Ripped and Stitched

19: Up and Down

Alison had to go to therapy today. While Brady got home visits from Dr. Potter, Alison was forced to meet him at his office. Apparently, it would be good for Alison to leave her house once and awhile, according to her dad.

Dr. Potter seemed fine, but Alison was not interested. She sat down in his office and stared at the ground for the first few minutes.

"I understand you've been through quite a lot, Alison. Therapy isn't a punishment."

"I didn't say it was," she mumbled.

Dr. Potter studied her for a moment.

"I've heard you have trouble sleeping," he said.

Alison stared at the ground again.

Dr. Potter seemed to change gears as Alison's eyes shifted to the puzzles in the corner of the room.

"Do you like puzzles?" he asked. "You can work on one if you'd like."

Alison looked up at him to see if he was being serious. She thought about it for a moment before going over and taking a puzzle. She laid out the pieces on the ground in front of her and began making it.

Dr. Potter observed her for a while.

"Can I ask you something?" he questioned after letting her make it halfway through the puzzle in silence.

Alison gave him a tiny nod.

"What's been the hardest part of returning home?"

"Feeling like I'm frozen in the past and everyone else is in the present."

Dr. Potter wrote something down.

"Your father says that your mother is not in the picture, does that upset you?"

"I don't care," Alison muttered as she fit the last piece of the puzzle into place.

"What's your relationship with your father like?" he asked her.

"I passively tolerate."

Dr. Potter asked her more questions as Alison began a new puzzle. After an hour, finally Alison was allowed to leave.

"I'll see you next week, okay?"

Alison only nodded.

Later, back in the guest house with Kate, Alison got high. It felt like the most stereotypical summer day as she and Kate made their way to the skatepark while they were stoned. Alison still hadn't gotten her old belongings from Max's so she had to borrow a board from Kate. Alison was not happy about that.

"Where is everyone?" Alison asked Kate.

She shrugged. "Most people skate at the park over on Mayfield now."

"Damn," Alison murmured. "Why?"

Kate shrugged. "Are you skating or not?"

She positioned herself to drop into the skate pool.

"Is this your first time skateboarding since..." Kate's question trailed off awkwardly. She knew better than to talk about it by now.

Alison was too high to care though. "Yeah, it is," she said.

"Well, here's to your first," she said as she placed a pill on her tongue.

Alison chuckled as Kate took out her phone to record her friend. Alison prepared herself before finally stomping in and doing trick after trick. The adrenaline did not quite stop until she finally got off the board and grinned at Kate who cheered for her.

"You should try a new trick," Kate encouraged. "What was that one you were trying to get before? Hardflip?"

Alison chuckled. "Maybe I should attempt that when I'm not so high."