MIND

***SUNNYVALE*** The night came with chilly wind and it only got colder as Dylan sped down the highway on his motorcycle. It didn't matter that he had his helmet on, the cold air found ways to reach his face. Turning the handle on the bike more, he increased the speed. This was his usual way to escape his troubling thoughts. Get on his motorcycle and drive around without any particular direction. Tonight was different though. He couldn't speed away from his problems, neither did the cold air wash away his thoughts. His conversation with his therapist kept playing over and over again in his head. (EARLIER) Dylan stared at the painting hanging on the wall, behind his therapist. He was lost in the painting. All he could hear around him was muffled sounds, the ticking hand of the clock and the gentle tapping of his pen against the arm of the chair he was sitting on. “Dylan!!!" Her voice broke through his thoughts and drew him back to reality. He shifted his gaze to her eyes. “I have been calling your name for the past 5 seconds” She said gaving a subtle smile “Sorry Miss Greene. I was lost in that piece of art behind you” He pointed at it with his pen. “You have seen it more than a hundred times Dylan. You see it everytime you come in here” She stated calmly “I know...but everytime I see it, it's like...there's something new about it" he flashed her a smile before he continued “As do you Miss Greene. You look more than your usual pretty self today. Do you have a date or something?" He asked looking genuinely curious. He was right though. Miss Greene was a 5'6ft blonde with subtle green eyes that complimented her skin tone. Dylan on the other hand was of the average height for a senior in high school. Although he doesn't play sport, but his build will give the impression that he hits the gym regularly. Although with just few months of diet, he could be called skinny. His dark hair was parted on the side, pushing it to the other side, falling down to his eyes. The feature of his face was impressive. His blue eyes, sharp jaws highlighting his V face and other distinct features that altogether gave off a bad boy look. “No I don't have a date and stop avoiding the question Dylan” She replied “Sorry. What was the question again?" He asked, chewing one end of his pen “What happened on that night?" She reiterated “Ah, that again?!” “Confronting it regularly has helped in your improvement and it'll help more to bring down that wall” Miss Greene explained. “So Dylan, tell me” “Alright!" He brushed his hair away from his eye. “I was not asleep yet like I was supposed to be. I was playing chess on our old computer when I heard it....” (10 years ago) Dylan clicked on the mouse, staring Intently at the screen. “Nice move, but the queen is not as important to me as you think she is” He whispered to no one but himself. “Check” he smiled proudly at himself when he heard a loud clatter followed quickly with a loud yelping sound. His heart raced faster, knowing too well what was happening. He gently climbed down the chair and walked slowly to his room door. Opening the door, he heard his little sister crying. He stood outside his door which was opposite his parents' room and he could clearly see them arguing. His mom stormed out of the room, dragging his little sister along with her. “Don't you walk away from me Hayley!" His father barked angrily storming towards her. He grabbed her stopping her just above the steps and landing a slap across her face. Hayley cried out holding her face. Dylan's pent up anger began to resurface. He laid his eyes on his dad sidepiece on the small table under the family picture, close to where they were standing. He slowly made his way there, none of them noticing him as his dad was focused on hitting his mother. He grabbed the gun with shaky hands and unsheathed it from it's cover. His little sister's cry got louder as she began tugging on her father's trousers, pleading for him to let go of her mother. Hayley still in tears caught sight of Dylan pointing the gun toward his father. “NO Dylan don't!" She shouted Dylan held the gun tighter with both his trembling hands and kept them pointing at his father. His father turned to him with burning anger. He could smell the stench of his drunken breath from where he stood. “You want to shoot your own father!" He bellowed in anger. “Come on boy! Put it down at once” he barked, his voice sending fear down Dylan's spine. Dylan's shifted his gaze to his crying sister who was still tugging at their father's trousers. The crying only got him more angry at his father. He doesn't like seeing his sister cry. Irritated by the continuous crying from his daughter and her tugging on his trousers, he turned in anger and pushed her away from him, sending her falling down the stairs. “No!!!” Hayley cried out in shock. The crying immediately stopped as soon as she landed on the floor. His father sobered up immediately on seeing what just happened and before he could make a move or a sound, he heard a gunshot. He slowly shifted his gaze to his stomach and saw himself bleeding. He fell on his knees, eyes on his son who was in a state of shock, smoke coming out from the mouth of the gun still in his hands. (Present Day) “And how does it make you feel telling that story?” Miss Greene asked, eyes fixated on Dylan's. “Well...” Dylan adjusted on his seat, “Seeing as that was like the one billionth time I'm telling you the story, quite irritated and bored actually” He sighed, biting his lower lip and turning his attention toward the window of the office. “That's progress Dylan. Your initial reaction was always anger. Now you don't feel it tied to most of your heavy emotions anymore” She smiled, “You are starting your senior year at a new school tomorrow and it'll help you a lot to open up. Let people in. It doesn't make you weak showing emotions, it makes you stronger and believe it or not...it makes you happier. You are a very smart young man Dylan, maybe too smart for your good. Remember what I have always told you. Life....” “Isn't fair, but how you live it determines how fair it'll be to you” Dylan rolled his eyes, finishing her statement. “Good. I guess I'll see you next Tuesday” she smiled closing her book. (Now) Dylan shook the thought out of his head. He was now getting tired of driving and decided to head back home. He heard a loud siren alerting him to pullover as the car was coming up behind him. Apparently he didn't realize he was driving past the speed limit when he was deep in thought. “s**t!" He cursed, braking the bike to a stop by the side of the road. The car pulled up by his side and the front window of the cop car was wind down. “Can you take off your helmet?" The sheriff asked. Dylan complied and removed his helmet, brushing his hair back with his fingers, he waved at the sheriff. “Do you know how fast you were going son?" He asked “Nope sir, I was in my head and I didn't realize” he smiled. The back window of the car was wind down and Dylan's eyes fell on the girl sitting on the back seat. Her face captivated his attention as she smiled warmly at him. His attention was now fully on her. He couldn't make out what the sheriff was saying, all he was doing was staring at the girl, who appeared to be staring at him too. “Did you hear me son?" The Sheriff's voice broke their staring competition. “Oh! Yeah yeah, of course, absolutely” he replied, turning his attention back to the sheriff “Good. Tell your mother not to be late” Said the Sheriff “Wait! What?!" He shouted. The girl chuckled knowing he didn't know what he was agreeing to. He flashed a smile at her as she tucked her dark hair behind her ear. He put on his helmet, watching her as the car drove off. Starting his engine, he made his way home. *** Dylan pushed open the front door of their three bedroom, well furnished house. Hayley has made it a priority to make a decent living for the both of them and moving into town was the fresh start they desperately needed. He perceived the all too familiar smell of lasagna all over the house, he knew his mom was home. “Mom!” he called out, removing his jacket. “Over here honey” Hayley called back, waving her hands above her head on the couch, signalling him. He walked over to her and joined her on the couch. “Have you been out riding again?" She asked, her eyes still on the flat screen TV showing her favorite series. “Honey, you promised everything is going to be different this time. Please I need you to keep that promise” She said with genuine concern, now turning to face him. He sank deeper into the chair and tilted his head upward. “I promise mom. So how was your first day at work?" “It went well. I think I'll be comfortable there” She replied He sighed and swiftly jump back to his feet. “I'm starving and I can smell that perfect lasagna” he made for the kitchen “Oh and mom, the sheriff wants to see you” he called from the kitchen. “What!" Hayley shouted “Love you, goodnight” he took his food and hurried up the stairs to his room. *** “I'm worthless, I'm worthless, I'm worthless!!" She kept on repeating to herself, walking deeper into the woods on barefoot. Her foot was bleeding and had blisters all over. She didn't mind, almost as though she couldn't feel the pain. The cold was hitting hard at that time of the night but she was walking in with just her bra and track pants, holding a kitchen knife. She got to a spot in the woods and sat down on the ground against a tree. She held the knife tightly and slit open her wrist, “I'm worthless!!!" She kept on repeating. She held the knife on the other hand and slit her other wrist. Tears dropping from her eyes and lips shaky. “I'm worthless!" She almost shouted and slit her throat in one quick motion. Still sitting, her body leaning against the tree.