The New Light of Hope: Books I to VI.

Chapter XXVI: Stress.

Jemma:

Date: June 26, 2020.

When next day came, we notice off about Summer; She looked tired and she had bloodshot eyes, and was having slight trouble standing up. Knowing about her drinking habits, I asked: "Hey, Summer... have you been drinking again?" All she did was walk towards a nearby tree and laid her head against the trunk and began to slowly hit her head against, mumbling: "Shut up, shut up, shut up, just shut up. I am not. In. The. Damn. Mood. Right. Now."

Aurora: "Summer, what happened?"

Summer: "I said I'm not in the mood right now, kid. I'm sorry, I'm just tired right now."

Sadie: "Scarlett told me what happened, and I can tell them what's wrong if it's all right with you."

Summer: "I don't even care at this point. Go right ahead, kid, no one's stopping you."

She then turned her head away from us and faced the tree again and I turned to the rest and told them: "Summer's going through a lot right now."

Then I led them to another area away from Summer where I told them what was going on with her sister and with Doctor Brian from what Scarlett had told me last night and that it would be best to give her the space that she needs. We said a prayer for Autumn and the rest of Summer's family before we continued on quietly without saying another to each other.
...
Summer:

Another day, another day's work as always. I thought to myself as I entered the Stream Echoes Division, not really ready for whatever was going to be thrown straight at my face that day, but I went with it just like it was a normal day. Until things got a little bit heated for me.
...
Just as I got done with a patrol, I overheard BirchTail and DuckWing arguing from behind somewhere where they would attrach the Divison attention. I walked over to find out what they were arguing about. "Woah, woah, what's going on here?" I asked, standing in between the two. "DuckWing thinks that us worrying about an upcoming battle is more important than worrying about food, the health, or safety of everyone in the forest and saying fighting should come first and the other stuff last!" BirchTail told me. I then shot a glance to DuckWing and angerly, but calmly asked him: "Is this true, DuckWing?"

DuckWing: "Umm... no?"

BirchTail: "Um, yes, you did! Don't lie!"

Summer: "Calm down, BirchTail. DuckWing, are you lying to me or are you telling me the truth?"

"..."

DuckWing: "I don't know what you're talking about, honestly. I never said anything like that to BirchTail."

Summer: "Are you lying to me?"

DuckWing: "Well, I-- *Sighs* Yes, I am. I'm sorry, Summer."

I was speechless from what I was hearing, and in an act of rage caused by stress and worry, I lashed out and shouted: "Don't you EVER lie to my face like that ever again, boy! Next time if you get involved in an argument, you outta tell me the Goddamn truth right away or otherwise I'll be sure that I make you tell me the truth!"

BirchTail: "Summer!"

Summer: "What?! What, BirchTail, just what?! What do you fucking want from me? Huh?! This is a grown wolf we're talking about here who outta know better than to flat out lie to someone like that! Weren't you, your brothers and sisters taught to always tell the truth and to never lie when you were still pups in the nursery?"

BirchTail: "Yes, we were taught to never lie and we know better than to do such a thing. But you didn't have to snap like that."

Summer: "I do whatever the hell I want, BirchTail! I am twenty-five years old! What else can you say in this situation?"

BirchTail: "Probably the fact that you have lost your damn mind!"

And at that moment, I stopped and realized what I was doing and I threw my ball cap to the ground and ran straight towards the river and sat down watching the waters within flow and I reflected on what just happened. God, if I were in need of help, I would need it right about now. I was honestly broken about... everything honestly, I was just fed up with all of the stress and anxiety and in the heat of the moment, I snapped. God, please, forgive me!

"Hey," I heard the sound of BirchTail's voice as she approached me carrying my black ball cap in her mouth. "You forgot something." She walked up to me and dropped it on the ground. I picked it up and put it on. "Thanks." I replied as she at down right next to me. She began by saying: "So, about what happened back there..."

Summer: "I know, I know, I acted like a total bitch in the moment and I'm sorry about that."

BirchTail: "It's okay, Summer, I forgive you. I was going to ask you about what happened back there when you snapped. I know you were feeling stressed since you and the rest came here this morning."

Summer: "I've been going through a lot this past month; my sister, Autumn landed in the hospital and we've worried sick about her, the doctor who landed her in the hospital to begin with turns out to be a family rival and he tried to conspire with his son to take my family's cancer charity until I told him it was wrong and decided to turn the leaf for the better, and to top things off, the anesthesia my sister was given by the same bastard that landed her in the hospital to even begin with had worn off mid surgery and they had a hard time stabilizing her and by that point, I was already stressed and turned to drinking, which is why my eyes look like this because of how much I've been drinking."

BirchTail: "Oh, Summer, I am so sorry to hear that. It must be really hard for you."

Summer: "It's not just hard, BirchTail; it's worrying! I keep worrying about my sister day and night, wondering if she's going to make it out alive. It's just us who don't want to lose her; her family and her fellow police officers want her to make it out alive as well. And it's not us alone who are worry about her and just keep hoping that she'll be okay, it's also her family-- her husband, my brother-in-law, Cedric... and... and... her two daughters who're my nieces, Violet and Lavender. It just breaks my heart seeing those two worry about their mother and think that she might not pull through, knowing that they still need her in their lives."

BirchTail: "That's horrible, Summer."

Summer: "I know it is and they're just worried as their father is. He's been doing his best to care for them and in turn, they're doing their best to help him out as well."

BirchTail: "How have felt during this?"

Summer: "Worried, depressed, tired, angry, and annoyed that the hospital hasn't given a fucking proper response in regards to the situation!"

BirchTail: "I'm so sorry to hear all of that, Summer."

Summer: "I-it's fine, BirchTail."

We sat in silence for a about a few mintues until BirchTail broke the silence by asking: "Are you ready to head back to the Division?"

Summer: "Go ahead, Birch. I'll catch up with you when I have the chance. I just need some time to myself for a while."

BirchTail: "Okay."

Then she left and I later followed behind her where I made admends with her and DuckWing and I continued on with my duties until we all went home that same evening.
...
When I went to bed that night, I just fell dead asleep-- I was way too tired at the moment that just fell right asleep and my worries just went away just for one day only for me to start up my worries the next day and drowning them out like I always did.

But my worries about family would go soon enough as tomorrow is and will always be filled with unexpected surprises.