually perfect. It just shows how deceiving appearances can be.
"What do they say to you?"
"Imagine what their friends would think, if their daughter was clinically depressed? The scandal that would surely follow. The judgement. The disgust. We would be shunned."
"Do you believe that you've put up a façade for the world?"
Silence.
