Three Years Later...

Shane, May 2018

I quickly ducked back behind the building.

Did she see me? Was I too obvious? Ugh...I just had to get a look at her. It had been such a long time since I had last seen her. Now she was more gorgeous than ever. Toned, tan, and wearing a lace dress that made her look like a model. Her hair was little different, but it was not a drastic change. Seeing her even made my heart swell...

Nonsense.

After what she did, how could I even trust her? How could I look her in the eye? My emotions were all over the place ever since... "Sigh." I began shaking and took the small, prescription bottle out of my pocket.

The day had started rather well. I hid in the room that they gave me and stayed out of sight from everyone (my fans were getting crazier every day). My sister even came to take pictures with me in my specially designated room. I had been waiting for everyone to leave before I stepped out, but I needed some relief for my new issues. That was when I saw her...Gina Mavens, the one person I was really trying to avoid. The thing is, when I saw her, I could hardly rip my eyes away from her. My past, one of the most wonderful parts of my past, hit me in the chest as I recollected the moment I first met her.

I swallowed the pill, leaned back against the brick wall, and hurt as I thought of it all. She has been so determined to keep silent that her secret must have pushed her over the edge that summer. Still, it was hard for me to believe that she had been the instigator. Mom and dad were even on her side, but they were not there when it happened. How could they know her intentions? My thoughts were then suddenly interrupted by an opening door.

"Hey son, we're getting ready to go on to the house to take more pictures and prepare for the party. Milly called your mother and told her that everything was almost finished," He slid his hands in his pockets as he leaned his back against the brick pillar. Milly was our official home coordinator. She used to be our maid, but I have made so much money that I decided to promote her and hire people under her in order to give my mother something in return for everything that she has done for me. I bought my dad his dream truck. My parents had been my rock during these stressful times, and I would not have made it anywhere without their support.

"Okay, I will be back inside in a second," I sighed and my dad nodded as he left me alone. I looked across the small road at the Green Grocery Store. A few people were outside loading their groceries, living life mundanely. Sometimes, I missed the normalcy that used to be my life. Not having to wear shades out in public to help hide my identity was nice. I could be myself without others hounding me. Do not get me wrong, I was living my dream and incredibly thankful, but I was having a difficult time coping lately.

My therapist, Dr. Jared Farley, suggested that I find a new outlet to release my feelings.

"Look Shane, you need a new outlet to release your feelings. They will never completely go away. Even when you take medicine, it will only wear off and reveal how you feel. Numbing yourself will not help in the long run." Dr. Farley sat in a stereotypical therapist's chair while I sat on a stereotypical therapist's couch. I refused to lie down though.

"Well it's helping me now, and that's all that matters to me. I mean, it has not been hindering me from my work. I function just fine with the pills. Life has been easy and great." I said as I twisted the bracelet around my wrist. The bracelet I refused to take off. Unfortunately for me, Dr. Farley caught my twitch.

"Yeah, it sure seems like it," he said as he watched my wrist. "Still having the nightmares?"

"No," I said it too quickly and began twisting the bracelet roughly. Dr. Farley sighed as he leaned into our conversation a little more.