The Journal

Chapter 34 : Improvement

Chapter 34

A few days later...

Riker POV     

So I have therapy twice a week. I had another session today. Miss Katie went over some coping techniques that I can use instead of cutting.

I've stayed home from school all week because my tummy still hurts a lot and I'm still really tired. Mom called my doctor, and the side effects will be a lot better after a week. So I just need to deal with it for now.

Even though my tummy has been hurting a lot, my appetite is back, so that's good.

Kelsey has been texting me a little bit, just checking on me, since we haven't seen each other at school. I told her I would probably be back on Monday. She said she would help me catch up with everything that I missed.

"Mom, can I please go to bed early?" I asked.

"Riker, it's only 8:00."

"I know, but I'm sleepy."

"Fine. Goodnight, Riker. Don't forget to take your depression medication."

"I won't."

I hugged mom tight. And then I hugged dad too. I took my depression pill, and then went upstairs. Rocky followed me up to our bedroom.

"Still doing ok?" Rocky asked, as we started changing into our pjs.

"Yeah."

"Therapy was good?"

"Yup."

We got into bed. I cuddled into Rocky.

"Do you like going to therapy? Or is it weird?"

"I like it. We talked about coping techniques today so I can do something else besides cutting."

"What are the coping techniques?"

"Well... She knows I keep a journal, so she said that was good. And I told her that you let me cuddle with you before bed, and she said that was good too. She said I could try doing art related things, like drawing or painting, but I don't really do those things. I think I'm going to stick with my journal and cuddles."

"Sounds good. Does it really help that I sleep next to you?"

"Definitely. I feel a lot better and happier."

"Ok, well good."

I rested my arm on Rocky's stomach so I could hold onto him. And I buried my face in his side.

"Do you think therapy is helping?"

"I don't know yet. It's hard to tell. But I think so."

"What about the medication?"

"Also hard to tell... It's making me so sleepy, I barely have time to think about how I feel. But I think so."

"Good."

"Rocky, I'm falling asleep."

"It's ok. Get some sleep. I'll be here if you need anything."

I shut my eyes and smiled. And I quickly fell asleep.

Later...

Riker POV

I woke up and my tummy was hurting a lot. It's from my medication.

"Rocky," I whined, shaking him.

"What's wrong?"

"My tummy hurts."

"From your medication?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want medicine for it?"

"It won't work. I already tried it yesterday."

"What makes it feel better?"

"Nothing. It just hurts."

I moved closer to Rocky and smushed myself against him.

"Whoa, Rik. Easy."

"It hurts!" I whimpered.

"Ok, ok... Don't start crying."

Rocky wrapped both of his arms around me tight, and pulled me close. I buried my face in his shirt.

"It just hurts," I said, squirming.

"Try to go back to sleep, ok?"

"Mmmm..."

Rocky started rubbing my back. It made me feel a little bit better, but it still really hurt.

"Rocky," I whined.

"What?"

"It still hurts."

"Maybe you should drink some water."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe it'll help. I'll go get you some."

Rocky left me, but came back a minute later with a glass of water. I sat up so I could drink it.

"You don't usually wake up from it hurting," Rocky said, sitting down beside me.

"It's probably because I went to bed so early."

I drank the whole glass of water.

"Feeling any better yet?"

"No. I just want more cuddles, ok?"

"Sure."

Rocky wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me down beside him on the bed. I snuggled into him and buried my face in his shirt again.

"Night, Rocky," I mumbled.

"Goodnight, Rik. Wake me up if you still can't sleep."

"Ok..."

But I didn't have to because I fell back asleep.