Falling Stars [h.s]

Chapter 3

"You're delusional Harry. I am not depressed."

"I have been watching you for a really long time now Priscilla. The signs are there. I know because I've watched you go through this when we were younger. You need help. I did research and I found these really good rehabilitation centers. They can give you all the help you need, you can get through this."

"Don't you dare tell me what I need Harry. You know nothing of what I am going through because you don't care about me anymore!"

"Of course I care about you Priscilla. Why would you think that?"

Priscilla stood up from the chair, "I'm done talking about this." She opened the door leaving the office. Harry stood up as well, unsure of what else to do.

He stopped himself as he headed towards the door. "This is meant to be confidential information only between us, don't go telling your best friend."

Odyssey gave him a simple nod. She didn't plan on telling Aurora either way. Aurora did not need his negativity in her life once again. She's already dealt with the pain and has finally moved on. She was in a good place.

Odyssey called out his name before he got the chance to close the door. Harry stopped in his tracks not turning to look at her, but he was listening. "For months Aurora tried getting in touch with you. Do you even care that you have a daughter?"

Harry didn't respond. Instead he closed the door and left. Odyssey shook her head in disappointment. She knew not to be surprised by his actions anymore.

As the day went by Odyssey had meeting after meeting. Aurora was home with the kids and Zayn was at work. They had a system. Odyssey would take the morning to afternoon shifts so that way Aurora can stay with the kids. Once Odyssey was done for the day, Aurora would go to work, taking the afternoon to night shifts. Zayn worked from morning to night so he was rarely around, but they made it work. That has been the system ever since Aurora gave birth. The only difference being when Aurora gave birth the two were still in law school. Which is why Aurora took morning classes and Odyssey took afternoon classes that way Aurora can be home with her baby at night.

Odyssey packed her briefcase with her case files, getting ready to call it a day. "Dixon how did your meeting with the Styles go?"

"Not so great boss."

"If you can't get them to come to a compromise by your next meeting call CPS."

"Is that really necessary sir? The children's father is capable of caring for them while they work out their situation."

"Why are you questioning me Dixon? You know how these things work. If a couple is going to take legal actions against each other we call CPS, especially if children are the main subject." Odyssey peevedly watched her boss leave. It was no secret that she despised him. Almost all her co workers did. Instead of trying to help families, he always found a way to break them up. Odyssey didn't believe CPS was needed in this case. Although she didn't want to admit it, by what she read from the case, Harry seemed to be a good father who was capable of caring for his kids all the while fighting for them in court.

Really digging deeper into the Styles' case, Odyssey couldn't help but agree with Harry. His wife needed to be in rehabilitation. Not only because of her addiction, but also because of her depression. Even though she kept denying it, Harry was right. Priscilla had fallen into a deep depression. Odyssey has seen cases similar to theirs many times. She's dealt with depression victims before.

Priscilla wasn't safe around her children, especially after what Harry said about her calling them burdens. It is never good to put such pressure on young kids. If her behavior continued and she constantly took her anger out on her children, they would carry so much weight on their shoulders as they grow older that eventually they themselves will become depressed as well.

•

Two days later Odyssey was back in the same office with the Styles'. Her goal today was to come up with a reasonable solution. One where CPS didn't have to be involved. Odyssey never liked involving CPS in her cases. All they did was make things harder than they already were for families.

"The last time we were here it was brought up that your husband believes you are depressed, can you speak on that Mrs. Styles?"

Priscilla shook her head in annoyance, "I have nothing to say." Odyssey knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she was going to do everything in her will power to get this couple talking and compromising.

"Do you believe you're depressed?" There was no response to the question.

Harry let out an exasperated sigh and turned to his wife, "You need to say something. If you say nothing we are not going to get anywhere"

"I don't need to do anything."

"Priscilla please just cooperate for one second!"

"What the hell do you want me to say Harry? Do you want me to say I'm depressed? Fine then, yes I am! Is that what you wanted to hear? I am depressed Harry and you are the reason. You don't care about me. We haven't been intimate in two years! You never bother to ask me what I'm going through. Did you even realize I was pregnant twice after I had Harper then again after I had Oliver?"

Priscilla was in tears after her outburst. Harry was taken aback by his wife's words. "Pregnant?"

"Yes Harry! I was pregnant three times after Harper and Oliver. The first two times I had miscarries and the third time I had an abortion."

Odyssey watched intensively as Harry's demeanor changed. His eyebrows furrowed and his lips frowned. "How come you never told me? How was I to know you were pregnant if you never talk to me."

"You didn't care. All you cared about was having kids. You never once asked me what I wanted. I never wanted kids, especially after my miscarries. It had barley been two months after I miscarried my third pregnancy and you were already pressuring me to have another kid."

"I only wanted to have a family with you Priscilla. I never wanted you to feel pressured. You never told me you had miscarried, neither did you tell me you had an abortion. Why would you do that?"

"I already told you. I never wanted any children! I love Harper and Oliver, I truly do, but they are the reason for my relapse. I can't do much for them anymore. I'm dealing with my own problems. You think I'm out partying every single night or selling and using drugs, but you got it all wrong. I've been in therapy. I've been trying to find a way to want my kids again. When I was pregnant again for the fifth time I knew I couldn't bring another life into this world with all that I was going through. How fair would it be of me to have another baby that I wouldn't come to love?"

"I'm sorry Priscilla."

"All I ever wanted was you Harry, but I wasn't enough for you. After all I've been through why wouldn't I fall into depression again? You don't want me. You want kids. I don't want to live like this anymore. I tried so hard to want Harper and Oliver, but nothings worked. There's no need to go to court with this, you can have them." Priscilla reached into her purse, taking out a folder.

"Here are the divorce papers. I signed them already. It's obvious you no longer want to be with me. I can't force you to want me. My things are being packed from the house as we speak. You don't have to worry about me or my issues anymore. Goodbye Harry. Take good care of them please."

Without another word Priscilla left the office, leaving behind her old life.