A Little Cold

The girl continued slowly distancing herself from her friends. However, her friends weren't blind and could see what was going on.

They confronted her, asked her what was wrong. Why was she distancing herself, did she not enjoy being with them anymore?

They carefully asked if it had something to do with her mother's death. The girl said she didn't know, but that that was probably the case.

The girls weren't friends out of convenience, so they didn't want to make the girl miserable.

They already pitied her enough. The girl mentioned that it was probably a trauma, that she just didn't feel safe close to people.

The girl said she liked all of the girls, and that she enjoyed being their friend. Just, she didn't feel at ease.

The girl probably felt her stress build up into a heavy weight on her shoulders. She just thought that trying to keep relationships was hard. She didn't dare express her affection, only her dislike.

Maybe this was the after effect of her own attempt to save herself from her own mother's affection. But she failed horribly and ended up badly injured.

Her friends said they understood it, that they just didn't want to accept just losing a dear friend like that.

The girl wryly smiled. Maybe there was something wrong with her.

Seeing their friends defeated expression, the girls gave up. 'Goodbye.'

It was her morning ritual word. This time, though, it had a proper adressed person.

That was her.

Her now 'ex-friends' walked away. A little bit further, one of the girls slammed the school wall.

She questioned in frustration. Why couldn't she help her friend? Why was she so powerless? Why was her friend so... so stupid!

The girls didn't say anything about this aggressive action, because they themselves also felt extremely frustrated.

That girl had always been a bit of a weird girl. Her mind was always somewhere else.

In times of discussion, she would have the best argument yet somehow end up using it against herself.

She always listened.

She usually didn't have any expression on her face, yet she would always get heated.

She didn't like most people. If the people she disliked approached her, she would always use her most indifferent face to scold.

But she was a darling girl. She ended up awkward, yet straightforward. She said what she wanted to, but tread safely when it involved someone's feelings.

They knew what had happened to her mother. She never talked well about her mother before the woman's death. However, despite not saying one compliment, her words were filled with warmth.

The girl who was left behind felt that the hallway was a little too well ventilated. After all, she was inside, and yet it felt as if the breeze was as cold as a winterstorm.

School ended and the girl went home. Today was her turn to cook.

Taught by her parents and various cooking programs, she was skilled at cooking.

She cleaned the dishes and set the table. She heard her father come in. He said hello before leaving to change.

She put the food on the table. Moments later both her father and sister arrived.

Today was her sister's turn to pray.

During dinner, her father suggested her therapy. Her sister had been following it and she said that her shrink makes her talk about herself.

The girl asked if there would not be any monetary complications. Her mother's source of income had disappeared after all.

Her father told her that he was fine with paying a bit more if it was to make his daughter better.

The girl heard her father say 'make you better'. She didn't know what to say when hearing these words. Was she that terribly twisted in her father's eyes?

A few days passed and today was the day the girl would first meet her therapist.

She walked in and saw a friendly looking woman. The woman noticed her entering and introduced herself.

Actually, at this moment the girl was wondering if this was a good idea. After all, she didn't like getting close to people anymore.