Jet Black Hearts / l.h.

𝟐𝟑

Thursday, October 24, 2018
6:03 p.m.
Group Therapy Room

Everyone files out of the room. I'm the last to stand from my chair, my body and mind weighing me down. Luke walks by my side, so when Dr. Hunter calls my name, we both stop and turn.

"Can I have a word with you, Brin? It'll only be a second."

I nod.

Luke glances at me. "I'll wait outside for you."

I nod again. He leaves.

Dr. Hunter watches him exit the room and smiles at me. "You two are quite friendly I see."

I shrug.

"Anyways, I was just wondering how it was going with the medication," he says.

He stops talking and expects an answer from me, but I don't want to talk. We stand there for a few quiet seconds before I force a reply.

"Nothing's changed."

"It will soon," he says. "Just keep taking it every morning, and you'll find yourself feeling happier in no time. Of course, it won't make you happy all of the time, but it will make you less depressed and feel better."

I step towards the door. "Can I go now?"

He chuckles. "Yes, go have fun with Luke."

I ignore his comment that made me feel weird, and since I haven't felt anything today or yesterday, it feels ten times more weird. Why does Luke always spark something inside me?

I walk outside. Luke's standing on the edge of the sidewalk, balancing himself with both arms out as he walks in a straight line on the edge. The door opening causes him to lose balance and stand on the sidewalk with both feet.

He looks up and smiles. I look away and walk over to his parked car. He follows suit and clambers inside the vehicle, turning on the engine and the air conditioning. I buckle myself up in the passenger seat.

As he pulls out of the lot, he glances at me.

"So," he starts, "Can I ask what Dr. Hunter was talking to you about?"

When I don't reply right away, Luke starts to ramble.

"I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I was just curious." He scratches the back of his neck.

I lean my head against the window and stare at the trees and houses we pass. My eyes move upwards and I'm looking at the blue sky. It's too bright.

"He was wondering if my medication was working."

Luke purses his lips. "You have medication? For your depression?"

"Yep."

He glances at me for a second before his eyes return to the road in front of us. "Do you think it's working?"

"It's too early to tell."

He hums in response. We don't speak again after that.