Only The Strong Survive (Sequel to Survival)

Chapter 35- Happily Ever After?

Months Later

"Are you nervous?"

"A lot."

"Am I going the right way?" Ask Mrs. Corona as she takes a left.

"Yeah. It should be on this street."

It's been crazy. One day I was at the park with Aidan and I started to sing to him. Someone heard me and thought I was really good. And she just happened to work at a restaurant where they could really use a singer. I've always enjoyed signing though I hardly do it. But now I can actually make a job of it. And the pay is really good for barely starting.

But the job is only temporary. It's just to help me out with the money. My family says they'll help me in any way they can but I want to be independent. Once done with school I want to work in helping kids who went through same thing as me. I want to help them understand that there's more than what they know. It's something I wish would have happened to me when I was younger. That it wasn't my fault and I could have gotten help.

But there's traffic and now I'm going to be late.

"Oh! There's the building!" I point at the end of the street to a big building. And it looks fancy! There's a waterfall in the front, string lights for the tables outisde, walls covered in ivy and flowers.

"Wow," I whisper. And when Mrs. Corona stops the car I reach for my bag and folder and tell her a quick goodbye.

"What time should I pick you up, hon?" She asks me while I open the car door.

"In an hour, please,"

"Alrigh. Good luck, Elsa," She smiles.

"Thanks, mom!" I shout as I run to the building.

There's a surprising look on her face as I leave. I don't even know why.

I make inside the building just in time as the manager comes out and calls for me. Hopefully, I get this job. I've even began going to school to get my diploma for high school. It wasn't easy to make these changes but I have a family who push me to try, and my therapist said it's perfectly normal to be scared. It's all new to me and she would be concerned if I wasn't scared. Things have been going well so far.

***

It's now late afternoon. My interview went really well. The manager was really kind to me and told me I had a good chance at the job. It's a bit nerve wrecking to be in front of a crowd but my class at school allows me to work on my fear of talking since I have to talk in class to communicate.

I wait in the front until I see Rapunzel driving and picks me up.

We talk through the whole ride. She talks about her new boyfriend Eugene while I mostly listen. He's a good guy when he came over for dinner. They're both attending the same college which is a plus.

Today is just another regular day.

•••

When we reach the house the sky now lights with vibrant colors. It looks so beautiful. And the cool peppermint mind of November adds to the scenary. The leaves are even starting to change color.

Rapunzel gives me a nervous smile which I find really suspicious. Does she know?

I get out of the car and follow her into the doorway. She unlocks it and we enter.

It's really dark.

When she flips the switch everyone stands by the door way and shout, "Happy Birthday!"