This chapter is dedicated to teemasco.
Thaaank you for checking out my book and for all your votes. It means a whole lot to me💙

Warning: This chapter is unedited and kind of written in a rush😶. I sincerely apologize for any mistakes that might be encountered😟

*

Everything looked different. Felt different. Even smelt different.

My dad held my bag in one hand and clutched my hands tightly in the other as we stepped outside.

It's not like I haven't been seeing the sky all these while, we had like a little playing field within our cell area which we're mostly allowed on during weekends and on breaks.

But this was different. It felt like I had nothing holding me back.

Freedom is one of the best feelings in the world, especially when you've been deprived of it once.

"You okay?" My dad asked as he squeezed my hand tighter in his and I looked up at him and replied him with a smile.

It was comforting and I'm so glad he's here.

I couldn't imagine what Timothy could be going through now. Or his family as a whole...his mom. His younger sister.

He led me to an unfamiliar vehicle in the parking lot which I eventually recognized as his car, it's not like I expect him to be driving the same car since six years ago.

He opened the passenger door for me and I got in before he went over to the back to drop my bag then to the other side. Getting into the driver seat beside me, he ignited the engine before looking towards me.

"Hungry? We could go get an early lunch somewhere," he suggested, face laced with concern as he patiently waits for my reply.

"No...I'm fine," I replied.

I did'nt have the appetite, I didn't want to go anywhere else, I just wanted to go...home.

"Sure?"

"Sure," I replied.

*

My dad parked in the driveway of our house.

I was really tired and a bit hungry from the journey. It's kind of a long journey from the JDC to my house, we were on the road for a good two and a half hours.

We got out while my dad helped me with my bag before we made our way towards the house.

My house looked different, it isn't like anything really changed but it had been long, I remember the last day I had spent here.

That was the day the principal visited...

The day I had wanted to end my life.

"Aren't you coming in?" He asked and I realized that I'd been standing on a spot for quite a while.

"Yeah...yeah."

I walked into the opened door, the house was dead quiet, my dad even had to unlock the door with his spare key meaning that the house was empty.

It's not like I was expecting a welcome home party on the day I was finally coming home.

Okay, maybe I was a little bit.

Ofcourse everything doesn't go exactly as planned sometimes in life.

"Hungry?" He asked and I nodded in reply.

"I thought so, go freshen up and come down for lunch."

"Okay," I replied, collecting my bag from him and finding my way upstairs.

I opened the door and my room was just the way I left it, I could still feel my scent even though it had been long.

I removed my clothing and hopped into the shower and let the warm water hit against my skin. It had been long, I used something warm to have my bathe. It had always been cold and hard water.

Wondering how my skin managed to survive all that.

After about twenty minutes of wasting water, I moisturized my skin, my hair and dried it before packing it into a messy bun. Slipped into a pair of shorts and a free top before making my way out and down the stair case.

Lunch already smelt good and my mouth already started to water.

Lunch was served and successfully eaten but we were still seated around the table.

"How is Kelly?" I asked.

Even if she's so annoying, I couldn't help but think about her.

"She's in the hospital, with your mom," he answered.

"Is the illness that serious?" I asked.

"Kinda, she had been there for a few days now but I didn't want to tell you because we didn't want you to get worried."

"Can I go see her?"

"I dunno baby, you need your rest right now. Your mom didn't even want me to tell you because she feared that you'll not take it lightly. Maybe tomorrow we would see how she's doing," he informed and I nodded in reply.

But I still wish I could atleast talk to her.

"You could talk to her if you want to," he said and my mood lighted up.

"Yesss...I'll love to!"

Dad walked towards the sitting room and picked up something from the center table. He walked back and handed it over to me and it was my phone.

I've missed it so much but it was still a bit suprising the way it wasn't my first priority when I walked in.

I switched it on and I wasn't surprised to see that I really hadn't gotten much messages from the last time.

Just a few advertisements and  birthday messages from a few of my relatives.

Unlike past times when I had my phone bombarding with calls, messages and notifications from known and unknown people.

I called my mom and we spoke for a while before she told me that Kelly was asleep for now.

It didn't stop me from speaking with her though she was a bit annoyed that my dad still chose to tell me.

Anyways, I was still going to meet my sister tomorrow and I couldn't wait.

*

I am so nervous.

It was a Monday and I'm facing one of my greatest fears earlier than I imagined.

School.

I'm going to school today!

I stared in the mirror, clad in black sweats and a grey coloured hoodie.

It wasn't a Stella-ish outfit but it would do, atleast I felt kind of comfortable in it.

Yesterday was a bit faster than a normal day, I visited Kelly with dad and Ivy and I realized that she had been there for over five days now. She was a bit weak but at least she was doing better.

We couldn't stay long because we had to get home early and get ready for school. I didn't plan to but as usual my mom made me promise to go to school today and she claimed that I was close to my final exams so I needed to take things serious and catch up.

So here I am...

Still looking at myself in the mirror and wondering how today was going to be.

How I was going to go back there and face the people from the past I've tried to survive from.

The people that I want to forget.

I felt a bit better when I received Timothy's call last night.

I was over thinking about it and I even planned on maybe locking up myself in my room.

But I felt better when we talked about random things, he elevated my mood and he sounded a lot better and happier which rounded everything up.

My door opened and Ivy's head popped in.

"Knock knock," she said and I rolled my eyes at her.

What is the use when she had already opened the door.

"Can I come in?"

"It's not like I have a choice," I replied.

"Exactly," she said, making her way in.

When she got in, there was a look of confusion in her eyes as she started looking around the room.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Sorry...I'm looking for Stella...yeah Stella Downer. Have you seen her any where?" She asked.

I wanted to snap back at her and shout in her ears that I'm right here but my brain registered what she was up to.

"Maybe you could go check in the sewer," I replied sarcastically.

She laughed before looking back at me with a serious look.

"I'm being serious here, you can't leave school for five months only to come back looking like the janitor's daughter," she complained.

"The janitor's daughter is still a person ya'know," I snapped back and she smiled at me.

"I like that...really.." She said nodding her head.

"It's nice the way you've learned more about life," she started, walking towards me till she got beside  me and looked at me  through the mirror.

"Pride comes before fall Stella, but that doesn't scrap the fact that you can still rise when you do," she continued before twirling me around so that I was facing her.

"There's a thin line between pride and self esteem...between pride and self respect, self love."

She slightly cupped my chin.

"You need to stand your ground and show them that things aren't the same again...I didn't mean you should be harsh or act like a bitch towards others but atleast move on and you'll find people that'll love and respect you for the way you are," she said and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"I don't know...I don't know how to face every one after all that had happened...I'm scared...I'm trying to be strong...I'm trying but I just can't," I poured out inbetween my sobs.

"Hey, who told you that you aren't strong, you went through all these and you still came out in one piece...that's you being strong. You might have made a few mistakes but you can still move on, okay?" She said and pulled me in for a hug.

"Incase you need anything, don't hesitate to call me, okay? I wouldn't mind ditching class to deal with a bunch of stupid high schoolers," she said and I let out a smile.

"So go dress in something more confident...I'll be waiting in the car.

~~~~~~
When last have we had a chapter this long?

I decided to sit my lazy ass down and type a longer chapter😂

Stella is still battling with her innerself, it feels like she doesn't even know who she is anymore.

We'll see how things go😌

Thank you for reading💞