Painkiller

16

It had been two weeks since the incident of the panic attack in the car, and things had not improved. Luke had go into the studio most days, and the siblings were unwilling to leave each other, so Elena had to go, too.

A routine had been created: Michael would pick up Luke and Elena and then drive all of them to the studio, allowing Luke to stay in the back and try to console his sister. Although Ashton and Calum had offered to drive the two, Luke felt more comfortable with Michael there to guide him through the process.

    Luke had never felt guilt like it - he felt as if he was the one inflicting pain upon Elena. His heart tore in two every time he made her sit in the vehicle, and it took all of his will power to not stay at home.

    Both Luke and Ashton had expected Elena's state to improve during the weeks; for the panic attacks to lessen and the tears to die down. Alas, they had not.

    That's why Elena was currently sat in front of a therapist.

The therapist was a grim woman, with her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun and cruel grey eyes staring through her glasses. She wore an out-of-style maroon blouse and a tight, black pencil skirt. Her features were sharp and pointed, her hands thin and bony.

The woman made Elena feel on edge, and it didn't help that Luke hadn't been allowed in with her. He was sat outside the woman's office, bouncing his leg anxiously.

Elena didn't think the woman was a good therapist. She was mentally making a list as she sat there, her expression unchanging as she stared straight at the woman.

1. She made Luke leave, which made her feel uncomfortable - aren't therapists supposed to make you feel comfortable?

"Elena?" The therapist's talk was as emotionless as her face. "I'm Mrs Wood. Do you know why you're here?"

Of course I fucking do. It ain't hard to work out that I'm here because I've been through a traumatic event, Jesus Christ.

Elena didn't reply. She remained sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her arms laying limp in her lap.

"What do you want to talk about?"

Fuck all.

"Shall we talk about the crash?"

Elena bit her tongue. This was the last thing she wanted to discuss with anyone - let alone with some woman she didn't know or like. She could barely look at a car, and she could hardly discuss the events that were causing her so much pain.

2. She's brought up the incident. I thought she was supposed to help, not hurt me even more.

"Do you want to describe what happened."

It wasn't a question, but Elena answered like it was one, anyway.

    "No."

    The therapist continued her point anyway, her expression not changing from the emotionless smile that sat on her face.

    3. She won't listen to me.

    "You hit a tree, right?"

    Elena tried to blank it out. Memories that she didn't want to see were coming to the surface.

    "Did you see them die? Do you remember them dying?"

    Tears pooled in Elena's eyes. Her chest aches and her hands began to shake.

    "How do you feel about it?"

    How the fuck do you expect me to feel? Sad? Angry? Depressed? Are you trying to hurt me?

"Describe it to me." Mrs Wood pressed on. "Was it loud? Did the car flip? What did it hit? What was the cause? Did you see-"

She was cut off by Elena jumping to her feet, tears pooling in her blue eyes. She glared at the therapist, before turning her back on the woman and walking out the door.

Her chest hurt and she felt as if she was underwater - words were muffled and her vision wasn't clear. She barely registered herself storming past Luke, who pushed himself up off the sofa whilst calling her name, concerned.

She ran down several sets of stairs before pushing open a fire door and running out into the back alley it revealed.

Hearing the door slam behind her, she leaned her back against the stone wall. Slowly, her legs gave way and she slid down the wall. Tears flowed freely as she pulled her legs up against her chest and she hid her head behind them.