Huntington Avenue | ✓ [PV REWRITE]

Epilogue

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Epilogue | ❝ I made it. ❞

Friday, June 7th, 2019 - 4:59 p.m.

❝ALRIGHT, ZACH,❞ THE woman exclaimed with a sweet smile adorned on her face. "For next week's session, we'll continue to talk about different tactics to help lessen your nightmares and calm you whenever you get a flashback of some sort. Does that sound okay with you?"

Zach nodded while sitting on the couch across from her. "Yeah, that's great. Thank you so much, Mrs. Rhodes."

"Absolutely, and Sadie is just fine," Mrs. Rhodes replied cheerfully. "Also, good luck with your learner's permit test on Sunday! Driving can be one way to face your fear through exposure, but don't overstimulate yourself. If you feel uncomfortable or scared, give yourself some time and put your mental health first. Okay?"

"I will. I promise," Zach assured her, standing up from the couch at the same time the therapist stood from her comfortable chair.

Mrs. Rhodes smiled and opened the door separating her office and the hallway. "I'll see you next week, and once again—congratulations on graduating high school tonight!"

"Thank you. It's been...a crazy journey." Zach grinned in return.

"I'm sure it has. After all that you've told me over the past few weeks, I can tell you've been through quite a lot," his therapist acknowledged. "I hope your graduation and learner's permit test both go well. If you need anything during the week, just send me an email."

"I will. Thank you."

"Let me know how both of those go. Okay?" Mrs. Rhodes requested of him kindly.

Zach nodded and adjusted his black bangs to be out of his eyes. "I'll send you an email and let you know."

"Thanks," she replied with a tone of polite dismissal. "I'll see you next week."

"Sounds good! Have a good week," Zach told her as he walked away. Oh, how awkward it was while still in the midst of a conversation and needing to leave at the same time.

The brunette woman smiled from the doorway. "You too."

Zach continued to stride with a bit more confidence in his step than before his session began an hour prior. Therapy was not an uncommon concept for Zach—he experienced it nearly twelve years ago when he first became blind after the incident. Ever since then, Zach had been improving immensely, so there was never a need...or was there?

When Zach's nightmares ceased to improve after all of which had happened during his senior year, his parents gradually reintroduced the idea of psychological therapy in order to help cease Zach's anxiety. It was no easy task when it came to persuading him to at least attempt one session, but with the reassurance and help from Kelsey and his group of close friends, Zach chose to give it a shot.