Forgive yourself, Aliza.

Speak up, Aliza.

It was time to go to "Group". We all entered at once. The leader always started. She always said the same thing. About how she came here. She was upset about her parents divorce and began to self harm. She hated herself and almost killed herself. Luckily though, her mom caught her and sent her here. Same old same old.

But she did something different today. She called my name. "Aliza, would you like to share why you are here?" She asked as everybody turned to me. I dont like all the attention. I wasnt going to tell them. I mean, what do I say? That I hate myself for making my boyfriend kill himself? That I cut all the time? That I enjoy making myself bleed? That I spend every night crying? No. Why would I say that? I hate pity. Thats all you get here. Pity.

So, I shrugged and shook my head. She moved on to the next victim, Addison. She has an eating disorder that makes her want to eat but she doesnt gain any weight. Then, she moved to Rhea. She suffers from depression over her mom dying of cancer. Then, she went to Lidia. She just hates her appearence and thinks everything is her fault. Then, she went to somebody new. Somebody nobody has ever seen before. Shes sitting right next to me.

"Cassidy, youre new today. Want to tell us why youre here?" The leader, Marcia asks.

"Not really." She responds quietly before covering her face.

"Okay well we are out of time then. See you all tomorrow." She dismisses us.

Next is "Double Therapy." Usually this is done with somebody else like you but nobody fits my category so I go alone. But this time somebody was here with me. She was on the couch. Her face was buried in her legs and her arms were wrapped around her knees. Mrs. Lee was trying to soothe her. I love Mrs. Lee. But that doesnt mean I opened up to her. I still havent told anyone why im here. Its too horrible to reveal.

We sit down in the couch and talk about our feelings. I had figured out the girl was Cassidy. She told us why she was here. She caused her mom to get in a car wreck and it killed her twin brothers and her dad. Both her and her mom became severly depressed but her mom wont get help. She talks about how she was trying to get her mom to let her go to this party her boyfriend was throwing. Im not surprised when she says boyfriend. Shes very pretty and nice. But shy. Maybe not shy, just depressed. Like us all.

It was free time now. We basically got to do anything. I went to my room. I share it with the new girl now since I was alone before. I made sure she wasnt in the room before sitting on my bed. I was in the middle of crying when Cassidy walked in. I didnt notice her at first. But she started talking to me after awhile.

"Hey, youre that girl from therapy!" She announced. "Aliza, right?"

"Yeah." I reply wiping my face.

"Oh, why are you here?" She asked.

"Why do you care? Nobody else does."

"Speak up, Aliza." Was all she said before leaving.