Amber & Racquel: Chasing Happily Ever After

Chapter 2: The Beginning

"How do you feel about the progress you have made while you have been here Amber?" Dr. Marilyn Shaw asked. It was the last therapy session that she and Amber would have before her release from the West Grovefield Juvenile Detention Center. Her behavior wasn't stellar over the past 3 years, but with the help of Dr. Shaw, she was able to talk about a lot of the things that troubled her.

"I guess it's good" Amber absent mindedly responded. Though this was the end of her stent at West Grove, she couldn't let go of the unfinished business that she would run into once she was out. She and Luke had a deal that went south. That was what led her to juvy in the first place. She hadn't forgotten about Luke, actually, she thought about him every day while she was there. She had thought about all of the things that she would do to track him down. All of the things she would do once she found him. All of the things she would do to get rid of him.

"It's good? Is it really? Tell me what's on your mind Amber," Dr. Shaw inquired. She was concerned about Amber; more concerned about her than most of her patients, and wanted her to acclimate well to society once she was released.

"Um... look doctor, I am a little nervous about fuckin' up again and ending up in prison. But I am going to try to do the right things. Make better choices ya' know? All I can do is try," She shared. Although she knew exactly what she was going to do when she was released. Would that lead her to prison? Absolutely... if she got caught. But she had no intension of doing that.

"Okay. I just want you to remember that you are very capable of living a fulfilling life outside of the life of crime. You are so young, you still have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do and make the changes you need to become a whole person again. I recommend that you see someone once you get settled back at home. Here are some doctors that I would recommend. They are in your area," Dr. Shaw shared.

Amber took the sheet of paper and gave her a gracious nod. Of all the people that she had encountered while at West Grove, Dr. Shaw was the only one she would miss. She had no hidden agenda, no sour expectations. She was the only one that was actually nice to her; something she had not been exposed to in a long while. It was a sad truth that while she was hanging out with friends who turned out to be enemies, lovers who turned out to be villains, and relatives who turned out to be extorters, she couldn't remember anyone who was ever nice to her. Amber's life had to change...well, right after she dealt with Luke.

Their last session was finally over, and though it wasn't customary for Dr. Shaw to hug her patients, she reached out to hug Amber. As Amber returned the hug, Dr. Shaw silently prayed that Amber would be different. That she would be one of the lucky ones. She could completely change her life if she just takes my advice, she thought. After a moment, she reluctantly released Amber and a guard escorted Amber out to her cell.

****

Why does lunch time always have to be a pain in my ass? Racquel thought to herself as she waited in the lunch line. There was never a dull moment in the West Grove Cafeteria. It was where everything happened. The break-ups for those in relationships, the fights with the rival gangs, and the drug deals for the meth heads and stoners. The Cafeteria was where everything was going to happen, and to Racquel it was the most irritating thing about this place.

Racquel didn't like attention, or talking, or people for that matter. She didn't necessarily enjoy her experience at West Grove. But she did like the fact that she was not bothered. She was a loner, and rather enjoyed her life that way. So, whenever lunch time came around, she became irritable. So many people talking and yelling over each other, she just couldn't stand it. Once she finally got her tray of food, she made her way to the back of the cafeteria, to the table farthest away from anyone. This ritual allowed her to at least eat in some version of peace in the midst of the Cafeteria's chaos.