A Cup of Tea

She threw her bag on the floor and burst into tears. The pain she felt was completely unbearable. Clutching her chest, she curled up on the floor, shaking from her violent sobs. Memories kept flooding her head like waves crashing to the shore and she was the victim that kept getting sucked in and almost drowning with each wave as she tried to hold tight to the shore.
This abuse had been going on for months. She was a prisoner of her mind. Every day she would try to make it through, but one little thing triggered the wave of attacks. Living in the past is one of the most dangerous things. Most people leave the past behind them, learn from it, and move on to a better future. Emma never had that luxury. She was trapped in the past and there was no escaping.
As she lay in the fetal position on the floor she began humming to herself, trying to think of every joyful memory to outweigh the painful ones. Finally, after an hour of waging war with the past, she finally was able to sit up. She was so sick of this mental abuse. Almost every day was the same. She needed some way to cure it. And with that thought she gathered enough motivation to get up and start looking for a solution. She was scouring the internet for nearly three hours before she found it.
A smile spread across her face as she jotted down the address on the screen. Just as she opened her door to leave her two friends were walking towards her door.
“Hey we were just coming to get you. You wanna go shoppin?” A tall girl wearing a plaid skirt and tank top said.
“Actually I’m really busy right now, Ericka.” Emma replied turning to lock her front door.
“What do you have planned?” the second girl in jeans and a t-shirt asked.
“I just have something I need to take care of, Brittany.” See Emma’s friends had no idea how much mental stress she was going through. Sure they knew about her past, but they did not know she was trapped there and that’s the way Emma wanted it.
“Hold on one second.” Ericka said grabbing Emma’s arm, “What’s going on?” Emma just wrenched her arm away and started heading towards the elevator. Ericka and Brittany followed her and it didn’t seem she was going to get off that easily.
Emma stayed perfectly quiet as her friends kept firing questions at her. They wanted to know what was wrong and what she was doing, but she didn’t want to tell them anything. Unfortunately, they were going to follow her to the house so she would have to explain herself sometime.
After walking 25 blocks and trying to ignore her friends and the pain, they finally rounded the corner and there it stood. A dark house with red curtains and a sign on the outside reading Madame Torret.
“Oh you have got to be kidding me!” Ericka exclaimed, “You’re gonna see a psychic? What for?”
“You know these people are nuts right?” Brittany added. Emma turned to them slowly knowing the time had come, let out a long sigh, and began explaining her plan to them.
“I’m so sorry Emma. I didn’t know you were going through that much pain.” Ericka said leaning forward to hug her friend.
“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Brittany asked looking skeptically at the house.
“I don’t know, but I hope so.” Emma said.
“Well we will be right out here waiting for you.” Ericka replied with a smile.
Emma walked into the dark house alone. The place was set up like a creepy magic shop. There were decks of cards that could tell your future and other magical assortments on sale. Emma stared to think that this really was just another scam artist trying to make money, but she needed to try anyway. She walked up to the counter and rang the little bell once. An old lady with dark black hair emerged from the back room.
“How may I help you?” she asked.
“I would like a cup of tea.” Emma said confidentially.
“I’m sorry I don’t sell those anymore child.”
“Does it work?”
“Yes it does, but there is no way I’m giving it to a child. Now be on your way.” Madame Torret said annoyed.
“I am 18 years old! I’m not a child and I can make my own decisions! Please I need your help!” Emma exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Madame Torret studied her for a moment before saying, “Alright. Follow me.” She lead the way into the back room where she had emerged from. A circular table with one teacup sat in the center of a dark room.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Madame Torret said from across the table. Emma leaned toward the cup. As she looked in to the cup memories started to swirl in the liquid. The pain was almost unbearable as the flood hit her. She wanted to scream or curl up on the floor, but mostly she wanted them to disappear. The solution sat in front of her on the table. She reached for the cup wanting more than anything to stop the agony she had been living in for what seemed like eternity, but something strange happened. Images of Ericka and Brittany popped into her head. Other memories of her having fun with all of her friends poured in her head as well. Once she drank the tea she wouldn’t remember any of them.
Her hand shook as it hesitated just inches from the cup. She had to make a decision, the memories of happiness of the pain from the past. Then she realized Ericka and Brittany are waiting outside and will remind her of everything happy she had experienced. Finally, Emma grabbed the cup and drank the tea.
As soon as she was done, she felt the pain slowly drift away. It was like someone took a big eraser to her mind. Soon she couldn’t remember anything. Madame Torret slowly led her out of her house as Emma looked around confused. Two sets of hands grabbed hers as she walked out the door. She looked up at the two strange girls as they led her down the street.
“Hi Emma. I’m Ericka and this is Brittany. We are your best friends.” They both smiled at her and started telling her about all her friends and the fun things that they all have done. Then Emma felt something she had never felt before…peace.