I chewed nervously at my fingernails as I sat waiting in the drivers seat of my car. I probably shouldn't be doing what I was doing but for some reason I was quite protective over Skyler. When I came out of my session I had asked her if she wanted me to wait and give her a ride home, but she instantly declined and told me someone would be there to pick her up.

For some reason I assumed that the person was the one who had been creating those bruises on her face and most likely the rest of her body. Even though I didn't know her at all, the protectiveness I felt for her was there because of what was being done to her. I was trying to make up for the fact that I had done that exact same thing to someone else by helping her in any way that I could. I knew I should have been minding my own business, but I just couldn't help myself in this situation, it was too personal

It was almost an hour before Skyler exited the building. Not long after did a car pull up to the curb in front of her. I started my car and as theirs pulled away from the curb I pulled out of my parking space, keeping a good distance between us. It was wrong of me to be doing this, I knew that, but it was the only thing I could think of to ease my worried mind.

Stopping just a ways down the street, I watched as Skyler got out of the car before it drove away. It was then I noticed the man outside on the porch of the house she was walking toward. His facial expression was hard, the scruff on his chin very evident.

My heart sped up just the slightest bit as Skyler timidly walked up to him. I grimaced as he met her part way and gave her a sloppy kiss. She turned her head away from him as if she was in pain. I almost made myself known when he grabbed her chin roughly and pointed an accusing finger in her face, his lips moving rapidly though I couldn't hear what he was saying.

My blood boiled as he pushed her toward the house, the force of his actions causing her to trip up the steps. How could she allow him to treat her like that? She didn't deserve that, no one did, and yet it was still happening.

I took note of the house number and the street name before I left. If she caught me I'm sure she'd never speak to me again. Her house was surprisingly close to mine, maybe a 10 minute drive. I had actually gone to primary school with someone in the same neighborhood.

Like most times I left the house my mother was waiting by the door eager for my return. I didn't know what exciting things she expected to happen when I would go out, but as I thought about it, maybe the most exciting part was the fact that I had actually left the house in general.

"How was your session?" She took my coat from my hands and hung it up on the rack in the front hall. "Have you remembered anything else yet?"

I rolled my eyes as I slipped off my black vans. "It's only been two sessions, mom. I probably wont be remembering anything anytime soon."

"Well I can hope, right?" She rung her hands together nervously.

I just shrugged my shoulders and stepped around her, headed straight for the kitchen. My mother was probably taking my predicament the hardest. She was very active in our community, working with the local schools, organizing fundraisers and other things of that caliber.

It must be hard for her now since her only son has been labeled an inadequate human being for a mistake committed unknowingly. People must look at her with sympathy or maybe even with hate, wondering how someone so caring could raise such a fuck up. She just wanted me to remember sooner so we could all put the situation behind us.

After finding a quick snack, I trudged up to my room without answering any of my mother's nagging questions.

It was so easy for me to fall asleep, but that was only because I hadn't gotten a good night rest since the incident. The second I got to my room I crashed on my bed in hopes that a nap would clear my mind of Skyler and her boyfriend.

"Calum, what are you drinking tonight?" Mitchell clapped me on the back as I pushed myself against the sticky bar in search of someone who could take my order.

"Anything," I answered bluntly and Mitch just laughed, already a little tipsy.

It was the first Saturday that I had been allowed out in weeks. My father made it his mission to make sure I kept my priorities straight. That meant he would call me every two hours to make sure I was studying and not destroying my brain cells with illegal substances. But this weekend he was out on a business trip, so I was free to be a normal college student for once and I planned on taking full advantage.

"Aren't you worried your dad will call?"

Mitchell had been my roommate freshman year and we had stayed close even after he found his group of friends and I found mine. He knew all about the pressure my father put on me only because he had witnesses it first hand.

I shook my head excitedly. "Nope! Free for the whole weekend."

He shot me a drunken smirk before banging his hands on the bar in an obnoxious manner, yelling at the closest bartender to get us a round of shots.

Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he not so joking stated, "You're not going to remember shit tomorrow."

It was pitch black when I opened my eyes again. Even though the dream hadn't been as horrible as the others, my heart was still racing over the fact that I had remembered the slightest bit more from that night. I stared up at the ceiling for a long time as I tried to force myself into remembering what came after, but nothing else came to mind.

I sighed heavily, realizing that the beginning of that night was the last time I ever got to have a laugh with my friends. I rolled over onto my side and shut my eyes once again, not wanting to know what my old friends thought of me now. Shifting my body, I pulled the blankets up over my shoulders before quickly falling back into a dreamless slumber.

"Calum!" My mother's voice shook my from my sleep and I immediately groaned in response. "It's almost 11, you should probably get up."

I opened one eye and was instantly blinded by the light that streamed in through my window. "Shit."

"Language," My mother mumbled under her breath as she left my room.

It took a moment but finally I sat up in my bed and stretched, mentally applauding myself for not ending up on the ground after waking up for the second time this morning. I took a quick shower, throwing on my usual black jeans and black t-shirt before I headed downstairs.

My mother stood in her normal spot by the stove and I was surprised to see my father sitting at the table reading the newspaper.

"Good morning, honey!" My mother spoke happily like she hadn't just woken me up 20 minutes ago.

"Morning," I mumbled as I took my seat diagonal from my father. He only just glanced my way.

I decided to appease my mother for once and actually ate the food she had made for breakfast. Not long after that I headed back to the same starbucks I had bumped into Skyler at the week before in hopes that she would be there. I was also in dire need of caffeine.

"You can pick up your drink right over there." The worker behind the counter pointed out even though I already knew.

"Thanks." I smiled back politely.

I stood by the opposite end of the counter disappointed that Skyler hadn't shown up, but what did I expect? She had probably forgotten all about me already. I looked up momentarily and instantly regretted it. There at one of the many tables sat Mitchell and a few of his friends. He stared at me with eyes that held so much hate, but also pity. I turned my gaze back to the ground as my heart began to pound in my chest.

Please don't come over here. Please don't come over-

"Calum," He spoke quietly.

Maybe he thought because we had been such close friends before that he had to say hi when he saw me. But to be honest, I really didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

"Hey, Mitch." I shoved my hands deep into the front pockets of my jeans.

It was like he wasn't even looking at me, instead looking through me like I wasn't there at all. "What are you doing these days?"

"Nothing." But he already knew about my therapy sessions since he had been at my trial and the fact that I was no longer in school. So why bother asking?

I looked over his shoulder to see his friends had turned in our direction and I realized then that this was nothing more than a ploy to get a laugh.

"Hope you haven't beaten anyone else half to death in your time away."

And there it was.

A few people who sat close by had stopped their own conversation to listen in on ours.

"Why would you even come over here if you were just going to ridicule me?" I scoffed at him.

"Because," His voice rose as he looked around the crowded space in hopes of gaining more attention. "Everyone should know about what you did. You're fucking crazy!"

My breathing had turned uneven as more people began to stare. I took a cowardly step away from him, hating the fact that he had turned on me just like everyone else. Who could I trust anymore?

"Calum?" I whipped around to see Skyler standing by the entrance of the shop and as relieved as I was to see her, I couldn't help but wonder how much she had heard Mitch say.

Yet again her confidence astounded me as she came up and stood by my side. She tried to look menacing as she glared up at Mitch, but her short stature made it less convincing.

"How about you leave him alone," She stated with a harsh tone, her grey-blue eyes boring into his.

"Why would you want to protect someone like him?" Mitch countered, thinking she must have already known about the incident.

Skyler turned to me with a questioning look, but I just backed away wanting so desperately to get out of this whole situation. I took that moment of silence to bolt out of the café... again.

After a few moments the door opened again and out stepped Skyler. "We really need to stop meeting like this."

My heart had slowed to a normal beat as I leaned back against the brick wall. "Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? That guy was being rude," She huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Did you say anything else to him?" I wondered. "Or him to you?"

"I told him to fuck off." A smile tugged at my lips as the swear word sounded odd coming from a seemingly sweet girl like her. But I could tell that she was keeping something to herself.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Fine."

"Good." She smiled brightly before changing the subject. "I was hoping I'd find you here again."

"Same." I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly.

"So where did you park?"

And just like last time we crossed the parking lot to where my car sat waiting for us.

"Do you need a ride home?" I asked as we finally made it into the hospital waiting room and the woman behind the desk smiled at us as we took our seats.

"No, I have a ride," She spoke quickly. "But thank you for asking."

My body was tense as I wondered if the person who picked her up and drove her home from these sessions knew about what went on in that house. Or did they knowingly drive her to a place where she wasn't safe. It made me sick.

I stood from my seat as a nurse called my name.

"So I'll see you next week?" Skyler spoke up as I turned to leave.

I stared back at her with a questioning look, but nodded nonetheless.

"Same time, same place?" She seemed perfectly all right with my non-talkative attitude, so I just nodded again. "Lets try not to end up outside the shop next time. Maybe we'll actually be able to get some coffee together."

I knew she was trying to joke so I forced a laugh. "Can't make any promises."

She laughed in a cute manner as I said goodbye and made my way toward Doctor Gram's office.