The Phoenix

Taken

It had been two weeks since Lucy's escape to New York, and things weren't going much better for her. The psychiatrist she had gone to see hadn't helped at all, and neither had the other four she'd tried as well. She was getting an hour or two more of sleep at night than she had, but her anxiety and depression seemed to have spiked. Lucy could barely find the motivation to get out of bed in the mornings, and she was having full-scale anxiety attacks almost every day. Typically, she'd go find a quiet place, like Seth's office or an empty conference room, and just sit in there and cry. Eventually, the flow of tears became so heavy that she had to bring her makeup bag with her in a purse so she could do touch ups after smudging it too much. Most times Leo would find her and come to comfort her until she calmed down.

That went on for two weeks almost as a constant routine until Emily eventually had enough of her feeling so terrible.

"We need to talk," she said, walking into Seth's office, where Lucy had just gotten over her daily attack.

"About?" she sniffled wiping under her eyes.

"You. I'm tired of seeing you like this. It isn't good for you, Lucy,"

"And what do you suggest I do? Go to another therapist?"

"No. God, it's pretty obvious that none of the ones around here know what they're doing. I'm suggesting something a bit more avant-garde."

"Like what?"

"Well, I know that traveling has always cheered you up. You were so depressed after your breakup with She-who-shall-not-be-named, and do you remember what I did?"

Lucy smiled, remembering the days when things were so much simpler.

"You saved up all of your money, flew me down to DC, and showed me everything."

"Yeah. Well, I've made arrangements for you to go and stay with Aunt Amy for a week."

Aunt Amy was their mother's sister, and one of their only living relatives left.

"Wait, you're sending me to London?" Lucy demanded. "That's too far away, Em."

"Listen, what you need right now more than anything else is a mental health break. Especially since you'll be starting college in a couple of weeks. Please, Lucy. If you aren't going to do it for yourself, do it for me. I can't stand seeing you this distraught all the time."

"Fine, I'll go. When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow," Emily mumbled.

"What?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you earlier. Look, you still have time to go home and pack, and I can bring you by here in the morning so you can say goodbye to Leo and Seth. Okay?"

"Alright," Lucy groaned.

As soon as Lucy got home she began shoving all of her warm weather outfits into her gigantic suitcase. She spent the rest of the night packing, which left her rightfully exhausted when she woke up the next morning. Not wanting to get her bag out of her suitcase, she went to say her goodbyes with a bare face.

"Don't look at me. I didn't put any makeup on," she groaned, putting her hands over her face as Leo approached her.

"You're absolutely beautiful," he said, pulling her hands away and kissing her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she sighed, wrapping her arms around him and burying her head in his chest for the last time.

"I'll see you soon, try not to get into too much trouble. Remember, I'm the one who has to take care of it." Seth joked, pulling her into a friendly hug.