Ava’s mom wasn’t taking any more of her attitude and made sure Ava had an appointment with a therapist immediately.

They sat in the car each of them not talking to or even daring to look at each other. Ava’s mum sighed.

“Ava, look. I’m doing this for your own good. You are in pain right now and you won’t talk to me. You have to talk to someone.”

Ava still ignored her and kept looking out the window dreading to go to the therapist. When they reached there Ava carried herself out of the car and followed her mum. They went inside and waited until it was Ava’s turn.

When it was Ava’s turn, she and her mum went inside and sat down in front of the therapist.

“Hi, you must be Ava. I’m Brooke, nice to meet you.”

She kindly smiled at her and put her hand out. But Ava just looked at it and didn’t react. She just sat there looking around the room.

“Okay. You must be her mum, right?”

“Yes, I’m Lucia. Nice to meet you.”

They shook each other's hands and smiling.

“So, why are you here today Ava?”

Ava stilled ignored what she said and looked away from her. Instead, her mother answered for her.

“Uhhh...She went through a loss and it's been very hard for her. She doesn’t talk to me, or anyone for that matter so I thought it would be best for her to see a therapist so she can talk about her feelings.”

Lucia looked at Ava worriedly, hoping this was the right decision she was making.

“Well then we’ll start with sessions twice a week and we’ll see how it goes, okay?”

“Yes, thank you. Is it ok if she comes alone? I don’t think I’m going to be of any help.”

“That’s fine. I will see you tomorrow at 4:30 pm Ava. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you again.”

Ava and Lucia both got up and left. They got in the car and drove home in silence. Lucia opened the door for Ava, and they walked in. As Lucia closed the door she said,

“Ava can we please-”

Ava just ran up the stairs to her bedroom not caring of what her mother had to say. Lucia just sighed and went to make dinner before her son came back.

Ava laid in bed crying on her pillow, trying to forget about everything that was going on.

What did I do to deserve this? Why? Why me? If only Annie was here. Everything would go back to normal and people would stop treating me with such pity. Even my own mum doesn’t know me anymore. My brother hates me and I’m somehow the cause of dad leaving. And now I have to be going to the therapist too-

Ava’s thoughts were disrupted by a soft knock on the door.

“Go away, I don’t want to see anyone.”

Lucia opened the door and stood there. Ava quickly wiped her tears.

“I thought I said I didn’t want to see anyone.”

Lucia walked over to her and sat at the corner of her bed nearest to the door.

“I wanted to talk with you.”

“I don’t want to talk with you and there’s nothing to talk about.”

“This is the exact reason I’m taking you to a therapist. You don’t tell me anything. And now you’re visiting your father? This isn’t like you.”

Ava began getting angrier by the minute. She looked away, trying to hold back the tears.

“You don’t what you’re talking about. Why would I go back to dad? I helped you through everything that happened between you guys. Why would you think I suddenly visited him?”

“I don’t know Ava, okay? But all I know is that you need help. You are going to the therapist. It would be good for you. Also, you have to start eating, you’re becoming too skinny.”

Lucia walked out and shut the door. Ava threw a pillow at the door and screamed in frustration. She laid down and cried herself to sleep.

The next morning Ava woke up early and left the house quickly so she wouldn't have to encounter her mother. School went pretty normal, everyone just ignored Ava. Well everyone except Noah who kept looking at her, but he never came up to talk to her. The end of school came, and Ava was dreading to go to the therapist but some part of her thought this was a good idea.

She walked from school to the clinic to meet her therapist. She walked in the therapist consulting room and she was surprised. The room was very vibrant, there was a window with a beautiful view, there were some inspirational quotes on one side of the walls, there was a comfortable sofa and chairs with some stuffed animals on shelves.

"Hello, Ava. Come in, take a seat."

Ava nervously walked to the sofa and sat down putting her back next to her.

"How have you been doing?"

"Good thanks" Ava whispered

"I heard about your loss and I'm sorry about that."

Ava remained quiet. There were a few minutes of silence until Ava broke it.

"We were really close friends. We had our whole life out planned. And we were supposed to live it together."

Ava looked down trying not to cry. Brooke noticed it.

"You can cry. It's ok."

Ava sobbed.

"We promised each other we would always be together. And we have, we went on trips together, we stayed together at school, same classes, we chose the same universities, we planned on getting an apartment together. We just wanted to stay with each other. But now we're never going to get to do that. And no one understands how I feel."

"Ava. How is anyone supposed to know if you don't express yourself? This is the reason why your mother sent you here. She wants you to talk to someone."

Ava looked up wiping away her tears.

"I just don't know how to express myself."

"Okay. I am going to put you on 3 sessions a week for a start and we'll see how it goes from there. Every Monday, Thursday, and Sunday at the same time. Is that ok?"

"Yes."

"Okay, Ava. I'll see you on Thursday. Bye."

"Bye Brooke."

Ava got her stuff and walked out of the room. It felt like she had a bit of weight taken off her shoulders.