A Chance to Heal

Going to Get Better

It was so hard to stomach that he died. Her childhood friend was gone. And that it was entirely her fault. If she had tried harder to stop Freddy, he'd be alive. But thanks to her denial of-of everything he was gone. Kathryn stared down at her bloodied hands as she sat in the waiting-room chair. There were no words for how horrified she was. How empty inside she felt. Just how broken inside she felt as well.

All she could do was picture Quentin's dying face. His pale skin and the horrible wound she'd put pressure on. Her mind repeating the words,'Your fault. Your fault. He's dead and it's all your fault.'

'If you'd helped him sooner he'd be alive right now.',her mind taunted. Biting her lip, she pulled her knees to her chest. The taunting thoughts continuing,'Your fault for being such a stupid bitch. Your friend died because you couldn't believe him.'

It was true. If she had only believed him sooner. If she had tried to help him sooner. Tried to be more understanding and stop her Pa-FREDDYsooner. Instead, she just chose to be ignorant. Choose to not do anything except deny everything. Like she always did when things got bad. Deliberately stick her head in the sand and hope it would go away. Right when it mattered the most. Her stomach twisted in knots as tears ran down her face. Pressing her face into her knees as she started sobbing. This was all her fault. Quentin deserved better than this and she knew it. Deserved better way better than to be stabbed to death by her former Father. It was all just so...so...she took a deep breath as she sat there. Quietly crying to herself over her childhood friend's death. Unable to stop the images of Quentin's face that flooded her mind. Or unhear the last thing he had told her.

A moment later, someone gently touched her shoulder. Jolting her out of her thoughts as they asked,"Kathryn? Is that you?"

Looking up at the person, she saw it was her other childhood friend's father. Donald Holbrook. He was taller than she remembered him being. Wearing his work uniform and hat. His hair had grayed slightly but was as thick as it had been when she was younger. A concerned look was on his face as he scanned hers. In a gentle voice, he stated,"Hello, Kathryn. I've just got to ask you a few questions on everything that happened."

"Do you think you can do that?",he questioned. Kathryn nodded her head slowly and took a deep shaky breath. Trying her best to steady herself. She answered,"Yeah, I think I can do that Mr. Holbrook."

"Okay. So what exactly happened tonight?",he asked. This wasn't going to be easy. What was she going to tell him? The truth? Would he even believe her? Who would believe that her Father came back from the grave to haunt her and her friends? To exact his revenge for his death. And that he had been the one that killed Donald's wife? Not Nancy. Kathryn chewed her bottom lip for a moment. Debating on what to say. Her eyes rested on Donald's for a moment before looking at the floor. An action that made him sigh as he sat down next to her. A gentle hand on her shoulder as he said,"It's alright. Take your time, Kathy. You've been through a lot tonight."

"...I'm sorry. I'm just scared that you won't believe me.",she muttered. Which was half of the truth. She feared that he'd think she was crazy or making things up. But she couldn't think of anything else to say to him. Donald gave her a slightly confused look. Tilting his head, he said,"I just want to know your side of the story. Don't worry about it making sense for now."

"My Father came back from the dead and he killed Quentin!",she blurted out. Regret filling her almost instantly as she stared at Donald's face. His expression grew cold as he stared down at her. A deep frown replacing the concerned look on his face. Standing up, he turned to her completely. Then he said,"Kathryn. I do not appreciate being lied to. Especially, with this nonsense."