He was late. Every week, without fail, he was late. It was almost like a silent protest, communicating to the group that he didn't really -want- to be there but came anyways. No one ever pointed out to him that no one was making him come every week, what good would that do? They all knew he needed the therapy as much as every other person there. Who cared if he was habitually late?
Want and need were two completely different things in Killian's mind. He didn't want to go and sit in that stupid circle every Thursday, listening to some therapist and other people talk about their problems. He did know that he needed it. That after the first two meetings he had his first dreamless night since Milah's murder, that he had his first day without a phantom limb pain. That he was starting to feel like he could relax again. That was why he went.
"Killian? Have anything you'd like to share tonight?" The therapist asked, snapping him out of his reverie.
Like every week he shook his head and mumbled a reply, "Uh…no." He said, taking to leaning forward, in an attempt to appear more interested in what was going on. Really, he only listened to the exercises the therapist gave them weekly, that was what helped him. Not listening to and sharing his own sob story.
"Aurora?" He heard the therapist ask, "Anything you would like to share?"
His eyes darted over to the brunette sitting a few seats away from him, watching as the girl sat up as straight as can be in her chair before she responded.
"I haven't had the dream in over a week," She said, her voice coming out like honey, "One part of me is glad that I'm able to sleep through the night again but the other part is devastated." She admitted, obviously trying to keep her voice from cracking.
"Why do you think it's devastating?" The therapist asked with that annoyingly soothing voice that all therapists seem to have.
"Because every night I got to relive our last moments together. Even if the dream always ends with…" Auroras voice hitched as Killian watched her stare off into space, knowing she was probably reliving the memory. Something he did all too often.
The therapist glanced up at the clock, "Alright I think that's it for tonight. Don't forget those exercises I gave you," Killian heard the therapist say over the sound of people getting up from their chairs. He sat in place, eyes focused on the girls as she brought herself back to the present, shaking her head and sticking her chin out regally. His eyes followed her as she stood up and gathered her things. Taking that as his cue to leave he stood up and made his way out into the night, pushing all thoughts of the girl out of his head, Killian had more important things on his plate (like the bottle of rum on his counter).
He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear the footsteps and nearly jumped out of his skin at the tap on his shoulder. He turned around slowly, to find he was face to face with the sad girl he had been fixated on.
"Why are you always late?" The girl demanded, her eyebrow raised in emphasis.
The question made Killian laugh, "Ah, so my tardiness gets on your nerves, love?" He asked, amusement evident in his voice.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" She responded, her lips turning up into an almost smile.
Killian smirked at the girl's response, so this one had fire in her as well. Interesting. "Maybe one day you'll find out what brings me in so late," He said after a moment, realizing there was something captivating about the fiery beauty in front of him.
Aurora's smile widened, "See you next week." She said, abruptly turning on her heel and heading off toward her car.
Killian chuckled to himself as he slipped into his car, she was an interesting one, that was certain.
That night was the first night in ages that he dreamt of something other than Milah. That night he dreamt of the fiery girl from group therapy.