ROSES ON FIRE

ar

aterfalls. It was a part of my life that I wanted so badly to f

still wake up screaming and sweating, but then I would tell myself that I was fine, t

because I was sure I could get through it on my own. Never pressed charges against

g tired. Milena was going to add something about all this, and I knew it. I was grateful

mber, you're no

dded, taking in

n order and ask my subconscious to push the pain away once again. Having done that, I

d with the assignment she had given me. I just knoc

" Her intimidating vo

hed for the doorknob. Snap out of it, Clare! I gathered all my se

ena encouraged me, and h

ut not as enthusiasticall

a chair to sit in her office. Maybe because I cou

s a journalist to get it done" she started with the praise and I was really starting to relax. But she was unaware of the anguish I had endured

, but it wouldn't be impossible either." I emphasized my situati

for Mr. Trottier at random. In

that?" I suddenly a

g as I waited for an answer.

ilish Ink wanted to interview him, he asked to see all the st

more curious than I

ou all. He flipped through the pa

know about this?" I s

s busy with another story, which she is. So, we pointed you out precise

orting? As a backup plan? As someone who fills in the gap

y to grow and leave behind the ghosts that haunt you." Milena

u because I needed you to fit me into society, not cure me by throwing in my face the very type that did me the mos

own good. Music can heal you, and you know

but not HIM!

makes it, he creates it... and who

n, but it was so hard that I had to hold on to my seat to keep fr

tears meant weakness. And the last thing I needed was for her to pit

didn't understand whether she cared about me or wanted to fa

s rolled down like heavy rain trying to wash away my soul. It was no use

eing afraid of everything, every touch, every kiss. Caught up in my thoughts,

ou alright? C

nswered her muffled wi

eyes. It was only a matter of seconds, but when I saw Hannah standing there in the door

with no words of comfort. I didn't even need them. Just me in

lowed its beating and my breathing normalized a little. Then Hannah loosened her em

hear me?" she spoke warmly,

nah, I really n

here for you. What happened in Milena's

e chat, that's all..."

un off and cry like that. Come on, Clare,

Mr. Trottier's first choice?" I began t

" Hannah repea

covering t

" she did it again, on

me an honest answer! You knew and didn't

in the dark. "Answer me, Hannah! I need to hear this from you! I need

ve never had therapy, even though I've asked you every day since that night. I know it was hard for you, but it was your choice. So, I

k to move or speak. If only she knew the whole damn t

and the worst part was that I couldn't get over it. Another river of tears flooded my eyes. I was so tired of crying every day. "I

to get that close to me, so trau

ened up a

forgive me. You did everything you could to put my broken life back together, to help me pick up

part of you, of who you are. But I can teach you to walk away from that, make peace and move on. Life is worth living. It was a

for me to understand. But now I do. Shall

rse, sw

f I didn't, I'd go crazy. So crazy that I could drop everything and the last thing I wanted was to lock

me this nightmare and maybe, just maybe, if it was necessary to f