Thursday (Sequel to 'From Eden')

nine

* IMPORTANT: Chloe's POV **

I gripped Paige's second letter as tightly as I gripped the first one when I received it, with my heart beating just as erratically in my chest. My ribcage felt like it was about to split in half since the beginning of class, when my professor passed out the responses for the second time.

I couldn't wait to get home to read it this time around, so I decided to just tear it open in class and read what was inside. Part of me couldn't believe Paige had responded again, and the other part of me was on cloud nine that she had.

The letter was sweet, to be quite honest. It was short, and I could tell she still couldn't trust me a hundred percent, but she had accepted my offer to try. I let out a long breath I didn't know I'd been holding, and felt raw emotion gathering in my eyes. When a tear fell from my face onto the paper, my eyes widened at the fact the paper was dried in a way where someone else had cried reading it. Or writing it. My face twisted, and I collected my things immediately to leave class to cry in the bathroom.

When I got there, I pulled the letter out once more in a stall and read it again, clutching at my necklace. It said:

Chloe,

Honestly, it's going to be hard to trust you again. But someone reminded me of how close we were before, and suddenly I remembered how safe I felt around you. That person's words is one of the only reasons I'm going to try to trust you.

I would be open to speaking to you on the phone if you want to still. I will warn you, it's mostly because I want to give myself a chance to heal. But I do want to know your side of the story too...and not just the story, but what the fuck went through your head? Could you replicate how you were feeling to make those decisions? And be honest with me. Please.

To answer your questions...

1. If you feel comfortable expanding on your sobriety journey and what's helped you the most in rehab, please do.
Rehab was really fucking hard at first. I barely ate, like when I went through withdrawal with you the first time, but I think this time around it was more depression oriented. I missed my family and friends like I never thought I would before, especially since the first two weeks were detox and I couldn't see anyone from the outside. I also missed you...and I wish I didn't. Eventually it got easier, and a mix between therapy and routine helped me. It's not like I had much of a choice anyway, but giving in to finally wanting to be better definitely made me less miserable.

2. What is a typical week like in your facility? Do you have favorite activities or activities you feel could be improved upon?
We do lots of group therapy. Three meals a day. AA and or NA depending on what you're in for. We also do individual therapy. Sometimes there's group activities on the weekends if you want to go, like field trips to the park for AA or going to a museum. I think we're only required to attend five community service events here. I like the events but I wish we could go to the movies sometimes, just to feel fucking normal.

3. How do you stay connected with friends and family outside of rehab?
They visit and call. We don't typically write to people like this, but I know some people who do sometimes to their grandparents and stuff.

Hopefully that helped you. How are you doing, generally? I'm sorry if this was awkward. This is really hard right now, Chloe. But like I said, I'm going to try.

Paige

I folded up the letter gently and placed it back in the envelope, my face puffy and my body shaky from crying so much. She had asked how I was doing, actually answered my questions, and signed her name this time. On top of all that, she admitted that she wanted to try to forgive me (even if it was for herself, I didn't mind) and would be open to a phone call. Briefly, I wondered who had reminded her of our childhood together; maybe it could have been Brooke? Nia?