Silence ✔️

• Nine

When school ended that day, Zelda arrived at her home and put on some more comfortable clothes. Lying around and browsing the internet, purposely avoiding doing her homework; the usual.

Except, she couldn't get Link off of her mind. As cliché as it sounds, he was one of the only people she could think about right now.

Closing her phone, she sat in on top of her stomach and heaved a small sigh, staring at the ceiling. She regretted even letting Link walk back in to her life so easily. Why did she even let him do that? She hated him for what he had done, and he would never be able to repay her.

Zelda didn't want to admit that her hatred for Link was starting to dissipate—very slowly, but it was definitely leaving.

••

"You'll be okay, Link," his mother said in a reassuring voice, looking over at her son and forcing a smile.

Link just nodded as his reply; he didn't want to start a small argument or anything. Because he knew he wouldn't be okay. Seeing a therapist has never helped him.

Aryll was sitting in one of the back seats of their car, pretending to not pay attention to their small conversation. But, she was. And she hoped that Link was wrong this time.

She cared about him too much.

The three exited the car, shutting the doors behind them as they did so. His mother patted Link's shoulder, before leading him and Aryll inside the building.

Opening the door and listening to the small bell above chime, one of the ladies at the counter looked up to see who had entered.

She smiled, but Link could tell it was forced. That's why he didn't want to be here—who knows if this new therapist would actually care? Link knew they never did—they just did it for money.

But who knows?

Link's name was eventually called, and his mother and Aryll gestured for him to go. Heaving a sigh, Link stood up from the chair he had been sitting in, following the woman who had called him.

He heard his mother and Aryll leave the building, meaning they wouldn't return until his session was over.

Entering a small and cozy looking room, Link was told to sit down until his therapist arrived. The door was closed and Link was left alone with his thoughts.

He didn't think dangerously, but he thought of things that worried him. He was worried that this therapist wouldn't be able to help. And then what? Mother would sigh again, saying that it was okay when she was actually upset. She would find a new person to talk to, then. The cycle just repeated like that, and Link didn't want to disappoint his mom again.

The door opened all of a sudden, and a tall, big woman with auburn hair and tawny skin stepped in. Closing the door a bit loudly behind her, she sat down in the remaining empty seat in the room.

"You must be Link, correct?" she questioned, her voice bold and stronger as he suspected, and Link nodded. She held out her hand for him to shake, which he obliged to.

Once the auburn haired lady pulled her hand away, she chuckled and smiled at Link. "My name is Telma and—well, you already know."

"Your parents have given me a bit of information about why you're here, so I won't bother asking anything else unless I need to," Telma explained, pulling out a notepad and a pen.

"All I want you to do for now is tell me what makes those negative emotions diminish, even if the moment is short. What makes you happy?" Telma asked, preparing to write anything down and smiling at Link.