Dr. Greyson sat in the leather chair, staring at the boy fidgeting before him. He pushed his glasses up on the brim of his nose and cleared his throat.

"Now, Clarke..."

"Isaac," the boy said, irritably. "My name is Isaac."

"...alright, Isaac. Now, your mother says you've been having trouble sleeping."

"Oh yeah, that's it," Isaac said, sarcastically. "I'm a fuckin' insomno." Dr. Greyson raised an eyebrow at Isaac and wrote: 'Patient irritable, rude. Seems preoccupied and tense.'

"What are you writing about me?"

'And nosy...'

"Just a couple of notes," said Dr. Greyson. "Now, I understand that you lost two close friends and your brother earlier this year?"

"What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" Isaac glared at Dr. Greyson.

Dr. Greyson cleared his throat. "How did this affect you, Isaac? What were you feeling?"

"How do you think I felt, jack-ass? I lost my brother and two of my best friends in the same fuckin' night! And I was too busy with..with her to do shit about it."

"Tell me what happened."

"I don't remember much."

"What do you remember? Just tell me what you remember."

Isaac sighed and closed his eyes, the memories flooding back to him in a vivid array of colours, smells, and sounds.

"It...it was a Friday night. My friend Derrick was having a party at his house while his parents were away. I had driven Taylor, Krystle, and Blake over there. While Blake and Taylor went in search of something alcoholic, I settled on the couch next to a girl I knew through a mutual friend...Rosalynn..."

*flashback*

Isaac opened his eyes. Once again, he was sitting on the couch with Rosalynn next to him. She was smiling, talking about something he really didn't care that much about. He just stared into her eyes, the pools of green drawing him closer to her, until he felt her lips against his. She seemed shocked at first, but soon responded, kissing him deeply. His hands wandered up her shirt as she pulled him down on top of her. Her fingers tangled in his hair and roughly massaged the back of his neck.

The sound of a gun shot caused Isaac to sit up, startled. He looked at Rosalynn, who's face held a frightened look. Quickly, Isaac jumped to his feet and ran up the stairs, where the shot had come from. A crowd of people were standing in the doorway to Derrick's room. Isaac pushed through the crowd and viewed a scene he had prayed he would never have to see....

*end flashback*

"Taylor...my own brother...was lying on the ground dead. Blake held an old pistol in his hand, pointing it at Derrick. He was screaming 'You said the gun wasn't loaded' or something like that. Obviously, they had been playing a game of Russian Roulette, you know, when you spin the bullet part of the gun and point it at your head, hoping that the bullet isn't in there. Derrick must have thought the gun wasn't loaded when in actuality...." Isaac took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Blake had the wildest look in his eye...and then..he snapped. I kept telling him to put the gun down, that it wasn't Derrick's fault. But, he wouldn't listen. He cocked the piston and aimed straight for Derrick. Just as he pulled the trigger, Krystle ran in front of him, screaming 'No! Don't shoot him,'....he shot her. Blake just stood there, staring at her with wide eyes as she fell to the floor. I ran over to her, but she was already dead. When I looked up, Blake had the gun to his head. He looked straight at me and said..."

*flashback*

"I'm sorry, Ike."

The trigger was pulled and Isaac watched in horror as Blake's lifeless body slumped to the floor in a pool of his own blood.

*end flashback*

Dr. Greyson leaned back in his chair as he watched the eighteen-year-old in front of him break into tears.

Isaac regained his composure and continued. "I watched three of my best friends die right in front of me. Mom says I need to get over it. I know it wasn't my fault that they died, but she doesn't understand. I could have done something about it. I mean, do you have any idea what it's like to watch three people you love die right in front of your eyes?"

Dr. Greyson took of his glasses and leaned on his desk with his hands folded. "Let me tell you a story, Isaac." Isaac leaned back and gave Dr. Greyson a look that read 'continue'. Dr. Greyson sighed and looked down at his hands. "When I was your age, I was just like you. Popular with the girls, lots of friends. I lived for thrills and fun. Well, one night when I was about your age, I went to a party with my two best friends, Jacob and Dean. We hooked up with some girls and were having a lot of fun, drinking and getting high. Then, the host of the party, Nathan, came into the room with a pistol, and suggested that we play a little Russian Roulette." Isaac's eyes grew wide. "He handed it to Jacob, saying 'Spin it'. Then, he leaned over to me and said 'Don't worry, there's not a bullet in there.' Jacob spun, pointed the gun at his head, and pulled the trigger. No shot. So, he handed the gun to Dean, who in turn, spun and pointed it at his head. He pulled the trigger. The shot was so loud and once it went off, everyone in the room scattered. I just stood there, staring at my best friend. Then, Jacob grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room." Dr. Greyson sighed. "So yes, Isaac, I know exactly how you feel. But, you have to realize that it wasn't your fault that your friends and brother were killed. It was by choice of fate that the gun was loaded. Derrick didn't know it, Nathan didn't know it, no one knew. I can understand that you're remorse and sorrow over the loss of your friends, and nothing will ever replace them in your heart. Do you understand, Isaac?"

Isaac crossed his arms over his chest, and Dr. Greyson saw traces of a bewildered smile on his face. "Yeah, I understand," said Isaac.

The timer went off.

Dr. Greyson put his glasses back on and stood up. "Well, Isaac, I hate to end this session, but I have a guy who's suffering from crack relapse next hour. He thinks he sees little green men dancing on his penis." They both chuckled as Isaac stood up.

Isaac shook his hand. "Thanks, Dr. Greyson."

"No problem, Isaac, I'm glad I could help," Dr. Greyson said. "I'll see you next week."

"Alright, bye," said Isaac, leaving the room.

Dr. Greyson sighed and pressed the button on the intercom. "Mandy, is Mr. Haddad there yet?"

"Yes, he's waiting."

"Alright, can you tell him to wait about fifteen minutes?"

"Sure, Dr. Greyson."

"Thanks."

Dr. Greyson sat down and ran a hand over his balding head. Sighing, he pulled a pistol out of the top dresser drawer. He looked at it for a second, chuckled to himself, and spun. He pointed the gun to his head.

"Spin it," he said, and pulled the trigger, his world going black.