Sequel to Stroll Through the Farm so please read that one first to understand this story. I'll try to answer questions for those who are newbies to the story but please try not to bother me with them.

Prologue

"Oh Miss Anders, it's been a while since you've had visitors. This one seems to be a keeper."

Brush. Brush. Brush.

"Hello." Him.

Stop brushing.

"How are you?"

"Well", I say. Only reply to him.

Sighing. "Nice paintings...um...me?"

I stand up, walk over to my desk, and take a seat. "They're not finished."

"So um...you cut your hair?"

"It appears so."

Paint. Brush. Paint. Brush.

"You look beautiful." Lies.

"Mmm", I hum. "Mmm hmm mmm hmm."

Moment. "How come you haven't opened any of your gifts yet?"

Shrug. Continue to paint.

"So I got a summer job." Chuckle. "Yea, Bruce told me it'd get my mind off a few things." Walks over to window. "You got a great view. Except it's raining today."

"I like rain."

"You do?", he asks.

"Rain washes away all the unwanted waste of this world. It's too bad it cannot wash away all our unwanted memories."

I feel a kiss? A kiss on my cheek. No.

I stand up, abruptly. "Get out!"

"What?", he asks.

Point to the door. "Get out! Get out! Get out!"

"Kori please", he begs. He touches my arm.

"Do not touch me!", I yell.

"I'm not going to hurt you", he promises. "I love you."

Love? Such a strong word. Love, the feeling you get when your with that someone.

"I'm sorry sir but you have to leave now."

He sighs, unhappy. "I'll go now. But I have something that belongs to you. Something you dropped."

I feel a chain wrapping around my neck. He clasps it and I look down. The locket.

"Good bye Kori", he whispers.

I look up to him. He's fading in the distance.

"Good bye Richard."

"Are you excited Miss Anders?"

I looked up from my hands and stared up at my therapist, Doctor Ryan. "For what?"

He chuckled and repositioned himself on the chair. "Today is your last session."

I gave him a small smile. "I guess it is." No one has an idea of how excited I am to finally get out.

"Now let's take a look at your process from day one," he told me. He flipped through the pages and pages. It defiantly has been a long year and a half. "The first eight months were a struggle for you but you quickly started to recover. You've been responding and participating in your group sessions, you've respectively taken your medication...

I tuned him out as he read my recovery. Just another ten minutes of this and I'm out in the real world again. No more therapists, well no more daily therapists. I'm required to come back once every month for a check up emotionally and physically. Where was I? Oh yes. No more stone walls, no more lunatics running around, no more cafeteria food, no more forced daily activities, and no more communal bathrooms.

My parents should be waiting for me outside. What a struggle I've put them through. Still, it was not all my fault. I did not plan on ruining my life and throwing all the people that cared about me away. My friends, they visited me from time to time, bringing me gifts, sharing stories about their day, or stopping by to just say hello. But then again, all good things come to an end. It was by Thanksgiving of last year when I received no visitors. I realized then that my life wouldn't be the same again. That's when I decided to get some actual help.

"You've completed your studies and graduated as a senior through the Asylum," Doctor Ryan said.

Completed my studies earlier than anyone. What can I say? I had a lot of free time on my hands. It wasn't like I went out to the movies or out to high school parties.

Doctor Ryan cleared his throat. "Off to another world again Miss Anders?"

I nervously chuckled at him. "Sorry, I was thinking about the past year or so."

He nodded. "What are your plans for this year?"

I sighed and looked out the window. August is near the end. "College."

"Very good Miss Anders," he told me. "I'm glad to hear that you will be starting a new chapter in your life."

"But I will be living at home," I clarified. I wasn't really ready to live on my own. Not yet. "I'm going to attend Gotham University. It is only a half hour away."

He gave me a reassuring smile. I couldn't help but stare at him. He is handsome for a guy his age. "Whatever you feel comfortable with." He checked his board again before looking at the clock. "Well I only have one thing to say to you." He stood up and so did I. "Good luck and I'll see you in a month."

I smiled and gave him a hug. "Thank you."

He awkwardly patted my back before clearing his throat. "Run along now. Your parents must be eagerly waiting for you."

I grabbed my one suitcase that was placed on the side of the chair and walked out of the room. I haven't felt this free in so long. I skipped along the hallways, testing my freedom. Usually there is a nurse that walks beside me to make sure I don't run away.

I opened the doors to the exit, waving to the receptionist before I was completely outside. My mother ran over to me and nearly tackled me down to the ground.

"Oh Kornelia!" she sobbed.

I stood there with a flat face. "Can someone get her off of me?"

My father laughed and pried my mother off of me. "Darling, now is the time to rejoice."

My mother wiped her tears away and nodded. "I am just so happy to see her finally out."

"It wasn't like I was going to stay in that place forever," I told her. I looked at my father who grabbed the suitcase from me. "Where are Kom and Ry?"

My mother had a suspicious look on her face. I'm guessing a surprise? She was never good at keeping secrets. "They're at the farm."

I smiled. The farm, my home. Gosh I missed that place. "Can we go? I want to go home."

"Very well," my father said. "Let's take you home."

I rested my head on the open window the whole ride home. This time last year I was in the Asylum wearing a patient's dress. I could smell the farm from a mile away. My house came into view and I couldn't be happier. I missed the smelly animals, the crops, the tractors, and especially my barn. The barn that contains the horses. I hope I'm not too rusty on my horseback riding.

We drove past the market and I noticed that it was closed. I leaned forward, in between my parents.

"Just for today princess," my father answered, already knowing what I was going to ask. "We wanted this day to be about you."

My house hasn't changed at all and neither did the farm. I was glad that some things haven't changed.

"Surprise!"

I nearly fell back as my sister and brother tackled me with hugs. I wasn't even fully through the door. Both gave me sloppy kisses on the cheek telling me how great it is to see me.

"Kori I've missed you!" exclaimed Kom. She squeezed me tightly.

I felt someone ruffle my hair and messing it up.

"Great to see you again little sis," said Ryan.

I pulled Kom away from me and huffed as I fixed my hair.

"It's great to see you again Kori."

I raised my eyebrows and turned to the voice. hadn't noticed Xavier when I walked in. I'm actually a little surprised he is here right now.

"Xavier?" I asked. I looked at Kom. "Wasn't expecting you here."

Kom walked to him and he placed his arms around her waist. "We actually have something to tell you." She looked at her parents. "All of you actually." She took in a breath. "We're engaged."

My mother shrieked and I think she might have popped my eardrums.

"You're getting married!" my mother shrieked as she tackled both my sister and her fiance.

I walked over to Kom and lifted up her left hand. "It's beautiful!" I exclaimed. Xavier had gotten her silver band with a large diamond in the middle and two smaller diamonds on the side.

"I helped him pick it out," said my father.

My mother turned to him. "You knew? You knew and didn't tell me?" she asked angrily.

I tuned my bickering parents out and turned to my sister to give her a proper hug. "I'm happy for you."

"I'm sorry for taking the attention away from you," said Kom.

I shook my head. "No way! I'm really happy for you!" I let her go and gave Xavier a hug. "Welcome to the family?"

"Thanks," he said. "And welcome back to the real world."

Dinner was delicious! I didn't realize how much I missed my mother's cooking. It's defiantly better than the gunk they serve at the asylum and I didn't have to be forced to finish my plate. Her Zorkaberry pie made my night. After finishing my third slice, I took a seat on the couch and rubbed Silkie's stomach. The poor dog sure has missed me. I found myself grow tired so I decided to head to bed early. I said my goodnights to everyone, except Kom and Xavier who were eating each other on the front porch, and made my way upstairs.

I laughed at myself as I accidentally walked into Kom's room. I had forgotten that my father built me my own bedroom in the attic. The attic? It seems so far away from the rest of the house. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy sleeping in the attic or not. I hadn't been sleeping in it long before the incident.

Lucky for me, my mother was already in my room, unpacking my stuff.

"I will wash all of your clothes," she told me as she rummaged through the suitcase. "Your clothes have not been properly washed in a long time."

I leaned against the doorframe and looked around the room. "I haven't been wearing any of it. I usually just stayed in my gown." I stepped through and walked over to the bed. The sheets have been changed to a pastel green color and it looks like my mother cleaned the room.

She looked at me and smiled. "I do like your hair like that."

I looked in the mirror. My short hair. I had kept it short after I cut it the first time. "It is much easier to maintain than my long hair."

"You look beautiful," she stated. She picked up something. "Kornelia where do you want me to put these?"

My eyes widened and I ran over to my mother. I grabbed the folder from her hands. "Don't touch that!"

She gave me a scowl.

"I'm sorry," I told her as I held the folder against me. "It is just that...this folder holds memories and-

"I understand," she told me.

I raised my eyebrow. "You do?"

She nodded and stood up with a pile of my clothes in her hands. "I'm your mother. It is my job to understand you. Now I will go put these in the wash and retire for the night as well."

I smiled. "Good-night mother."

"Pleasant dreams," she whispered and disappeared out the room.

I pray for pleasant dreams.

I'll start you off with this.

Missed you guys but I have to admit that those two weeks of no writing were relaxing. Big test tomorrow so wish me luck!

Oh and I'm already working on chapter two but can't promise an update until at least Monday.