Jet Black Hearts / l.h.

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Thursday, August 27, 2018
5:16 p.m.
Group Therapy Room

"We missed you last week, Brinley!" Dr. Hunter exclaims as I walk in and sit down in the only available chair.

I cross my legs at the ankle and glance around the room. My eyes linger on Luke's a few seconds too long before I look at my feet.

Dr. Hunter sits at the edge of his chair and pushes up his glasses. "Where were you last week?"

It's obvious that no one besides him really cares about where I was last week, but I swear I see a glimmer of curiosity in Luke's features. I shoot down the possibility of him even remotely caring immediately because of course he doesn't really want to hear what I was doing instead of attending this dumb group therapy. No one cares.

"I didn't feel well."

"Physically, or mentally?"

Holy hell, why couldn't this man just move on from the interrogation already?

I don't answer. I sit still, keeping my eyes trained on the ground in front of me. Dr. Hunter sits back in his chair and seems satisfied with my noncompliance, which gave him the answer to his stupid question.

Dr. Hunter turns to the rest of the group. "Continuing our conversation from earlier, why is having friends a vital part of living a happy life?"

There are some scattered responses from around the circle. Luke doesn't say anything, and neither do I. We're the only ones not participating in the conversation. Eventually Dr. Hunter rolls in a box TV on a cart and shows a video about teen friendships. He tells us to pay attention and to reflect on our own friendships from the past and present, then think about what we want our future friendships to look like.

I don't think about any of that, though. My mind focuses on how poorly scripted the video is and how the actors and actresses aren't showing any real emotion. Plus, the stereotypical white teenage girls in the clip are talking on a phone connected to the wall, so clearly the video is outdated.

Once it ends, Dr. Hunter turns off the TV and turns to the circle. "Thoughts?"

No one says anything.

His eyes scan the teens in the room before they land on me. I internally deflate.

"Brinley, did the video change your perspective, and if so, how?"

All eyes fall on me, but the only pair I feel burning into the side of my head are Luke's.

I shrug. "Oh, it was so deep," I say sarcastically. "Honestly, how could it not change how I view friendship and relationships with the people around me? The graphics were stellar and the acting was superb." My hand rests over my heart. "I think it cured my depression."

There's a beat of silence, and then a small chuckle. My head turns and there is the tall, pale boy, a smile tugging on his lips. He might be the only one who found it humorous, but his small smile made up for all of the frowns and looks of disapproval.

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I love all of you ♡ Someone else loves you, too. God loves you. Smile. Be happy. Eat ice cream. Wave at old friends. Remember the good memories, let go of the bad. Laugh at your stupid mistakes and then move on.

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