The Journal

Chapter 31 : Gloomy

Chapter 31
    
A few days later...

Riker POV

I was at Kelsey's house right now. We had just walked here from school.

"So... Anything new lately?" Kelsey asked.

"I don't know... My mom is taking me to the doctor tomorrow to see if I can get diagnosed... I'm just feeling a bit anxious about what's going to happen. Like will I have to take medication? Or go to a therapist? I'm just nervous."

"I think it's normal to be nervous about something like that. Is there a solution you would prefer?"

"I don't know... I don't really want to take medication, but I also don't really want to talk to a therapist."

"Maybe there's other options."

"I hope so."

"Are you feeling any better? Or the same? Or worse?"

"Maybe just the same... Possibly a tiny bit better."

"You seem a bit happier. Ever since you came back from vacation you seem a bit better."

"Maybe because there's no stress of trying to hide everything from my family. I mean, now they know everything, so I feel like I can just be honest and be myself around them. There's no stress."

"Good. I know it was probably hard, but I'm glad they know."

"Me too."

The next day...

Riker POV

I was super nervous. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was barely paying attention to what my doctor was saying.

It's kind of ok though because mom is paying attention for me.

"Riker, what do you want to do?" Mom asked.

"Wait. What are my options?" I asked.

"Therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes," mom said.

"Um... Could you tell me what the lifestyle changes are again?"

"Getting enough sleep every night, exercising regularly, and eating healthy," my doctor said.

"I want to try that. I'd rather not take medication or do therapy unless this doesn't work."

"Sounds good. I want to see you back here in a month or sooner if it gets worse, ok?"

I nodded. And then we left.

"New rules," mom said.

"Ugh..."

"I want you in bed by 10:00 every night. I want you exercising for at least 30 minutes after school unless you have gym class that day. And no junk food. Understand me?"

"Yes, mom..."

"Good."

We got back home. Mom told me I needed to go get 30 minutes of exercise. It was cold outside, so I set a timer and wandered around the house for 30 minutes, and mom said that was ok.

Later...

Riker POV

"Why are you getting ready for bed so early?" Rocky asked.

"My new bedtime is 10:00."

"Oh... Why? Are you in trouble?"

"No... I went to the doctor today and I could either go to therapy, take medication, or do lifestyle changes. So I chose that one."