Moving on

33. Recovery

So...33 chapters and still only 5 comments. I wonder if anyone even reads this story...I hope so. Feel free to leave a comment as always :)

I live for comments. Just sayin

2 months later

It'd been two months since Jayce left me-left Michigan, sorry. He adjusted well there...or so I hear. I choose not to talk to him. No, I'm not bitter toward him. I just see no need due to the fact that we are no longer involved. His friends say he's well and likes it in Michigan.

And me? Well...

Therapy sessions have helped me come a long way and I resolved abandonment issues rather well. Dr. Oligarch has been extremely understanding and gave the best advice. Ari was super supportive and I think we're as close as we used to be when we were younger. Life seemed better in every way.

Still.

Part of me has that bittersweet feeling that people I love keep leaving me and Dr. Oligarch says that the feeling lingers for a while, sometimes forever and it's okay as long as I acknowledge it before getting out of control.

I don't even remember the last time I saw Frida anymore. Darrin helped with that. Melanie and Kenny (are?) dating again and Darrin clearly likes Julia though hasn't made a move yet. School was almost over and things just kind of...settled I guess? I got used to the way life was.

Now I lay in bed, just having woken up. My alarm clock claimed it was 9:00 and I groggily shoved the covers off of me. Smacking my lips-grimacing when morning breath hit me- I got up and headed to my closet to change. I guess I opened it a little too roughly though because the clothes that I had shoved onto hooks fell to the ground and I groaned.

I didn't feel like picking them up at the moment however, so I left them there. Instead, I just picked out a green sundress and threw it on, getting in test mode. Finals were coming up soon and some teachers decided to have 'practice' finals which I thought was stupid because no one else does that and wow Michigan's education must suck if that's a thing.

"Mom, I'm heading out to school. I grabbed a granola bar." I call, heading out. I spot Darrin as I walk and when our eyes lock, he waits for me to catch up to him. I'm glad he didn't drive today.

"Bowling this Friday?" He asks.

"Can't. Two more therapy sessions left and one is this Friday." I say neutrally.

"They still helping?" He asks.

"Lots. I feel a lot better. I really do. Haven't had the urge to smoke in three months, so there's that." I tell him. And it really was okay. I knew Jayce was gone and I didn't really tense too much when people talked about it, or us. Piper, Jayce, Rebecca, and everyone else was in my memories. And they'd stay there.

"That's good. How about after school I buy you a Cherry Coke at the café? Mel and Kenny can come if you want?" He offers. I smile at the thought.

"Sounds great. I'll meet you at your place after school." I say, glad. I haven't spent a lot of time with my friends because I had been kind of busy with Jayce so it felt good to be able to say yes.

And so sure enough, after school I saw Kenny already waiting at Darrin's car on his driveway. Darrin himself just opened his front door and walked out in a different outfit. I grabbed at his hoodie and sighed in content when it was on me. I missed this. We waited for Melanie.

"Darrin said therapy is helping? Is it really?" Kenny asks curiously.

"Yeah, in movies or reality TV they lie. It doesn't make things worse, it actually makes me feel better. I guess you just have to be willing to get help." I explain.

"Sounds legit. What do you even really do? Talk about feelings?" He asks.