Madeline:

Thankfully, instead of staying in a dorm, my grandmother lived only about twenty minutes from school, so I stayed with her until I could obtain a job and get an apartment of my own. She was a wonderful, loving, caring woman who wanted nothing more than for me to be successful. Being around her started to make me believe it wouldn't be all that bad here. 

I had went through my first day of college, and it was exhausting. I tried hard to make friends, but it was difficult. Stressed out, I was happy to get back to the sweet hospitality of my grandmother. She was really the only thing here in California that reminded me of home. All she could tell me is, "It'll get better."

For once, I had a hard time believing her. 

***************************************************

Peter:

I woke up early in the morning; much earlier than I usually did. I hated waking up in my bed without someone there beside me. I started to believe that I may never have another woman who would love me, and for once, not leave me lonely. 

I forced myself up, and picked up a guitar. I hadn't played at all since the last tour with The Monkees ended, and it was high time that I did. 

Randomly, the song "Take a Giant Step" started to come to my head. I played it, thinking hard about the meaning of the lyrics. Never before had it hit so close to home for me. 

There's just no percentage in remembering the past,

It's time you learn to live again at last

That's what I needed to do; learn to live again. To free myself of this awful divorce I went through. It was over, so I shouldn't dwell anymore. For the first time in a while, I decided to get out of my dreary house and take a walk. 

The warm California sun was shining bright, just like I soon would be.