I put the picture down. I closed my eyes and put my head back, forcing the tears
back in. I wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my shirt, regained my composure, and
went back out to the crowd of people.
"What was it? What took you so long?" Heather asked. I held up the picture
of Olivia and I and felt a tear on my cheek.
"Aww, Kersey, how special!" Emma said, hugging me. I hugged her back
and let the tears fall.
Graham came the next day to help me move in. More tears were shed, and
everyone wished me luck. I hugged everyone, even Josie, Rachel, Shannon and
Julie. It seemed like everyone was waiting for something. They were saying
congratulations to me, and I suspected it meant congratulations on getting out. But
something was fishy.
"What is the matter with you guys?" I said, laughing. Graham took my hand
and led me to the rec room.
"Kersey?" he asked.
"Yes?" I said, looking at him strange. I wanted to know what was going on.
Everyone crowded around to see what was going to happen. He looked down at his
feet and stuck his hand in his pocket. He looked up at me and smiled. He got down
on one knee.
I was speechless.
"Kersey, you have brightened my life in so many ways. You taught me
honesty, trust, and most of all love. I have never met anyone as great as you, and I
hope it stays that way. You are the greatest thing that has happened to me. Please
say you will be with me forever. Will you marry me, Kersey?" he asked, still smiling.
I had tears streaming down my face since he had gotten down on one knee.
He had tears in the corners of his eyes too, it only made me cry more. I had one
hand over my mouth and he had my other hand in his. He kissed my hand and stood
up, and put the ring on my finger.
"I know its a little early, but better early than late." he said, still smiling. My
face was really red, I was still crying, and Emma, Eliza, Heather, Josie, Rachel, and
EVERYONE came running up to me. They were all crying. I hugged him and he
kissed my forehead. I was from then on the happiest person in the world.
We stayed for a while then left at around 5. I said my good-byes and hugged
everyone once more. Graham showed me the apartment. It was really big, and
brand new. I loved it already. There was a small garden in the back, with tons of
space for planting flowers. He had a few things moved in already, and a few boxes
lying around. I put my stuff in the bedroom and we went shopping.
He drove, I wasn't "in well enough condition" to drive, or so Shannon had
said. I looked around, because it had been so long since the last time I had been
outside. We went shopping and on the way back decided to drive around and see
the Christmas lights that began appearing around town. We drove around and
around, saw numerous houses, and decided to head back.
Graham had applied for a job and began work the next day. He was working
as head cook in a popular restaurant down the street. He had studied cooking all
through school, but when he got put into the Rehab Center, he had lost all hope. He
proved himself wrong and became head cook almost instantly.
I had another doctor appointment in a few days, so I decided to weigh myself.
I was 110 pounds. I again shuddered at the thought, but I knew it had to stay up in
order for me to stay here. Graham also had a doctors appointment, but his was
today after work.

I had another doctor appointment today, so I decided to weigh myself. I was
110 pounds. I again shuddered at the thought, but I knew it had to stay up in order
for me to stay here. Graham also had a doctors appointment, but his was today after
work.
Our neighbors came over that day to say hello. One was a single mother with
five kids. All under the age of 7. When she came, I said hi to her and the kids and
when she left, I couldn't help but laugh. It was mean, I know, but she was the exact
replica of what you would see on TV. Another was some teenage guy. He was like
18, probably had no clue what he was doing.
"I am James. Very nice to meet you." he said, looking me over. He winked at
me and left. I rolled my eyes. I went back inside and made lunch. Graham was
teaching me how to cook, but I could still only make Mac and cheese.
He came home from work just as I had finished making my Mac and cheese.
He ate most of it, he told me he was starving. I rolled my eyes at him and laughed.
We both went to the doctor together. He was first, and I went in before he came
back out. The doctor told me I was doing good, 111 pounds, and I was pretty
healthy. I went and waited outside for Graham. He came out about ten minutes later.
"I am perfectly healthy!" he said, happily. "The doc examined my cuts and he
said if I ever attempted again, they would put me back." I looked at his wrists. His
cuts were much worse than mine. Deeper and longer. I looked at my own. My
infected cut. It was still swollen, believe it or not, and it was a nice shade of purple. I
was now beginning to realize they were ugly. Cutting was bad.
When we got home I wrapped Ace bandages around my wrists. I didn't want
them to be visible to public. They were signs of my past. I didn't want people to know
my past.
While Graham was at work, I looked at a wedding magazine I had picked up
a few days ago. I didn't want to look at it at first, in fear of being to fat for all those
gorgeous dresses. I finally just gave in and looked. There were huge poofy ones,
slim and silky ones, every kind you could think of. I remember back to when Olivia
and I were young. She always wore a dress that she said was a wedding dress. It
was "nice and smooth and shiny", Olivia had always said. I looked at the silky ones. I
fell in love with a dress that had thin straps, and it was ankle length. It also had a
see-through lacey sash that went over your shoulders. I loved it instantly.
I decided to walk to the Rehab center to visit everyone. It had only been a few
weeks since I left, but I missed them terribly. It was maybe a mile walk from here. I
put on a sweatshirt, thick jacket, mittens and a hat and left. The doctor told me to be
very careful and stay warm, my organs were still weak, and if I got sick, it could
possibly be fatal.
I walked along the road as cars whizzed by. I pulled my jacket up around my
face because the wind was blowing directly at me. I kept my hand clasped over the
magazine page so it wouldn't blow away.
I arrived about ten minutes later. I was frozen to the bone. I quietly knocked.
Shannon opened the door.
"Kersey!!" She cried, hugging me. "Everyone come!! It's Kersey!" She
yelled. Within seconds, everyone was bunched around me, giving me hugs. I noticed
Eliza wasn't with the group.
"Where's Eliza?" I asked Heather.
"Oh. She's not doing very well. She hasn't been right lately. She tried running
away and she got really sick from the cold. She's in her room if you want to go visit
her." Heather said, hugging me quick before I went to Eliza's room.
I knocked quietly on the door.
"Eliza? It's me, Kersey." I said. I heard her get up and come to the door.
"Oh, hi Kersey." she said. Her face was red from crying.
"Eliza, girl, what's wrong?" I said, putting my arm around her and hugging her.
"It's just so bad, Kersey. I hate it here,” she cried into my shirt.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I tried to leave. Kersey this place is hell without you." she cried again. "I
wanted to leave so I left during my break. It was really cold and all I had was what I
was wearing. I got sick, they found me walking on the street." she sobbed again.
"You can't just leave, Liza." I said.
"You did!"
"I know, I shouldn't have. Look at what happened. I almost got Graham and I
killed, and someone killed himself. I didn't enjoy it. Stay here, where you have food
and a nice warm place to live. You don't want to leave till its time." I said, stroking
her hair. "Promise me you will stay until you get better." I said.
"I guess. I just don't want to be here anymore." she said, wiping her teary
eyes. "How are you and Graham?" she asked.
"Good. I picked out a wedding dress. Wanna see?" I asked, smiling.
"Yeah!" she said. I pulled the page out of my pocket and unfolded it.
"This one." I said, pointing to it.
"Aww, Kersey, it will look so beautiful on you! I'm so happy for you!" she
cried, hugging me. "Guess what?" she said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Huh?"
"Drew and I have... a thing." she said, silently clapping her hands.
"Wow, you and Drew? Way to go!" I said, high-fiving her. This is what I
missed most; the girl time I had with Liza, Emma and Heather.