Shadows From the Abyss

New York State of Mind

"So how have you been?" Dr. Jayce asked, quickly filling out his typical paper work as Shawn got comfortable.

"Before yesterday I was fine," Shawn mumbled, staring at his finger nails, trying to distract himself from his desire to have a third meltdown of the day.

"What changed?"

"Haven't seen Art in a few days," He had been working both jobs the last few days and was always good about making lengthy phone calls before bed each night but it wasn't the same as having him within arm's reach. "I miss him a lot."

"Have y'all been talking still?"

"Every night. But it's not the same, ya know?"

Dr. Jayce was a lot different than the therapist Shawn had seen briefly back in California. She had been a lot more straight laced and by the book, whereas Dr. Jayce was a lot more laid back and open about things. He never bullshitted or led Shawn on to ideas, but instead let him arrive there on his own. Occasionally they would bounce ideas off each other or go completely off topic, which Shawn knew was more to make him comfortable than it was of Jayce's own interest but it was nice when things were getting tense to take a mental break for a few minutes to talk about Game of Thrones or The First 48.

"So would you say you've become a bit dependent, mood wise? Like, when you don't see Art, do you feel like it brings your day down? Or is it more just a general mood shift overall?"

Shawn thought about that for a bit. "Well, I knew a crash was coming. It can only be so good for so long, right?"

"Well if that's your mindset-"

Shawn's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket and he froze. There was a strict no phone rule past the front door. "Shit, sorry."

Jayce just sighed. "Go on and check it, man."

Shawn slowly slid his phone out of his pocket, feeling guilty. He glanced at the screen and almost dropped it. Billie had texted him. "Holy shit,"

"Something wrong?"

Hey, Facetime me when you can,need to ask you something urgently! It's pretty time sensitive so please hurry the hell up ~GL 

"It's my damn sister. She texted me from Billie's phone."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah she's just got some question. Mind if I-no no it can wait. She'll be okay for another hour."

Dr. Jayce eyed the door before getting up and locking it. "Go ahead, man. You get one."

"I appreciate it." Shawn pulled up Billie's number and tapped the Facetime button, fixing his hair in the front view camera as it rang.

"Well that was fast for once," Gloria smiled at her brother as her front facing camera clicked on. "Sup!"

"What's up, G? I'm kinda in the middle of a session." Shawn was blown away with how much his eight year old half sister looked like their mother. Her hair was darker and fuller and had a beautiful curl to it, so she won that lottery from Billie, as well as his eyes and skin tone, but other than that she looked just like Iva. She was the perfect mesh of the two of them. Her voice had a very slight lisp, but unless you were listening for it, you didn't notice it.

"I won't keep you long. Dad says I can throw a silent dinner next week and I wanted to extend the invitation to you and Mama K and Papa Dave. Soooo you should come!"

"Gloria, while I'm flattered and would love to, I'm not going to fly all the way across the country just for dinner."

"Well no shit. You stay for a few days and make a trip of it."