Past stage two...
So much stress today. He'd almost gotten into a fight coming home - it'd stayed purely verbal, though, spluttering out angry and defensive words. Fortunate for his opponent, really.
As he'd put the key in the door, head still spinning, something had occurred to him. He'd gone right through the kind of situation he'd promised himself he'd never get into - and he'd been alone all the way. Not even the faintest echo had shown up in his mind.
It took a while to sink in. He'd not quite believed it for so long... seeing a constant reminder of what once was, he'd not quite thought of what was now.
Almost like poking at a wound, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, going through the motions he once had standing on the cliffs above Battle Creek. Trigger words, phrases, forced anger...
Not a hint. Nothing there.
At last. At last.
He wasn't entirely free, though, he knew. Not while the external threat was still there. But if the internal one was gone...!
As he'd put the key in the door, head still spinning, something had occurred to him. He'd gone right through the kind of situation he'd promised himself he'd never get into - and he'd been alone all the way. Not even the faintest echo had shown up in his mind.
It took a while to sink in. He'd not quite believed it for so long... seeing a constant reminder of what once was, he'd not quite thought of what was now.
Almost like poking at a wound, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, going through the motions he once had standing on the cliffs above Battle Creek. Trigger words, phrases, forced anger...
Not a hint. Nothing there.
At last. At last.
He wasn't entirely free, though, he knew. Not while the external threat was still there. But if the internal one was gone...!