Falling Apart, Together

Tick... Tick... Tick...

The clock above the window clicked with each passing second, the only noise punctuating the silence that filled the room. Charlie slouched in her chair, head leaning back against the upholstery. Dr. Amherst simply stared at the young woman across her desk, her unflinching blue eyes waiting for something. Anything. She sighed, the first human-made sound in the passed few minutes. "Charlotte?" The name lingered in the air for a moment before the older woman continued. "While it is perfectly acceptable for us to sit in silence for an hour, I don't believe it would be a wise use of the time your famil-"

"My day was fine. Work was fine. Here I am." Charlie's head slowly leaned forward, staring back at the doctor. "You want to pick my brain? I'm tired, a little hungry, and on my period." Her expression remained plain, her brown orbs staring back unamused. "Anything else you need to know about me is probably in that folder you keep in your desk with my name on it." She spoke antagonistically, throwing her words around as though they were her fists. She stared down her shrink, waiting for whatever reaction was to follow.

To her surprise, the black woman across from her simply sighed again, removing her glasses before placing them gently on her desk. "This file..." Amherst slid her top drawer open, pulling out the manila folder Charlie had so graciously pointed out. "...Tells me a lot, actually." She opened it, the name 'Charlotte York' across the tab. Its contents threatened to slip out as she began to read. "Date of birth. Eye, hair, and skin colors. Piercings. Sexual preference." The doctor's eyes flicked up from the page and back at Charlie. "Even some less trivial things." The young woman simply grunted as she continued. "Medical history. Criminal record; Honestly, Charlotte, you've already experienced a difficult life after only 24 years.” She flipped through a few more pages. “Do you know what this folder doesn’t tell me?” The folder fell to the desk with a soft tap. “How you’re feeling, what emotions are swirling in your head, and the reasons why you’ve made certain decisions in life. Perhaps this would be a good time to finally-"

"To what? Repent for all of my sins?" Charlie pressed her palms together as though she were praying. "Oh, he above all else, please give me forgiveness!" She shrugged, "Sorry, doc, I just don't see anything changing, no matter how much my family wishes it could." She returned to her previous position, lean back into her uncomfortable chair, staring silently. Amherst's eyelids lowered, an annoyed expression covering her face. She nodded, rubbing her eyes as she stood up. "I think that will be all for today, Miss York. Margaret will help you set up our next appointment up front."

Cars passed by as Charlie's back pressed against the outer wall of the psychologist's office building. She fiddled with the pack of cigarettes in her pocket, her digits desperately grasping for one of them. Once found, she brought it up to her lips, her lighter finding its other end. She let the smoke fill her lungs, humming as she blew it all back out into the air. Her eyes turned to the glass doorway, suddenly making eye contact with Madeline, Dr. Amherst's assistant. Madeline squinted at Charlie, her eyes flicking towards the nearby 'No Smoking' sign and back. Charlie groaned, nodding as she took one last huff of smoke, throwing the stick to the pavement before putting it out with her shoe. She cursed under her breath as she began walking away from the building. "Pinche, wey.."

She slowed to a stop, her eyes caught on another figure walking towards her. It was a woman, maybe the same age as her, yet giving off a more... childish vibe. The girl was skinny, rose blonde hair hanging down her pale shoulders. Her floral sundress swayed freely with the wind, showing very little of her pale, freckled skin. The girl's eyes were glued to the pavement, paying Charlie no mind. They passed by one another, inches between them as this girl walked into the psychologist's office building. Charlie didn't turn around, definitely not wanting to make her gaze seem obvious. She continued walking, pondering to herself, 'Hm.. She.. seemed like a sweet girl..' She brushed some of her brown hair behind her shoulder, making her way to her car. 'Very sweet.'