Family Portraits

I close my eyes tightly and try to remember how to breathe. "Are you all right? Do you need some water?" Water? WATER? No, I need to wake up from this nightmare! "Did..." my voice is scarcely more than a whisper. "Did he say...for sure?" "Yes, Cassie," Dr. Morton sighs. He seems to have aged since I saw him two days ago and set this whole process in motion. "Oh," I say faintly. "Okay. Well, thanks for clearing that up for me. I guess...I guess I better go. My family's probably waiting..." "Cassie, wait!" Dr. Morton calls as I stumble toward the door. "Are you sure you'll be all right, at least for the rest of the day today? Your mom's coming in for a session on Monday, and I'd be happy to see you as well. Or I can do a special session for you tomorrow, even though I don't normally do that on Sundays." "I...I think I'll be okay. Thanks, though." It's a lie. I'm not okay. I'm not sure if I'll ever be okay again. The door slams behind me and I hear the sound of my life, cleaving neatly into Before and After.