Chapter one

<br />"are you Hensley Williams?" I asked the young man who was sitting in a quiet room by the window, yet staring at the ceiling, appearing to be lost and out of this world. Hearing that, he slowly turned around and looked at me.

"If I remember correctly, yes." He responded, with a voice thin like ice. eyes red and swollen like that of an abused woman.

I pitifully looked at him for a second, as he now tucked his shaking hands on the black hood jersey he had on, before grabbing the chair near the corner and sat across him. the young man looked like he was in his 20s.

"Do you not remember your past? Your life before you got here?" I inquired, trying to get to know him.

like any other patient of mine in the rehabilitation centre, the only thing I was told about this man was his background. However, just by looking at him, I could already see he was deeply bruised.

<br />"I try not to... which is why I drink. I'm not an alcoholic like you all believe. I drink to forget." He calmly stated. His eyes turning back to the ceiling... it was as though he found some kind of solace up there. His hands were still shaking in his pockets.

<br />"And the drugs?" I curiously asked, looking at him as I sat on the chair alongside him with a pen and a notebook in my grasp. Trying not to open it, for most people hate it when therapists write when they are trying to open up to them. It suddenly makes them feel unsafe and hesitant. I wanted him to feel as safe as possible, for the only way I could help him was if he truly opened up to me.

He shifted his eyes from the ceiling and looked at me with no facial expression and asserted "They work faster."

I could see he was trying so hard to hide the pain. and maybe that was his defence mechanism, not letting people see his vulnerability. perhaps that's why he tried to drown it with alcohol and ended up addicted.

"Can we talk about it... What you so badly want to forget?" I carefully suggested, my eyes still on him. he moved his away once more, trying to run away as he thought it best.

"Please." seeing as he seemed unwilling, I pleaded. Hensley quickly turned around.

"I just told you, I don't want to remember!" He snapped, standing up from his chair. attempting to walk towards me, but also quickly turned around again and rushed to the corner... seeing that, I also stood up from my chair.

"Keeping things within is not good Hensley. Please, let's try to talk about it. I'm simply just trying to help." I pleaded once more, still standing up as I now watched him fuming in the corner. Hensley turned around again, looking at me.

"Really? You are trying to help me? Really!" He snorted once more, remaining by the corner.

"Yes Hensley." I said, sacredly walking towards him. my voice soft like summer rain, hoping it would calm him down. But unfortunately, it didn't. Hensley was still snorting "then make me forget completely. Erase my memory! That is the only way to help me!" <br />his eyes turned more red as he shouted, his hands shakier and tears formed in his eyes.

Seeing that, I rushed to him, and hesitantly placed my hand around his shoulder. Hensley began to sniffle.

I slowly and softly whispered "It's okay Hensley. It's okay." I could see he was deeply hurt and that broke my heart.

"No it is not! It's not okay! She broke me. she broke me. I gave her everything, everything and in return she took everything from me. My heart. My soul. My strength. Everything!" Hensley shouted as he left my embrace and began to pace around the room. I realised he was now hitting up, wanting to vent. this was my chance to get him to talk more and let it all out.

So I looked at him and exasperated "No she Didn't take, you gave her willingly."

Hearing that, Hensley became angrier. He stopped shouting and sat on the chair again.

"Isn't that what lovers do?" he asked turning around and looked at me.

"give whole heartedly, willingly. If you love someone you give your all. You do anything for them, isn't that so?" He continued. His voice was now low and soft like that of an old woman laying in her death bed. I could hear the pain in it. I could feel it. furthermore, I could see the pain in every part of him, now clearly that I couldn't even answer but only look down.

"Answer me!" shouted Hensley, upon my silence.

<br />"Yes that is true." I replied, trying to raise my head and looked at him.

Hensley stood up again, now slowly as he asked "Then why? Why was it different for her?" He tucked his hands back to his pockets and looked down, awaiting my answer.

"Love isn't always reciprocated." I opened my mouth and gave an answer Which broke his heart even more. Hensley looked at me with no facial expression. His face only filled with tears footprints.

"Then fuck it..." he retorted.

"Language." I chided him as I walked back to my seat and faced him.

"No fuck it... to whoever said it only works when the man loves more. fuck it, it only works when she loves more!" He angrily shouted, pacing around.

"I hate myself for being stupid." he continued talking as he stopped pacing. Making me stand up from my chair and walked towards him.

"Hensley you cannot punish yourself simply because someone you love broke your heart. You cannot give up on life because a person didn't see your value." I tried to console him as I tried to hold his hand. Hensley refused moving away.

"You don't understand! You don't understand!" he shouted.

"Then let's try it again. Help me understand, tell me what really happened. Everything, from the beginning. Tell me how you ended up here." I calmly suggested as I took a few steps following him. Hensley turned around looking me. I looked back at him with understanding eyes, praying he would give in and open up. Seeing that, he walked towards his chair and sat down. Turning his eyes to me again.

"Everything?" He asked

"Everything." I replied as I also sat down getting ready to understand his story.<br />***