Welcome to Serenity

One Final Chance

Annie's POV:
I sit alone at a cheap ikea table, moving the food on my plate around with a fork.

"Hey Annie." I hear a voice behind me whisper.

"Aunt Helen!" I yell jumping out of my seat and wrapping my arms around her.

"I'm so sorry! I should have stayed home. I shouldn't have let myself not eat for so long!" I apologise profusely.

"Don't apologise. But, promise me you will talk to the people around you if, God forbid, this happen again." Aunt Helen whispers sitting me down at the table.

"I promise."

* * *

I hung out with Aunt Helen for the day. Whenever the nurses asked who she was, we said she was my Aunt.

Nurse Sara saw through my lie though and made me promise not to have anymore fake relatives visiting until I get home.

The doctors think it would be best for me to go home tomorow and start going back to school on monday. They think it might help if I see some friends.

I honestly can't wait to go home! But sadly I won't be home in time for church. I have to go to my first therapy session.

Won't that be fun...

* * *

After I made sure I had everything packed, I grab clean clothes and walk into the small adjoining bathroom. I instantly rip off the itchy hospital gown I was wearing and hop in the shower.

A shock went down my spine as I turned the shower handle. Freezing cold water rushes down my skin.

"Jez!" I mutter, quickly washing myself.

After turning the shower off I wrap my towel around myself and look in the small mirror.

"Ah well. Hopefully those bruises will go away." I sigh as I look at the bruises and cuts all over my legs, arms, neck and face.

I quickly pull on high-waisted, black, ripped jeans and a grey hoodie. I throw my hair into a messy ponytail and slide my feet into my favourite grey sneakers.

Thank God for Aunt Helen, who brought me a change of clothes.

After driving to the therapist's office I walk up to the front desk with Mum where she signs me in.

"Take a seat. You should only be waiting a minute." The receptionist says kindly.

I sit beside Mum while waiting for my appointment. It feels like forever, but eventually the receptionist came up to us and lead me into the therapist's office.

"Hello, you must be Annabelle Sullivan?" I hear a voice say. To the right of the door is a bookshelf and desk, then on the other side of the room is a couch overflowing with pillows and blankets, and next to it is a leather arm chair.

Sitting on the leather arm chair is a black haired woman with dark skin and brown eyes. She looks like she might be in her 30's or 40's. "I'm Dr McDaniels. Why don't you take a seat?" Dr McDaniels asks, gesturing to the couch.

"Now do you prefer people calling you Annabelle or is there a nickname you go by?" Dr McDaniels asks as I sit down.

"Annie." I say calmly.

"Okay Annie. So, I have your file right here." Dr McDaniels says picking up the manilla folder on the coffee table.

Suddenly a younger woman knocks on the door and slowly enters. She has her short light brown hair tied into a bun and is wearing a white blouse and jeans.

"Hello. I am Lacy Reynolds." She leans down to shake my hand.

"Who are you?" I ask confused.

"I am a nutritionist. I am here to help you, with the help of Dr McDaniels." Lacy explains as she sits down beside Dr McDaniels.

"As I was saying it has everything from medical records to school reports." The doctor explains as she places the file on the coffee table.

"But, we would like it if you could tell us about your life. It can be any memory." Lacy smiles.

I start at the very beginning, my earliest memory. I tell them everything since then.

My first day of elementary school. My first kiss with Tommy Millers when I was seven.

My first day of middle school. My parents arguing. The first day of high school. Dad getting kicked out.

Bill and Maddie separating. The rumors around town that floated around after he got Noreen pregnant. How I comforted Kyle.

My issues with Mum. Kyle's play. Kyle ditching mock trial. Prom. The after party. The car crash.

While I sit, out of breath Lacy asks, "Anything else?"

"Sorry." I apologise before opening up about Ty.

I tell them everything. The drunken kiss, the rumors, the almost kisses, the tree of heartbreak, us arguing. I cry and Dr McDaniels offers me tissues.

I tell them about the nightmares, the anorexia nervosa, how I passed out as the beach, and was too tired to save myself, the blacking out, Ty visiting me after surgery and finally waking up.

"That's everything." I sigh.

"Okay." Dr McDaniels smiles. Somehow I feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Let's start with Tyler Townsend, as he seems to be very important to you." Dr McDaniels suggests.

"He is. But I keep asking myself, what kinda guy gets told that a girl loves them, and then they say nothing? Not a good guy." I admit.

"Did he have another chance to rectify the situation?" Lacy asks.

"Heaps of chances."

"Okay then. Well, from what you've told me about him and his family, Tyler seems like a good guy. Just not always very good at speaking his mind. Am I correct?" Dr McDaniels asks.

"Yep. Ever since we were kids he would keep everything bottled up." I say honestly.

"Okay, so maybe he just needs one final chance? Hopefully he will take it. But if he doesn't, what is best for your mental well-being is getting over him and moving on." Dr McDaniels suggests.

I will give him one last chance. But if he doesn't take it, I'm done hurting myself.

* * *

The next day, Monday, the doctors advise me to go back to school. Dad insisted on driving me, but I managed to convince him to let me walk.

I confidentally walk down the empty street, wind blowing my hair from my face.

As I walk up to school I slow down and take a few deep breath. Then I grab my gray jacket from around my waist and put it on. I quickly zip it up and pull up my hood.

This town thrives on gossip and rumors and I'm sure everyone will want to know why I was in hospital, cause apparently everyone in this small town hasn't got a freakin' life!

I quickly unzip my jacket and tie it around my waist. No use hiding. I wish I could but, there's no way I can avoid a whole school, as much as I wish I could.

I take one final deep breath before throwing myself into the deep end, opening the front door and taking a step inside.

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Hope you like this chapter and are having a lovely day where ever you are in the world! 🧡