A/N: Hi ya'll! Really appreciate the reviews! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter. I would love any feedback. And I know my chapters are short. I'm working on it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, of course.
Chapter 2
May 2016
It had been dark. Afternoon. Or maybe it had been midday? She wasn't sure. But she felt like it had been dark. Maybe it hadn't. To her it had been dark. And every time she closed her eyes she was back again.
"Pancakes for you, love. And then Brandon has promised to drop you off at the therapist on his way to school", Stef smiled and handed Mariana her breakfast plate. Mariana nodded her thanks and reached for her fork. The food didn't taste anything, but it rarely did nowadays. She looked up as her twin entered the kitchen. Lena shot her son a welcoming smile, which he barely acknowledged with a short nod. Jesus had never been a morning person. But now it was worse than before.
"We leave in five, Mariana. You ready?", Brandon asked half an hour later. Mariana nodded, grabbed her bag and descended down the stairs. On her way to the kitchen to grab her phone, she came to a sudden halt. The voices were low, rushed.
"You can't keep this up, Jesus! We need you to cooperate right now. You're sister needs you to put on a brave face, do you think you can manage that?", Stef ushered, voice edged with underlying rage. And with fear, Mariana realized. Rage and fear and hurt.
"Why should I be happy, Moms?" The force of her twin's voice almost knocked the young brunette. "Why should I be happy when someone…" He stopped. Took a breath, and Mariana realized she'd been holding one herself. Jesus was broken and it killed her. It killed her that it was her fault. Jesus seemed to have forgotten that other people were in the house. Voice raised, anger boiling.
"Why should I be happy, when that DICK hurt my sister? Why should I be happy when she's not? Why should I be happy when someone DIED and my sister could have too? I can't…" His voice broke. Like he was suffocating. Because he was.
I'm sorry, Zeus. I'm so sorry.
"I know you're hurting, baby. And I-" Mariana left. She didn't want to hear it.
The car ride was quiet and she felt uneasy. Mariana hated to feel uneasy among her own family. She didn't want to be alone, yet she couldn't stand to be around people. Where did that leave her?
"So, Mariana. Are you willing to speak today?" Doctor Moore waited a good two minutes for a reply, not moving a muscle inclining she was impatient. Mariana did not speak.
"Well, in that case, I thought we could reflect a little on things that make us happy. Where we feel safe and secure? You don't need to say anything, we can just think about it and-" Mariana tuned her out. Safe. Secure. Happy. She had felt happy. Before. But that felt like a life time ago. She had been happy with Matt. With… Nick. Before.
"Are you okay, Mariana? Is this too hard to think about this right now?" Mariana turned her gaze toward Doctor Moore and her weird, flowery dress. Opened her mouth. Lips dry, throat soar. Voice broken.
"I'm tired. I just want to go home."
Thanks for reading guys. Don't let the muggles get you down, my lovlies.