Dancing on Eggshells

This is the part when I face Celeste

After that, Tammy and I rushed to TerryHill and gave my dad the letter.
I don't how it happened, but a week after I found the letter, Celeste started responding to treatment and the whole idea of her living in a group home was thrown off the table.
Okay, I actually do know why it happened if I think about it: it was all because of the letter. What had been keeping Celeste from becoming healthy again was the guilt she had about what she did to me as well as the negative thoughts the man at HarperCollins put into her head. My dad was able to understand why Celeste had gone into her fragile state after reading the four page letter. It feels funny to say that I am the reason Celeste was able to regain her sanity, because it doesn't feel right. I don't know why, it just does.
Anyway, my dad and mom were a mix of proud and worried by my accomplishment. My dad told me I was watching too much Pretty Little Liars but he was also proud of me for saving a woman's sanity.
My mom told me that she was thinking about investing in a leash for me so I would stop causing havoc all over Boston.
Knowing her, she's expressing her dark humor in a very scary way.
If you're wondering if Celeste got her job back, I'll tell you right now that she didn't. Thankfully, Ms Myers didn't snatch the job either.
Now that it's mid June and finals are over(as well as the school year), a new teacher will be employed over the summer. I don't know why Ms Myers didn't get the job, to be honest. I've just taken a few guesses when I've had time to think about it:

•She's like Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act and she just came to our school for a while to help improve the class's English grades as Celeste kind of screwed them up. Yes, I also think she's a nun.
•But she said her boyfriend is a gynecologist
•Maybe the school found it too weird that her boyfriend is a gynecologist
•Maybe she's my Mom or Bobba with lots of make-up who came to watch me because their lives are boring
•All these ideas make me sound insane

Anyway, I'll get a new English teacher anywhere so that's settled.
There's a bucket load of more things to tell you but I think I'm going to save that for the epilogue instead. I shouldn't even be talking about something like Ms Myers in this chapter as it has absolutely nothing to do with her.
So let's get back on topic.
The reason why I was talking about Celeste's teaching position is because I think even if she was able to get it back, she would of declined the opportunity. The reason for that is history.
Actually it's in the next paragraph(so about two minutes away, it depends how fast you read).
I was just trying to sound dramatic but it failed.

I saw Celeste again for the second time in TerryHill a week before the was scheduled to go home. Unlike the last the last time, Celeste and I were going to talk in the garden instead of the depressing hospital ward. My mom drove me to the hospital on the weekend and we met Celeste waiting in the reception area with Meryl at her side.
"Hello Karaoke". Meryl said in her tranquil tone as we met at the couches.
"It's Keoria", my mom corrected for me, "her friends call her Kori if that's easier".
"Oh Kola, what a beautiful nickname". Meryl exclaimed.
Whilst Meryl acted like the insane person she really was but nobody could see, Celeste sat close to Meryl as they waited on the couch. Her patient wristband was visible on her wrist and her hair was straight and in better condition than the last time I saw her. She also wore a similar set of clothing to the one I first saw her in. Lastly, she looked much healthier and happier than she was on the last visit. I could see she was a little shy though, almost like a child about to met their distant relative for the first time.
"Hi Celeste". I said as I saw her whilst Meryl and Mom argued how to pronounce my name.
"Hi sweetie". She croaked.
She had never called me that before, so it came as quite as a surprise. She stood up on her feet and put her arms around me and pulled us into embrace. Her touch was so tender and soft that I suddenly felt myself elated to just be with her. The hug was short though, maybe just because of the rules.
"How are you"? I asked as she let me go.
Meryl chuckled. I was starting to really think she would do well as a nurse in one of those weird horror movies where the criminal asylum tortures all their patients and Meryl would just stand there and chuckle constantly. Almost like a retarded frog.
"You two should go outside and talk". She suggested.
"Will you go outside with them"? My mom asked.
"I'll be waiting right around the corner of the garden, Mrs Atkins".  Meryl said.
I looked to Celeste to see her expression, it turned out that her cheeks were turning red. I could see she was terribly  embarrassed that she was in this position. She had gone from being a high school teacher to being a mental patient who couldn't  go anywhere without permission. I was hoping that she was remind herself that in a weeks time she'd be out of the hospital and back in the real world.
"I'm really sorry, Mrs Atkins", Celeste said out of nowhere, "I really didn't mean for any of this to happen".
"I know you didn't mean it, Celeste", Mom said in a sharp tone, "you didn't mean to end up psychologically traumatizing my daughter from what you've made her witness in the last year? You lied to the school and ended up putting a damn child in danger-"
"Mom, please!" I yelled.
Celeste sighed and I felt her hand take mine into hers.
"Let's go". She demanded and started dragging me to the gardens whilst Meryl rushed behind like a penguin.

We sat on the bench facing the small fishpond. There were no other patients in the gardens, and I had feeling it was because of me. The bench was made of cheap wood, nothing as fancy as the benches at the park Kayden and I went to. Meryl sat around the corner, attempting to try and give us as much privacy as possible.
Celeste and I didn't talk for a minute. I think it was a moment to try and get all the conversation into head so we could talk without stopping. Eventually, Celeste began.
"What did your mom mean about me traumatizing you"? She eventually said.
I sighed.
"I have a history of anxiety and it started getting bad again soon after I came to visit you here and eventually, my mom took me to a child psychiatrist and she diagnosed me with anxiety. I've been taking medication ever since and my mom is forcing me to talk about my feelings a lot".
Celeste sighed and let her face fall into her hands. She only rested her head for two seconds before she dropped her hands to her lap.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am". She muttered, sounding like she about to cry. "I can't you believe you never told me".
"About the anxiety"?
"Yes".
"I...I just wanted it to go away and never talk about it".
"Well, now we can be two crazies in a box!"
I laughed.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry, Keoria. I really am".
"I forgive you, I forgave you a long time ago". I said.
"You shouldn't be here ,Keoria. You and I should not be having any contact. I hurt you Keoria, people who hurt  other people should not get a chance like this".
"Celeste, it could've happened to anyone. It wasn't your fault, that man really hurt you".
"Then why was-"
Celeste stopped herself and cleared her throat.
"I'm not doing this again".
"Doing what"?
She looked at me with dwelled and sweet eyes that caught me in a trance.
"I'm not forcing you to be the adult in this relationship anymore, I am the adult and you shouldn't have to listen to my sad stories".
I scoffed.
"I never thought I was". I muttered.
Celeste let her head move a little and she even closed her eyes for a moment.
"I know you're not coming back to school in the new year". I said, trying to spark conversation.
"Yup". She muttered.
"What are you going to do"? I asked.
She chuckled.
"I want to write a book despite what those dipshits say".
I shook my head.
"Why would that man say all those terrible things"? I asked.
"I don't know, and I don't really care".
"What would you even write about"? I asked.
"I'm not giving up on that story I wrote, I think it needs to be heard".
"When was the last time you worked on it?"
"Almost a year ago, I almost threw down the trash but didn't have the guts".
I smiled at her to try and lighten conversation.
"I'll help you".
She turned her head to look at me, shock in her eyes.
"What"?
"I'll help you-I can be your test reader!"
"You really don't have-"
"I want to! I want to help you!" I exclaimed.
She smiled.
"Okay, you can help me". She said with a smile on her face.
With my wide smile still remaining on my face, I moved closer to her.
"But, I need a favor from you". I said.
"Oh, anything!" She exclaimed.
I cleared my throat.
"I've been thinking about it a lot and I've finally decided that like you, I want to fulfill my life with pages with words and storytelling".
She didn't have to guess.
"So I help you with your book and you help me with mine"?
I clapped my hands together.
"Exactly". I replied.
She then took her hand out, her left hand, which also happened to be the wrist with her patient band hanging on. I decided to ignore it as I once told by a great soul that labels meant as much as a birth mark, they really meant nothing.
"Let's shake on it". She declared.
And with that, I shook the great soul's hand.