-

Once Lianna is dropped off at work she walks into the hospital, signs herself in and gets to work doing her usual thing, helping patients with their needs and daily routines, talking with fellow classmates that also took the opportunity to work here and volunteer.

“Lianna, how is Juneau doing?” Kyle asks, wiping the last of the tables down with sanitizer.

“He’s with Julie right now, they get along.”

“That’s good, I wouldn’t want him to be uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, but he’s known Jules since his… owner gave him up, yeah, let’s go with that.”

“Sorry if I’m asking too much but what is June’s backstory exactly and why does he have such bad separation anxiety?” The girl sighs, sweeping the floor one last time before crouching down to gather the dust and dirt that she sweeped up into the dustpan.

“His owner before me was an ex of mine, a very bad man, very manipulative as well, his name was Justin. We dated a few years ago, my freshman year of college where I met you.”

“Oh yeah, I remember him, he did some terrible things and I remember driving over to your apartment with you crying and holding Juneau for dear life.”

“That’s because he hurt my baby, even though Marcy lived with me at the time and she had gotten the dog away from him, I still didn’t want him to get hurt.” Tears swell in the girl’s eyes, desperately wanting to fall. “He… abused him, kicked him, starved him, cut bits of his ears and practically left him to die. But,” she inhales, sighing after as she swipes away the tears that had fallen. “I saved him, I didn’t leave my house at all that summer aside from when I took him to the vet and I spent a lot of my money on him so Marce had to take up two jobs and her partner had to pitch in some money to try and keep all of us living together.”

“So that’s why he has separation anxiety? Because he doesn’t want someone bad to happen to you if you were alone?”

“Yeah and I love him for that, especially when he’s seen me at my worst and when I was here for some time. So that’s why I started to take him to work with me, just to try and get him used to people again.” He hums again, looking directly into her eyes.

“But that’s because you had a break and you basically had really bad panic attacks and nervous breakdowns, do you still take your meds?” She nods.

“I do, my boyfriend’s been reminding me every morning.”

“You have a boyfriend now?” Some disappointment fills his voice but he puts the cleaning supplies away as the next wave of patients start to fill the canteen.

“Yep, his name is Tobias, he transferred and we… have a history.”

“A good or bad history?” Kyle asks, motioning for her to move to another area.

“Well, take this as you will but it’s sorta in the middle, we dated in high school, our freshman year back in January, it went until May and he spread rumors about me when we broke up but I confronted him and we were left on mutual terms, nothing good, nothing bad.”

“Oh, I mean… has he changed?”

“Of course he’s changed, he’s a lot better now, his depressive episodes come back every now and then but I still love him and we have been working to avoid what happened last time.”

“Maybe you’ll let me come over today so I can meet him.”

“How did you know he was my roommate as well?”

“I saw it on Marce’s Instagram, she took a photo of you and Juno with him in the background so I asked her about it and she told me who it was.” The girl chuckles, handing the broom and dustpan over to the boy to put away.

“Of course she told you everything.”

“Is that supposed to be good or bad Gardner?”

“Good I suppose, also you can probably come over, I’m a lot better even though I had another attack yesterday.”

“Marce told me you didn’t take your meds that day so that’s why.”

“That was the cause of it, yes, but I’m okay, I took them today so as long as I’m not under a lot of stress I’ll be okay.” One of the patients comes by with Juneau following behind her. “Hey Julie, how are you feeling today?”

“Julie isn’t here right now.”

“So who am I talking to?”

“Cora.”

“Oh, well hello Cora, how are you feeling?” The young woman looks down at Lianna, extending her arms to hug her, even if it was around her waist.

“The bad thoughts came back last night.” Lianna looks over at Kyle, motioning with her head for him to leave in which he does, packing up the last of the cleaning cart before returning it to its proper place. She turns back to the young woman, hugging her back. “Do you want me to walk with you over to the table by the window? We can talk about the bad thoughts if Charles will allow it.” Cora nods, allowing the older to take her hand, walking her to the table by the window where they would always sit when Lianna was taking her break and when they had free time.

The workers knew how much Julie meant to Lianna, she was like the little sister she never had and they both connected so well because of experiences within school and just having a fondness over the same things such as drawing and writing. So whenever Julie was allowed out of her room for free time or to get food from the canteen and Lianna was there, they would allow her to go with the other and they would spend the time together talking about life and about other things that would get their minds off other things. They truly, in everyone’s eyes, were made for each other.

“Lia.”

“Yes Cora?”

“Sorry, this is Charles.”

“Oh, apologies sir.”

“It’s alright, anyways, I wanted to talk about the bad thoughts from last night for Julie.” Charles sits up straight, flattening a napkin that he had gotten from the tray of food in front of him.

“Before anything Charles, I would like to ask how you’ve been holding up, I know that we talk about some of the rather… bad things that have happened with Julie’s past and I’m sorry if anything causes you to lash out today.”

“It’s alright Lia, no need to apologize but I have been doing well, dealing with Julie’s past has its ups and downs since there have been new instances that have happened because of her therapist.” The girl hums, motioning to Juneau to jump onto the bench that they were sitting on. “It’s just, I want to protect her to the best of my ability.”

“I know you do Charles, it’s just, you have to take small steps to get there right.”

“Yes, anyways, the bad thoughts were that she’s starting to remember a man.”

“Her father…” She whispers, hopefully not loud enough for the other to hear.

“Yes, she doesn’t remember anything other than that man and how he was very tall and seemed to lurk in the shadows.” Lianna continues to nod along with what Charles was telling her about his main counterpart of Julie.

When the time came that they had to part and everyone else was to leave and go back to their rooms, Lianna asked one of the staff members if Charles could stay just a few minutes behind in which she was granted it.

“I know you have to go in a few minutes but can I have a hug? And can I give you something that goes to all three of you?”

“Of course.” They both get up and the older engulfs the younger in a hug, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry Charles.”

“It’s alright Lia, anyways, you had something to give Cora and Julie?”

“Right.” They disembark from the hug, Lia fishing something out of her bag and that was of a notebook. Opening it there was something on the first page from Lianna herself. Knowing that the other had filled her last notebook up, she decided to get her another one.

Charles looks at the first page, reading her handwriting.

Dear Julie, Cora, and Charles,

Hello you three, it’s Lianna, and I wanted to give you a gift for being in my life and that is another notebook. Last time I visited I noticed that your last one given by the staff was filled so I went out and bought one when Marcy and I were hanging out yesterday (August 30th 2036). I want to know how you three are doing so if you want to write your responses, go ahead. Just remember that I love all three of you and I’ll visit you three after classes once the fall semester starts up again. Then pretty soon I’ll be able to be with you always.

Once again, I love y’all,

Lianna Gardner, September 1st 2036

“Yeah, I had written it on the car ride here, oh that reminds me that I have to talk to you guys later and write something for you three later.”

“Why not write it now?”

“It would be a bombardment of new information, so just a simple ‘how are you doing?’ will be good for now. Now you better get a move on, I only asked for an extra five minutes.”

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow Lianna.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow Charles.” The young adult was taken by one of the staff members who asked him what was in his hands, having a small conversation about the new notebook. Lianna on the other hand, looked at the time, knowing that her shift was about to end she grabs her bag and motions Juneau to follow her as she goes off to find Kyle one last time before ending her shift.

“You’re really good with kids.” She had found the boy that she was looking for outside in what the staff considered the ‘smoking zone’. He had a cigarette in-between his middle and index fingers, smoke leaving his lips as he remarks the comment.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Just by breathing in the second hand smoke makes her go into a coughing fit, stepping away from the other, making it over to the tree she usually stays at when talking to him when he’s smoking.

“Didn’t you say you would become a child therapist or something?”

“Yeah, guess I did, I can relate to them a lot more than adults.” Kyle hums, crushing the cigarette butt against the brick of the building.

“Well I’m going to bounce, did you tell your boyfriend that your shift is almost over?”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me, do you still want to come over?”

“Er, no thanks, it seems that you had a rough day with Julie--”

“Charles.” She corrects.

“--Charles, you even sound depressed.”

“I mean, she’s remembering certain bits and pieces of the event, today’s was a man.”

“Her father?”

“Yep. But anyways, I don’t want you to be depressed too, have a good day Kyle, I’ll see you tomorrow.” The boy smiles, throwing his cigarette butt onto the concrete.

“You too Lia, I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe we will be talking with patients and not doing dirty work.” The girl chuckles, coughing slightly in between.

“Hopefully.” The older waves to the younger as he goes back inside, the girl waves back as she sits under the tree. The dog sits next to her, looking out at the swaying trees in the distance then back to the girl. “Say Junie, we might go out today, it’ll definitely be towards the end of the day after dinner but we’ll go out, maybe to the park.” Juneau got to his feet with his tail swishing side to side when hearing the word “Park”, he always loved the park that was near their apartment, that’s where he’s met other dogs and became friends with them as his owner became friends with their owners. Then the slobber came as he licked the girl’s face, making her giggle. “Juni stop, I have to call Tobi.”

-

Tobias finally finished putting the last of his things on his new desk in his room. Now he and Colton were in business to Twitch stream and play games with their friends. When he put the last of his Funko Pops on his desk his phone rang, making him almost drop it, however he caught himself and put it on the desk. Looking at who was calling he smiled when Lianna’s name was displayed.

“Hey babe.”

“Hey Tobi, my shift’s done so can you come pick me up.”

“Did you have lunch?”

“No, not yet but I can make sandwiches when I get home.”

“Alright, so how was the mental hospital?” He opens his AirPod case and puts one of them in his ear, hearing that it is connected and asks the girl to repeat what she said as he goes out of the room to get ready to leave.

“It was good, Kyle and I were on cleaning duty again but I got to see Mary and Kira and Julie. Charles also told me some more of what happened to Julie and how she’s starting to remember the event that… well made her have these psychological problems.” The boy nods and hums even though he has no idea who she’s talking about. “You probably have no idea who I’m talking about do you?”

“Bingo.”

“I’ll explain them to you when you get here, right now I’m under a tree in the back with Junie. We thought about going to the park later after dinner, if you want to join you can, if not I’ll ask Marcy to come with me.”

“I can go with you if you want me to, I think Marce is on a call with her partner.”

“What did you say about me?” The girl pops her head up from the couch, glaring at the boy.

“I’m just telling Lianna that you’re on a call with Chiro.”

“Oh, alright, tell sib I said hi.”

“Okay, Marce said hi by the way.” The girl chuckles, looking back up at the light blue sky through the green leaves of the tree.

“Tell her I said hi back, and also tell her I said hi to Chiro.” The boy turns towards the girl on the couch after getting his shoes on.

“Lianna said hi to both you and Chiro.”

“Chiro, Lianna says hi.”

“Hi Lia!” It yells from the laptop, having a huge smile on its face as it waves.

“She isn’t here currently, she’s on the phone with her boyfriend.” Chiro giggles, going silent for a moment before the two continue chatting about whatever it was.

“Anyways, do you want to stay on call until I see you or do you want me to hang up.”

“I would like to listen to some music until you come here so I’ll see you when I see you.”

“Okay, I love you.”

“Love you too.” The boy ends the phone call once he starts up the girl’s car, backing out of the driveway just as he did this morning.