The day at The Meadows was uneventful, for the most part.
The women finished their soap opera and moved on to sewing, and then back to chess. Tuna casserole was the dinner, and for dessert was a piece of white, vanilla cake.
After their nighttime duties, Melissa and Kelly went home for the evening to rest.
This left all of the residents with their nighttime caregivers, well, except for Ryan. By that time, he was just pulling into the borders of Benzie County, where Frankfort was located.
As Ryan saw the sign welcoming him to town, Harriet held the pill in her hand, ready to take.
She was more apprehensive, due to the fact that Ryan was distressed over the results. But he didn't mean to become young, she, however, did.
She put the medicine in her mouth before she could change her mind. She felt everything fall into place.
She didn't want to see herself just yet, so, she laid in bed, waiting for sleep to overcome her.
She thought of her life, in the best context she could.
Her childhood was perfectly normal. Nothing was ever wrong between her parents, her eight other sisters, most of whom were older, and the other family in her life. After high school, she eloped with a man named Henry McMillan, a tall, handsome man who was ten years older than her. All was well for a while, they had a daughter and a wonderful marriage for years.
Well, it was wonderful until her youngest sister came of age. Sixteen. She was booted out of the family home and Harriet invited her to move in with herself and Henry. Harriet, pregnant with another child at the time, was busier than ever making preparations and was always out of this house. This factor alone, gave Henry and Harriet's sister, Harelda, plenty of time to know each other.
One evening, coming home early from a doctor's appointment, Harriet was greeted with a not so pleasant surprise.
Henry and Harelda were getting to know each other on a romantic level. Henry was having an affair with Harelda, obviously. And this devastated Harriet, more than anything ever had in her entire life.
The first thing she did was take her daughter. She took the girl, Cheryl, out of the home to live with herself and her parents, who had offered to have her stay until she found a new husband, or bought a new house herself. That being said, it did not mean they were at all supportive of the idea of Harriet raising her daughter alone without a paternal influence.
She and her daughter were just settling into their new living situation when she went back home to gather her belongings. It was later in the evening, after Cheryl went to bed. She snuck in the back door, knowing all too well she wasn't allowed into the home.
She was almost done taking the last of her things when Henry caught her leaving the house. He was furious and began beating her, with no warning. At the time, they were standing in the kitchen, and she ended up stabbing him in the shoulder as a result. He had no serious injuries, and felt one last inkling of love for his estranged wife, and decided not to report the crime.
He and Harelda were expecting a baby, so he decided to keep them both from any stress. It wasn't needed, not by any standard.
Despite Henry letting Harriet off of being charged for attempted murder, she miscarried her child. She tried hard to forget about the ordeal, but with Harelda being her own sister, it was impossible.
Harelda came over to family events, dinners and holidays with Henry in tow. Her parents disapproved almost immediately. Henry was more than twenty years older than her. And by the time Harriet finally began to have a serious relationship with another man, Henry and Harelda had six children. All of whom were only a year apart each.
This brand new man in Harriet's life was much different than the last. He was sophisticated and worked as a lawyer. He always wore suits, even on everyday endeavors. And she was finally becoming happy again. One day, a few years after they met, he had asked her to marry him, and she accepted. The wedding was planned and the dress was purchased when tragedy struck.
He was driving Cheryl to school one day when a car began tailgating them. He tried to avoid the driver behind him, but the man caught up with him almost instantly. When they drove over the Saint Joe River, the man crashed into their car and caused it to drive through the railing of the bridge. As a result, both Cheryl and her future stepfather died in the accident.
This really, truly affected Harriet for the worse. She was devastated and had to be carried out of the funeral home after the dual service was finished. She began to suffer severe depression, and it stopped her from being able to do everyday things. Over the years that followed, her depression subsided and a new issue arose. A new mental illness.
Schizophrenia.
She began seeing and hearing voices, both ones with names and ones without. She was admitted to the psychiatric hospital multiple times before she was switched over to The Meadows of Monroeville, and she was the youngest patient there.
When she was finally falling into a deep sleep, she saw an image of her youngest sister, Harelda.
Harelda was seventeen, and she held her oldest child, a son named Henry Junior, in her arms. She laughed at her sister as she laid in bed.
"No matter what, you're not as beautiful as me! You never will be! I got your husband! He's mine! He's mine!"
She tried to hurt Harriet, and it worked. She hid her face underneath her blanket, but she still heard harsh words.
What hurt Harriet was not what happened with Henry. No, not at all. What hurt Harriet was the fact that her own sister betrayed her in that way. And the truth was, it didn't matter anymore. Henry and Harelda got a divorce also. And guess why?
That's right! Henry went after an even younger girl, a fifteen year old. That third time, the relationship faltered and Henry was left without a woman for the rest of his life. He tried to pursue multiple young women until he ended up in jail. Permanently.
Because of that, the sisters forgave each other. Harelda found a new husband and raised her six children with him. And later, with that man, she had two more.
Still, Harriet cried herself to sleep. Being newly young again didn't cease her pain. It didn't matter. It never did.
As Harriet cried, Ryan searched. He had gotten into Jane's home successfully. Her young great niece lived there, and gladly let him in. She helped him find her aunt's attic laboratory.
More mason jars were lined along the windows. They were all labeled accordingly.
Pill #1, unsuccessful. Antidote #1, unsuccessful.
When he found that she had tried over forty times to prefect the pill, he found the correct antidote jar.
Antidote #47, still testing.
The antidote pills were much different in color and shape, as to set them apart from the others. They still had the beautiful, mystical opal shine, but had a circular shape. He took no time to take a pill and swallow it dry.
Shockingly, contrary to Jane's statement, he began to age again. He was back to his normal self in no time, and the great niece was amazed to see him transform before her very eyes.
She looked at him for a long while, and even swooned.
Wow! He's cute!
"I can't believe it!" She shouted, jumping for joy. "Aunt Jane's formula worked!" She gave Ryan a big hug, squeezing him too tightly and holding him for too long. He accepted her gesture anyway, and thought she was beautiful.
He did the second he walked in, and he was hoping to be able to spend more time with her.
"I know.. I thought those pills were jelly beans when I saw them in her drawer.." He laughed, "Thank you for letting me in. I bet at first I gave you a scare."
The great niece blushed. "No problem! And you weren't scary... You were just a little awkward, that's all."
"Yeah.. I was. I'm sorry about that. Well, I have to head home now.. I've got work tomorrow."
Ryan was about to head to the door when he was stopped.
"I have a guest room! You can stay the night if you like!"
Ryan stood by the door, appalled.
"You don't mind?"
"No. Not at all!" Her long, brown hair bounced as she nodded her head. "Come on! Sit on the couch! I want to know you better."
Ryan followed her into her living room, and he sat at an appropriate distance from her.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Ryan. How about you?"
"My name's Millie. Millie Solomon. Well, I guess you know that. I'm guessing you live in Indiana?"
"Yeah. I do. How old are you?"
"Twenty-three. I can tell you're a bit older.. But I don't mind. I like more mature guys."
It was obvious they had mutual attraction, and they really hit it off.
That stupid pill did me good... Hopefully, it'll do Jane good too.
The two of them kept talking throughout the night. And after the sun rose, they did again in the morning.