New beginnings

''I'm scared of cars," I say without looking up, "It's been three years and I'm still afraid. The memories of what happened are on instant replay in my mind. A never ending movie."

Ms. Triever doesn't say a word. Her room is now deathly quiet. I glance toward the clock, it's on the back corner of her wall. I can hear it, tick tick tick. I begin to fiddle with my fingers, picking at the cuticle. A habit I've picked up over the years. I swallow hard, wincing when I hear it in my ears. The chair Ms. Triever is in ruffles, I look away from the clock toward her. She has moved so her elbows rest on her knees. Her legs crossed so her skirt doesn't show off her underwear.

I accidentally make eye contact with her and immediately look back up at the clock, tick tick tick. I feel her eyes on me, watching my every move. I'm beginning to sweat now. Beads of water forming on my forehead. Ms. Triever clears her throat, I look torward her again. But keep my eyes downcasted. "Amy, you went through something horrible. You're not just going to get over it within a night. The crash that killed your family has scarred you." She stops for a moment, as if to rethink. She looks toward my leg and that's when I realize I've been shaking it up and down. Another habit. "You need time to heal."

I scoff, she doesn't know the first thing about what I need. I'm not going to say that though, it'd be rude. I look toward the clock one final time, and to my delight it's 3:15. My session is over. Looking toward Ms. Triever I wait for her to give me the subtle head nod. Her way of saying I can leave. She stares at me, a look of concern flashes across her eyes only to be gone a second later. Making me question if I saw anything at all. She sighs, before standing up. "I need you to get me your social worker. Kate Reiner, I must speak with her for a moment." Nodding my head fast I get up from the couch, I pick up my backpack that was discarded on the floor before I walk out into the hallway. Passing the familiar plants that are lined along the windows, the old rundown chairs that are in desperate need of replacement.

The only thing that isn't familiar are the people sitting in the chairs. There is a young boy, whom has his fists tightly clamped shut, so tight they are turning white. I look to the left of him, a couple seats down a woman who seems to be in her early twenties is sat tall and rigid. But I can make out the slight tremor of her body when someone passes by. She is turning her head from side to side, scanning around for the exits. Lastly my eyes land on another woman. This one seems to be around the same age as me. Her face is downcasted toward the tiled floor. She is holding a phone in her right hand. Her left is in her hoodie pocket, her curly brown hair has fallen. Making a curtain which sheilds her from prying eyes such as my own. As if she knew someone was looking at her she pulls her head up.

I gasp when I see her face, her blue eyes look curiosily into my green. She has some freckles littering her face, one of her eyebrows has a slit through it, near the edge. It feels like I'm caught in a spell. Unable to move my eyes away from hers. Her eyes are masked with no emotion other than curiosity and slight anger. I gulp, she draws her eyebrows clsoer together. Like a person who is viewing a painting from an art museum. I hear footsteps from behind me and just like that the spell is broken. I turn away quickly only to slam into the one and only Kate Reiner. My thrity four year old social worker. She has her red hair in a tight bun, her glasses pushed up toward her eyes. She is wearing a teal sweater with blue skimy jeans and heals. Kate gives me a look and I sigh.

"Ms. Triever would like to have a word with you in her office." I say in a sacrastic voice. Kate stares at me, as if challenging me. I shrug my shoulders before waking to a nearby wall. I take off my backpack, throwing it to the side. Slowly I slide down the wall. Sitting on my knees on the floor as I wait for Kate to come back. I can feel eyes on me, having a bunch on who is staring at me I slowly look up. And just as I had thought the young girl from earlier is looking at me. Her blue eyes yet again looking me over with curiosity. I sigh audibly before closing my eyes and resting my head in my hands.