“There are many victims in the world. It takes a lot of willpower and strength to seek help. I see a light in you that wants to get out, to be seen. It’ll take time to get there, but the journey will be well worth it.”
Almost an hour and a half later, I walked into the apartment building, my head clouded with everything and nothing at once. In one hand I held a light blue folder with a number of papers in it. They contained information about my counseling schedule, group therapy, and other things I could attend over the summer. I also had a journal that had written prompts on each page.
None of the things were mandatory, but Dr. Mayes did say that it’d be beneficial to attend as much as I could handle. Plus, it’d be good for me to get out and meet other people to see that I wasn’t alone in my mental state.
Not paying attention to where I was going as I rounded the corner towards my apartment, I ran into someone—or rather, she ran into me.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” she gushed, taking a step back.
“No worries,” I grimaced, slightly jarred.
Although her green eyes were rimmed red, she was pretty. Black hair fell just past her shoulders. Her skin was slightly tanned, and she looked younger than she probably was. I bet she was popular in high school, just from the way she looked and dressed. Especially compared to how I was dressed. I looked homeless next to her.
“I saw you the other day when you arrived. Welcome, neighbor! Sorry I have to cut this short, but I’m soooo late for an appointment. I’ll see you around!”
Then, she was gone. Shaking my head, I started toward my new place. The apartment was simple but perfect. I’m sure Ace had something to do with it being furnished before I arrived, and I didn’t mind at all. It saved me from having to figure out how to do it.
It was nice to be on my own. No one was watching my every move. It was refreshing. Seconds after I shut and locked the door, my cell phone began to ring.
“Hello?” I answered after digging it out of my front pocket.
“Afternoon,nipotina,” Ace said. “How did you like Dr. Mayes?”
“She’s okay,” I answered. “Still trying to wrap my head around it all.”
“That’s good. I only told her the basics. You should call your brother. He’s been worried.”
“I plan to,” I said, setting the folder on the table in the kitchen. The small space was enough to allow me to cook just about anything I desired. The counters were a dark silver, making the white cabinets pop out.
“All right then. I’ll let you go.”
With that he hung up. Sometimes he could talk forever, and other times he’d be short and to the point. I grabbed lunch meat and mayo out of the fridge, making a sandwich. I didn’t want to think about what I needed to do, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it off for much longer.
Dr. Mayes wanted me to write down a few things about what I wanted out of life. I was to have it done before I returned to see her in a couple of days. I had no clue where to even start.
To put the homework off even longer, I picked up the phone and dialed Peyton. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey there,sorella,” he answered.
“Hey.”
“How are you doing? Ace said you made it there safely and all, but I still worry.”
“I’m doing OK. And I am safe here.” I hoped. “How are you? And Dominic?”
“I’m good. And Dom…well, you should call him. He’s not handling you being gone too well. I don’t know what’s up with him, but he’s acting more….emo than normal, even for him. I’m worried.”
“I’ll call,” I said. My heart sunk at his words.
“He needs someone he can lean on, but I highly doubt he’ll let you be the one to do that.”
“Why can’t it be you?” The words snuck out before I could I stop them.
“You know we aren’t on the best of terms, sis,” Peyton laughed lightly.
“Yeah, but neither one of you has told me why.”
“Truthfully, I don’t know anymore. He hasn’t been willing to try to fix it. So whatever.”
