It's morning and mother and I are eating breakfast together like we always do. Mother never looks away at breakfast anymore. She watches as I swallow my pills, then walks over and puts her fingers in my mouth to make sure I'm not hiding them. Wiping her fingers off on a napkin, she smiles at me and says the same thing she always does, "Good job dear."

"Caaan weee go to schoool nooow?" I like school; it's the only place I can see my friends. Mother drives me to school and picks me up as soon as it's over. Mother and Father say it's to keep me safe, but it's not very fun.

Her eyes drift to the long scar on my arm. It's been almost two years, but she always makes a face when she looks at it. She shakes her head and says, "Of course dear, let's go get in the car." Once we're on the way to school, she says, "Your father said he was coming home early for your birthday tonight."

"Coool. Daaad neveeer cooomes home early anymooore." Sometimes he doesn't come home at all.

"No, he doesn't," Mother says gritting her teeth and making a face again.


Quinn is waiting in front of the school as usual. She started hanging out with me again after I hurt myself. Daria said she finally grew up. Daria, Quinn, and Jane are really good friends. They would always hang out with me at school, especially Jane; she always helped me out and looked out for me. If anyone teased me about my scar or my hand not working right she'd scare them off. She seemed sad sometimes though. They all did. Daria and Jane are gone now though; they're in college. I'd like to go to college, but I don't think I'll get in.

Quinn runs up and gives me a hug as soon as I get out of the car. "Happy birthday Tiffany! How's it feel to be eighteen?"

"Uuumm? Abouut the saaame I guuess?" I answer as she lets go.

"Really? Well I can't wait until I turn eighteen. A lot changes," she says and looks at me funny. She grabs my hand and drags me toward the school. "Come on, let's get to class!"


Quinn and I just got out for lunch but instead of going to the cafeteria the way we usually do, we're heading outside. "Umm, Quinn? I thiiink the cafeteriaaa is the other waaay."

Quinn smiles. "We're not going to the cafeteria today Tiffany. I've got a birthday surprise for you."

"Surpriiise?" I ask as we round the corner to the parking lot. Sitting on the curb in a beat up car are Daria and Jane.

Jane jumps out and gives me a big hug. "Happy birthday Tiffany!"

"Thaanks. Heeey, shouldn't you be in Bostooon?"

Jane smiles even bigger. "What, and miss our best friend's birthday? You're eighteen Tiffany. We're breaking you out!"

"Whaaat?"

Jane's really excited. "You're an adult; you don't have to listen to your parents anymore! We can finally get you off those knockout pills and to a real doctor!"

Through the open window, Daria calls, "Yell a little louder Jane, I don't think Li heard you yet."

Jane blushes, then pulls me towards the car and into the backseat. As she does, Quinn calls, "I'll see you tonight Tiffany!" and heads back into the school.

As soon as Jane and I are buckled up, Daria pulls away from the curb. "Umm, where are we goiiing?" I ask as the school disappears behind us.

"My parents place," Daria explains. "They know about how your parents have been treating you and they're going to let you live there for now. My mom's going to set you up with a real doctor and, when you feel like you're ready to leave, help get you on disability."

There's too much going on and my head starts to hurt. "I dooon't understaaand."

Jane sighs and gives Daria a weird look. Turning back to me, she explains, "You're going to live with Quinn for a while and you don't have to take your medication anymore."

I frown down at the long scar on my left arm. "Buuut, I neeed my medicatiooon."

Jane looks too, then wipes at her eyes and looks away. Daria says, "Only some of it. Remember that weekend a few years ago, when we became friends? It can be like that."

"Buuut that's wheeen—"

"We won't let that happen," Jane says, her face serious. "Daria's mom found a good doctor who's going to help you. Everything is going to be okay. I won't ever let that happen again."

"Youuu reallyyy meean it?"

Jane takes my hand. "I promise."

I look at Jane, then up at Daria. They're my best friends. They wouldn't hurt me. "Okaaay, I'll tryyy. Can weee dooo something fiiirst though?"

"What's that?" Daria asks.

"Caaan weee go see Jaaanes brooother? I neeever gooot to saaay thaaank youuu."


Hi,

So that's it. No more on this one. I don't plan to come back and revisit either; this is it.

I hope you enjoyed it. I'm still not happy with how the previous chapter turned out, but I don't think it's terrible either.

This whole story was supposed to be a short piece bout how Tiffany experienced a brief respite from being over medicated, that's why it had to end where it did. This chapter should really be considered an epilogue, given how she's drugged up again and it's two years later.

Reviews are always welcome, but I really just hope you enjoyed yourself. Thanks for reading.