The Drama With My Drama Teacher

Singing in the Pain

Singing in the Pain

When I walk into the café, I'm surprised to find Sarah already sitting at a table, a hot drink already in front of her.

She sees me walk in and smiles brightly at me. Part of me didn't even think she'd show up, let alone I'd walk in to find her here before me.

"Chelsea, hey, how are you?" Sarah greets, standing to her feet. For a second I think she's going to hug me, but she pulls back, sharpish. "Sorry, I'm trying to work on that"

"Hello, yeah I'm good thanks, and you?" I say back, giving her a reassuring smile "And don't worry about it. You look really nice, by the way"

The closer I get to her, the more I realise how true my statement is. Her face is fuller than the last time I saw her, her lips plump, skin positively glowing and her eyes are lit up.

Her hair is also curled and styled, and now gleams the same colour of red as mine. "Thank you... I've been doing better" She admits, and I smile.

"I'm really glad to hear it" I reply earnestly. A waiter comes over to me, and I order a hot chocolate. "Have you been speaking to someone?"

"Yes... Officer Romero put me in touch with a therapist, and it's been really helping. I've been getting out more, socialising. I thought I'd put a bit of makeup on today too" Sarah explains.

"You look lovely, honestly. I think we look quite alike" I say with a chuckle, my mind thinking back to the photograph hung on the wall in her flat where she looks identical to me.

"Do you think that's why he chose you? Because you look like me?" Sarah blurts out, and my eyes widen "Sorry, I'm sorry. My therapist says I need to speak what's on my mind rather than bottling it up, I'm sorry"

"Don't apologise" I say, trying to repress the nausea that comes over me at the mention of Mr Howard. "Sometimes I think he did. He was probably trying to gloat, thinking he'd get away with it. But he won't, I swear"

"I heard they're trying to get plea bargains" Sarah says quietly, taking a sip of her drink. "Trying to lower their sentences"

"They might be trying to, but regardless they're going away for a long time. The evidence is irrefutable" I point out "Don't worry about it too much"

"No, I think staying in the loop is better. At least I know he's in jail and he's not coming back" Sarah points out.

The waiter arrives with my drink, and I add some sugar in, stirring it with the spoon provided. "No, he's not. You look like you've finally found some peace"

"I have. I got back in touch with people I hadn't spoken to in a while, and I... I told them what had happened. I never told them when it happened" Sarah says, avoiding my eyes "I thought... I thought maybe they'd blame me. But they didn't"

"They shouldn't blame you; it wasn't your fault" I tell her firmly "But I'm glad you have people to support you that you can speak to"

"Me too. I don't... I don't want to be on my own anymore" She says, and gets a little smile on her face "I've... I've been seeing someone"

A smile breaks out on my face that mirrors her own. "That's great news" I tell her, and she blushes, taking another sip of her drink.

"We're taking things slowly, really, really slowly, but he understands and he's being patient. We've seen two movies so far and been out to dinner once" Sarah tells me "It's not physical, we're just enjoying each other's company. I haven't even kissed him yet. But it's new, and scary, but it's good"