09-13-2025, 11:31 PM
Rachel was happy - truly happy. She also felt extremely loved as she was reunited with her family. Emily and Mara were both crying in relief. Jared was a little more held together, but Rachel could tell he was extremely happy she was back too. It was Mara who noticed the slight tremor in her hand.
"You okay?" she asked.
Rachel gave her a genuine smile. "Still having some withdrawals. They're a lot less extreme and should be gone in the near future. Especially since the fear is gone."
The three people nodded in understanding. It was unfortunate, but it would go away in time. The fact that the biggest issue was a hand tremor was a good sign. It was even easing up now. Christmas would be a good distraction.
"Can I talk with you all?" she asked, knowing that she was going lose her courage if she waited. "Nothing bad I promise.
The group headed to their living room. Rachel sat down in the middle of the sofa. Her sisters sat on either side of here and Jared took the chair. [color=#1ce]"I want to thank you all for being here for me the past couple of weeks. I know it must not have been easy. I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologized for what he did to you," Mara said, her voice compassionate but serious.
Rachel nodded and continued. "I spent a lot of time this morning thinking about things after I woke up, and I think that I've learned something with this whole thing. I've learned that things are not as simple and clear as I thought. Mostly, I've learned a lot about myself. That I need to figure some things out." Rachel looked at them all. Mara looked a little concerned. Emily's eyes were stoic, but encouraging. When she looked at Jared, he met her gaze and gave her a quick smile. She had a feeling he knew where this was going. "I think that is going to require me to make some changes. I'm not sure that at this time, I can continue working on my masters. I'd like to take some time to work, make some money, and maybe live on my own. I think I need to do this. I hope you all understand. This isn't anything with you guys. I love you all, and I'll still be around. It will be awhile before I move out or anything, but..."
"We understand, Rachel," Emily interrupted.
Rachel looked around and they all were giving her a smile. "Thanks. I still want to have family breakfast once a week, and I'll be around. I just - need to find out who I am. Emily - I know I could easily get a job at Shale, but I'd rather do something else, if that makes sense?"
Emily smirked. "It does - and no matter what, this is still a home for you. You're always welcome here, and we're here for you no matter what?"
Rachel smiled and there was another group of hugs. Jared and Mara headed to the kitchen and Rachel was about to follow, but Emily tapped her shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a minute now...nothing bad - it's about last night." Rachel nodded and sat back down next to Emily.
"You okay?" she asked.
Rachel gave her a genuine smile. "Still having some withdrawals. They're a lot less extreme and should be gone in the near future. Especially since the fear is gone."
The three people nodded in understanding. It was unfortunate, but it would go away in time. The fact that the biggest issue was a hand tremor was a good sign. It was even easing up now. Christmas would be a good distraction.
"Can I talk with you all?" she asked, knowing that she was going lose her courage if she waited. "Nothing bad I promise.
The group headed to their living room. Rachel sat down in the middle of the sofa. Her sisters sat on either side of here and Jared took the chair. [color=#1ce]"I want to thank you all for being here for me the past couple of weeks. I know it must not have been easy. I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologized for what he did to you," Mara said, her voice compassionate but serious.
Rachel nodded and continued. "I spent a lot of time this morning thinking about things after I woke up, and I think that I've learned something with this whole thing. I've learned that things are not as simple and clear as I thought. Mostly, I've learned a lot about myself. That I need to figure some things out." Rachel looked at them all. Mara looked a little concerned. Emily's eyes were stoic, but encouraging. When she looked at Jared, he met her gaze and gave her a quick smile. She had a feeling he knew where this was going. "I think that is going to require me to make some changes. I'm not sure that at this time, I can continue working on my masters. I'd like to take some time to work, make some money, and maybe live on my own. I think I need to do this. I hope you all understand. This isn't anything with you guys. I love you all, and I'll still be around. It will be awhile before I move out or anything, but..."
"We understand, Rachel," Emily interrupted.
Rachel looked around and they all were giving her a smile. "Thanks. I still want to have family breakfast once a week, and I'll be around. I just - need to find out who I am. Emily - I know I could easily get a job at Shale, but I'd rather do something else, if that makes sense?"
Emily smirked. "It does - and no matter what, this is still a home for you. You're always welcome here, and we're here for you no matter what?"
Rachel smiled and there was another group of hugs. Jared and Mara headed to the kitchen and Rachel was about to follow, but Emily tapped her shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a minute now...nothing bad - it's about last night." Rachel nodded and sat back down next to Emily.