Because not everyone's story is going to start in the beginning of their lives.

Or rather, not every eventful situation happens at the start of one's story.

“Elara I have to escort you out of the building, to whichever guardian that has come to pick you up.”

The nurse said in a low tone as she returned my belongings to me.

I was so excited that I had to control myself from shaking profusely. I didn't want to give anyone anymore reason to keep me here longer than I planned to. I couldn't wait to be free of the sterile halls and the invasive cameras that made me feel less than human, though I was also terrified to go home and resume my life as if nothing has happened. What's more ironic was the fact that I was being released on the 10th of October.*

"What's up,Love?"

My aunt Jess' voice pulled me to attention, greeting me with the sincerest of smiles. They mentioned that my aunt would be picking me up, but I hadn't expected it to be Jess, who is actually my biological aunt's wife. We got into her car and she turned the radio on low to an 80's rock station, singing along softly. She may have noticed that I haven't spoken a word, and decided to leave me to my thoughts.

I wasn't sure what to say to her, I already felt bad that she had to leave work to pick me up from the hospital. Especially when we don't live close to each other. She would then have to drive all the way back home just to pick up my aunt from work in a few hours and waste gas that she would not have to had I not had to go to the hospital in the first place--

I was doing it again, getting into my own head.

I could already feel my sternum getting tight,

Why do intrusive thoughts always have to come into mind at the most inopportune moments?

I was so zoned out and into my own thoughts that I hadn't realized we were beginning to park outside of my house.

"Thank you for everything, Jess."

I gathered all of my belongings and began to make a beeline for the door. Rolling down the window, I hear Jess calling behind me, "Take care, and make sure to call if you need anything!" before zooming off down the road.

I opened the door, turning on every light that I passed by on the way to my room, to let others know I was home when they came in. I don't know where this habit came from, but it became the norm. A strange norm, considering that once I went into my room, I left everything turned off. It was weird to be alone. Not that I wasn't used to an empty house, but even then I had my companion, Rulon, with me. She was a quiet support dog, that passed away two months prior to the incident. But now everything was different, this time I was completely alone.

I opened my eyes to the sound of a knocking at my door, not realizing that I had fallen asleep.

It was Eric, my mom's partner. He must have noticed that I was home. Though I could immediately tell that the conversation we were going to have wouldn't be a pleasant one. Before I could say anything he reached out and gave me a hug, causing me to flinch.

He knows that I don't like being touched, how many times to I have to tell him that before I say it in a mean way?

"I'm glad that you're back home, you being taken away made me realize that maybe there really is something wrong with me, that I need to get checked out."

Here we go again…

"I've signed up for therapy, I am not used to this sort of thing so I am really going to need you to help me and support me with this. You are the only one who can."

How does he always manage to make everything suddenly about him? And will blame me for not doing anything right when I try my best..

I decided to close the door and go back into my room, before completely closing it I decided to answer after all, whether I thought I could do anything or not, i said,

"Okay".