Found (New Earth Saga)

Ch. 22

(Trigger Warning -this chapter has mentions of miscarriages)

***RIVER POV***

Detention was humiliating. I had to stand up in front of the entire class and say why I was in detention. At least I was only there for skipping classes, and leaving school without permission, but it was still awkward to have to speak in front of a bunch of people I didn't know. Trent had picked me up today, which was kind of nice to get to vent about detention to him and not Thomas or Blue. Trent was like having an older friend who wasn't really a parental figure, but was definitely an older, wiser person.

Once we stepped into the Reed- OUR house, I realized I'd been ambushed. Thomas and Blue were sitting in the living room with CAROL. Today was apparently going to be our first family session. To make this all seem like a relaxing experience there were snacks and beverages for both giants and humans out. Ugh. I was not okay with this.

The entire walk home Trent hadn't mentioned anything about family therapy. I don't like therapy, nor do I think I need it. I was finally feeling like I was breaking out of my shell a bit, and now Carol has to come and point out everything that's wrong with me? Put me on the spot! I was already put on the spot in detention, Put on the spot when I had to talk to those weird girls at lunch, or talk to Mr. Sharp or Mr. L. This was such a long day. Why would they make me do this after school?!

"Alright everyone. Our group sessions are designed to create a safe space for everyone to share how they're feeling, so that everyone else might get insight into what is going on internally. I am simply a vehicle of communication, and I ask, as we express our truths, that we have empathy and love for one another. Do we think we can do that?" Carol asked. Trent, Thomas, and Blue all eagerly agreed. I had to resist rolling my eyes. I shook my head yes to agree. I had no intention of talking to Carol. I don't like her. Carol thinks that sometings wrong with me.

"Blue, Thomas, I know you two wanted to hold this session sooner rather than later. Would you like to share why?" Carol asked.

"Yes. We... After yesterday, we think there are some communication discrepancies amongst this family, and we'd like to better understand how to navigate this," Thomas said. Great. When he's talking about communication discrepancies, he's clearly talking about how I ran off from school and didn't tell anyone. I'm already the culprit in this situation.

"That is my fault. As I'm sure you already heard, I left school yesterday without telling anyone, and then I didn't respond to peoples calls, and I basically worried everyone. I have apologized, and I won't do it again," I told Carol, doing my best to avoid looking in the direction of the three giants who were focused on me.

"And what made you leave school ground like that?" Carol asked.

"I won't do it again,"

"Yes, but perhaps if we all knew why you did it, then we could better understand your actions,"

"Why does this matter, if I'm not going to do it again?"

"River. Oftentimes people going through a hard time will engage in reckless activities. It is best to know what is triggering the reckless activities so that we can speak directly to it, so that the next time you want to do something reckless, we have a way to cope that doesn't involve putting your life in danger,"

...

I will not respond to Carol when she starts on her high horse talking down to me like I'm some crazy person. I just don't like talking to people like her. I don't even like talking to people. Today I talked to more people than I used to in an entire month in my old life. No one is giving me time.