Reality Mountain

I look up from my work and glance at the clock, 2:45, come on, two more minutes and I'm finally out of here. Today was the day, I was going to conquer this challenge I have been dealing with for so long , I was going to do this. It's the warmest day of April so far, perfect weather for tackling a mountain. I haven't done this in almost 8 months now, I can feel that familiar feeling of excitement in my stomach, my body telling me it's just as ready as I am. At 2:47 the bell finally rings, and I rush to pack up my things, I stuff all of my work in my bag, not caring if it gets crumpled. My phone buzzes and I realize it's from my dad.

Dad: You ready Ev? I'm in the truck parked in the front circle of your school, please get out here ASAP, I don't want to get stuck behind these buses.

Everly: Ready as I'll ever be and I'm coming, don't worry.

I put my phone in my bag and look up and realize that like always I'm the last one to leave. I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder and wave goodbye to my teacher. As soon as I pass the doorway I'm gone, running down the hallway like a madman, whizzing past students and teachers just wanting to get out to my dad. But before I make it out I have to make a very special stop, the blue locker section, I make it there by the time a lot of students have already gotten their things from their lockers so the hallway is mostly empty, I slow down and start looking; 476, 477, 478, I come to a stop, locker 479, with a sad smile on my face, I place two fingers on my lips and then onto the locker, "This one's for you Soph." I start heading back down the hallway but taking it slower this time, taking in my surroundings, you never know how fast things can change.

I walk out of the school and start looking around, most of the buses have left already and the rest were pulling out. Great my dad is going to kill me. As I'm looking around the parking lot I spot the familiar red pickup truck that I have come to know and love, memories of me driving Sophie and myself up to mountain trails come flooding back and yet another sad smile comes and then goes. I wipe away some tears that have gathered in the corners of my eyes and start heading over to my dad. I get in the car and I can already feel the lecture.
He tapped his watch, "15 minutes Everly Marie, the bell rang 15 minutes ago, and you're just getting to the car now because?"

15 minutes? There's no way I was in there for that long, that watch must be broken, but there's no use arguing it anyways. "Sorry dad, I was rushing out at first so I could get here fast but I decided to... make a little pit stop."

He chuckled, "Pit stop? What did you do? Stop in the middle of the hallway and stand there?" He kept laughing, funny thing about my dad, he thinks he is the most clever person to ever walk the planet.
In a very sarcastic tone I said, "Yes dad I definitely stopped in the middle of the hallway and just stood there." I rolled my eyes, " I was saying goodbye to Sophie."

My dad looked at me, his features looked happy but his eyes held sadness, "She would be so proud of you for completing this Ev."

I buckled my seatbelt and looked up at him, "I know dad." He then faced back towards the steering wheel, shifted the gear and started the almost 3 hour drive to Mount Marcy.
About 30 minutes of just silent driving with the radio on my dad finally speaks, "Oh! Ev I forgot, I refilled your prescription, it's in the glove box, make sure you get it." I don't want to open that glove box, but I have to, I open it, reach in, pull out the white bag and grab the familiar orange bottle. I try not read that dreadful diagnosis written on it but it's right in front of me and it's all I can can see.

Everly Meyers -- Haldol

Take one pill everyday by mouth

Haldol: an antipsychotic usually used to treat schizophrenia.