Therapy had been working out pretty good. I just finished a session. The medicine was working like a charm. I told the therapist I felt like I had taken my life back. I was so ecstatic that things were getting better. She was so happy for me, and I was very happy for myself. I smiled and waved at her as she left my house. My friends were scheduled to come over in thirty minutes. I only had a little bit of time to wash up. A little bit of make up and to put on a dress so we coulfgo out to dinner. We were going to celebrate a year. A year of August and my relationship, and a year since the Stacie incident.

Nelson smiled at me and gave me a high five on my way up the stairs. "I'm proud of you for taking back your life."

I smiled at him. I was proud of myself too.

I took off the dress I wS currently wearing. I had gone to church with my dad, then had therapy, and then was going to go out. I got ready pretty quickly, and soon my doorbell was ringing. I was ecstatic. I all but ran down the stairs. I opened the door to August's smiling face. He greeted me with a kiss. Kalila, behind him, made a face.

"You ready?" August asked.

"Born ready," I said. I grabbed his hand. "Bye Dad, bye Nel!"

I closed the door behind me and headed to the car, where Janessa and Nina were waiting. I was taking my life back, one day and one friendship at a time.