Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are."- Bernice Johnson Reagon
CHAPTER #2
Chris settled in to the routine with the other Cliff Hangers. She liked the outdoor activities and did okay with school stuff, except math. Everyone found out she was good at art. But socially, Chris mainly kept to herself. At night it was a whole different kind of problem. Her nightmares became worse and worse, until they began to wake the other girls up. This went on for a few weeks. Then after a particularly bad one, the girls of her dorm ratted her out to the counsellors. Sophie had to physically wake Chris, to make the nightmare break. Chris came awake fighting, mid scream.
Sophie had her in a bear hug, "you're okay Chris. You're safe."
When Chris finally calmed down, Sophie took her to the main lodge so the other girls could go back to sleep. "Do you want to talk about your dream?"
Chris shook her head negatively. She sat in a chair, knees drawn up to her chest, hugging herself and rocking. This is how she remained, even after Sophie fell asleep. She had to stay awake, or the nightmare would return. In the morning, she watched the counsellor stretch and glance her way, realizing she had fallen asleep herself. Seeing that Chris was still there, relief flooded her face.
"Did you sleep at all?"
Chris nodded no.
"Go on and change. Join the rest of your group for breakfast," Sophie instructed. She went to go find Peter and fill him in on what had happened. "Chris has been having violent nightmares. The other girls have covered for her until last night. She was screaming and once I woke her up, she didn't go back to sleep."
Peter nodded. "We have a group session today, maybe we'll explore dreams in it."
"Good luck getting her to talk," Sophie sighed.
Peter hugged his fiancé, "she'll open up eventually. They all do in their own time."
"How are the sessions with Shelby?"
"She's been able to talk about what happened at home. But she still won't say what happened on the street."
Sophie nodded. "When does she go to court?"
"That's not for a few months still. She'll be ready and we'll be with her every step of the way." Peter said. "Her sister is seeing a shrink back at home. Shelby says it's working, but being in that house doesn't help. Depending on what happens in court, Mount Horizon might be able to get custody of Jessica."
"I hope that Jess can be enrolled here too. Sometimes I just want to punch that mother."
"How's Mark?"
"Mark has been doing well in the group sessions, but won't open up one on one. I still get the impression he's hiding something. The girls think he might be gay, but he hasn't given any indication that he is."
"It would explain his past behaviour. Especially if he hasn't accepted who he is yet," Peter analysed.
They continued discussing the children in their care. Then about the over night hike the Cliff Hangers were going on that weekend. "Remember when we had them do that essay about five things they fear?"
"Yes. I think Shelby put down heights as one, spiders as two and loneliness as three," Sophie recalled.
"Right, they all listed something to do with their lives and then some of the more standard fears. Maybe overcoming some of the smaller fears, will help them face the bigger ones. This could really help Chris open up too."
