Bad Things Happen

Therapy 2!

A/N: This is where Laurens is going to open up more, so it's going to have some painful stories. I'm so sorry 😔!

After school, Laurens had another therapy session. He sat under his tree as he did everyday, waiting for Washington to finish. And as usual when Washington came out, they drove to the place and sat in the waiting room until they called his name.

"Mr. Washington, could I speak with you?" Reynolds asked.

George stood up and walked through the door.

"You said you wanted to tell me something." Reynolds said, after they shut the door to his office.

"He likes to draw and I think that might help you with that break through you needed." Washington explained. "He seems more comfortable when he's drawing."

"Wonderful, I will try that out today and hopefully we can start getting somewhere."

Reynolds went back and got Laurens. He took him to the room they usually sat in.

"Alright! Today instead of me asking questions, we are going to experiment with something." Reynolds said as he went over and sat down in an arm chair. "Do you have a journal or something?"

Laurens pulled out his notebook.

"Perfect." Reynolds got excited. "Today, why don't we just draw some stuff and we chat? I know that sounds strange but let's give it a try, ok?"

Laurens nodded and opened his book.

"So, where did you get that book?" He started with something basic.

"I don't remember. I had it before my father left me. It was in my backpack. The only things I had when I went into the system were the things in my backpack." Laurens shared.

"Your drawings are amazing, have you ever taken any art classes or anything?"

"No, I know my mother was good at drawing. My father never told me anything about her, but one day I snuck downstairs when he was talking to a friend. He said she loved to draw."

Reynolds started writing many notes in his book, while still trying to keep up when Laurens was talking.

"Wow. You said you had a backpack, what other things were in there?"

"Nothing much, a few old toys, my jacket, the notebook, and..."
He trailed off.

"And?"

"An old wooden box. It's small and rustic. I still have it as well. It belonged to my mother. It's the only thing I know she left for me."

"What's in the box?"

"I don't know, it has a lock on it and my father took the key. I haven't been able to open it. I haven't tried breaking the box either. I don't know if it could break something inside."

"Wow, this is great."

"What's great?" Laurens asked confused.

"You're talking, aren't you?" Reynolds laughed.

"Yeah, I guess so. But why?"

"I have no idea, but it's working so that's what we're using right now. It might have something to do with the fact that you're comfortable while drawing, and that might make you comfortable while talking." Reynolds tried his best to give him a reason. "Now, I know we're going a little bit out of your comfort zone. But tell me what you remember about your father."

Laurens lost all color in his face. A shiver went up his spine and he felt cold. He believed this man could help him though, so he did his best to explain.

"Everyone used to say that my father loved my mother so much. He would have died for her, he would have traded everything he had for her, he would have killed for her. When my mother got pregnant, he was overwhelmed with joy." John began. "Then once they found out that she was dying, my mother had to choose between killing me, which might have saved her, or letting me live, which might kill her. My father was so angry when she chose me. And then, she did end up dying in child birth. My father hates me for that. He abused me from the time I was two years old until the day he left me on a street corner."

"Do you blame your father for hurting you?" Reynolds asked, afraid of what the answer would be.

"No, I did kill her. She thought she had a chance of living, but I killed her."

"No you didn't. My wife and I, we had some trouble during our first pregnancy years ago, probably before you were even born. She had a horrible thing happen to her. When the doctor came in, he said that the baby was going to die no matter what we did, and that she had to choose between dying, or having an abortion. She was devastated. If she could have, she would've traded her life for that child in a heartbeat." (I made that up, I guarantee that never happened the James Reynolds father, who is Doctor Reynolds)

"I guess." Laurens mumbled under his breath.

"What?"

"I guess I blame my father."

"Good, it wasn't your fault." Reynolds reassured him. "Can you tell me about some of the foster homes you lived in?"

"When I was six, I went to a home where they made me and two other kids work for them. We were basically slaves. There excuse was children have to do chores."

"Why did you leave that home?"

"I fell and hurt my arm, I couldn't work anymore. After that I went to a group home. I was the youngest there and everyone hated me. I should've gotten used to it though."

"Alright, this is great."

Laurens looked at him confused and upset.

"Not what happened, I'm just fascinated at how much I've learned in the past 15 minutes vs. a week of you not talking." Reynolds explained. "Tell me more."

"When I was eleven, I went to a group home. There was another foster boy there that I specifically remember. He was 13 and despised me. He called me a murderer for killing my mother."

Reynolds head jerked up when he heard this. His heart broke for him as it did for all the foster children he had treated. "Why did he despise you?"

"I was the youngest kid there as well, all the adults favored me and he didn't like that. He used to beat me up over stupid things. His name was Marcus, and he was the reason they sent me away. I wanted to go to the swimming pool at the park, they said no. So Marcus flooded the place and said it was me because they wouldn't take me to the pool."

They talked some more before their time was up. Washington came in and he and Reynolds talked while Laurens continued to draw in the corner.

"It was amazing, I felt like I was talking to Alexander." He referred to the way Alexander never stops talking. "I found out a lot, and he seems to feel better."

"Thank you Doctor. I hope he does." Washington replied. He and Laurens left the room and went back to the Washington house.

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