Chapter 38

Deja Brown had turned 30 just two months ago. Her life was finally headed in a positive direction. She was finally leaving the institution. Her time with Dr. Stradford, Paula as she now called her, was well spent. The therapy was just what she needed and she felt like she was finally cured of all her ailments.

After discovering that Mort was just a figment of her imagination, Deja spent the next two and a half years in intensive recovery. Dr. Stradford was not ready to release her until both of them felt comfortable with it.

Although Deja routinely thought about her time in Tashmore Lake, she had come to know that it was all imaginary. She was now ready for the real world. She could always look inside herself and reminisce on what her mind had created, but there would be nothing sweeter than experiencing life itself.

"Got everything?" Paula asked.

"Yeah, everything's packed up and one of the nurses took it your car." Deja let out a sigh.

"Nervous?"

"A little."

"Well, you know the assisted living facility is only required until you're stable enough to get on your feet. After you feel comfortable living on your own for a while you can go wherever you please."

A smile spread across Deja's face. "I know. I was thinking England maybe, or possibly Hawaii."

"Yeah, take it slow will ya?" Paula laughed.

"Hey, the world is mine to explore. I've missed out on a lot here."

"True, true. Just take it easy okay?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thanks for everything though. I really appreciate you taking an interest in my case."

Paula hugged Deja tightly. "You just promise me you'll still come see me."

"Of course. Now let's get this show on the road!"

The two women walked to Paula's car and made their way to Deja's new apartment. She had wanted to get her own place, but Paula felt like this was a better transition for Deja. Deja reluctantly agreed and they were headed to Morningside Assisted Living.

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"I am seriously pooped!" Paula said, plopping down on Deja's couch.

"Huh, me too. Want something to drink?"

"Yeah, pass me a bottled water."

Deja went to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water and had a seat next to Paula. "You know," Deja began, "I really appreciate you furnishing this place."

"It's no problem. I was glad to do it. Plus a lot of it is my used stuff."

"Well, either way I'm grateful."

"So, what are you going to do on your first night alone?" Paula asked.

"I don't know yet. Watch some tv maybe, or read a magazine."

"You know you did a lot of those two things at the institute. Even though you were still off in your own world within your mind, we'd escort you into the community area and you'd watch movies and read fashion magazines. I think that's how they found their way into your subconscious."

"Yeah, I guess that would make sense."

"Well, Deja...I'm tired and I need to get home, so I'm going to go on home."

"Thanks for everything again," Deja said as she walked Paula to the door.

"Call me if you need anything."

"Will do," Deja said, giving Paula a hug good-bye.

As Paula left, Deja locked the door behind her and sat down on her couch. She glanced around the room and exhaled. It was like she had been holding that in all her life. She felt liberated.

She turned on the television and before finding anything interesting to watch, she fell fast asleep.

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Deja was on her way to Paula's house from her last day at the grocery store. She had been working there the last eight months and now she'd finally had enough money to move. Thankfully, rent at the assisted living community was cheap so most of her money could be saved. Every Saturday she had off, was spent at the library checking out different places she could move to.

She finally settled on a small town in New York known as Highland Falls. It was right outside of the West Point military academy and she remembered going there once to visit as a small child. She knew Florida wasn't the place for her and being in New York would somehow bring her closer to her mother. She had yet to visit her mother's grave and made plans to do so as soon as she was settled in Highland Falls.

Paula wasn't too keen on the idea of Deja moving so far away, but Deja had proved that she could handle herself. So after some serious convincing, Paula helped her with all the preparations.

The moving company had already come and were taking all of her things to a small apartment Deja had negotiated the lease of. The owner of the apartment complex wasn't quick to rent an apartment to someone he'd never met, but Deja forwarded the first six month's rent and he seemed very accommodating after that. Deja had been staying with Paula for the last two days.

Deja unlocked the door to Paula's house and placed her belongings on the console in the hallway. "I'm home," she yelled.

"Good, I just finished dinner."

Deja walked into the kitchen and saw what a wonderful meal Paula had prepared. "Is all this for me?" Deja asked.

"Of course. I couldn't send you off without a real meal," Paula said.

Deja looked at the table filled with food. Paula had prepared salad, green beans, potatoes au gratin, meatloaf and apple pie. Deja couldn't wait to dig in.

Over the next hour, the two women enjoyed the meal as well as lighthearted conversation. Deja helped Paula with the dishes and then the two women headed to their bedrooms.

Deja's alarm woke her at 5:30 the next morning. She got herself up, took a shower and dressed. Making her way to Paula's room to wake her, she saw that she had already gotten up and was in her own shower.

About 30 minutes later, both women were dressed and ready to go to the airport. Deja had packed her small suitcase and was glad to not have to lug anything large with her. The moving men had taken everything except what she needed for her last few days in Florida.

After stopping by McDonald's for breakfast, they were on the road. "I'm sorry I can't wait with you in the airport," Paula said.

"It's fine. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

"Well, you know if I didn't have to get to my patient this morning, I'd be here waiting."

"Paula, no need for explanations. You've done so much for me already, I'm glad you're helping someone else. That's much more important than sitting around some boring airport with me."

"You know, this patient, he reminds me a lot of you. I think he's got real potential to better himself."

"Good, I hope so."

"Well, here we are," Paula said, pulling up to the terminal that Deja's airplane company was at. Paula popped her trunk and they both got out. Deja lifted her suitcase from the trunk and hugged Paula.

"I'm really going to miss you," Deja said.

"Me too."

"Promise you'll visit?"

"Promise you'll invite me?" Both women began to laugh and cry simultaneously. After saying good-bye for the umpteenth time, Deja finally made her way inside the airport.

She checked in at the counter and went to the gate where her flight would depart from. After an hour wait, she was seated on the plane and ready for take off. This was the first flight that she could ever remember. She was a little scared, but excited nonetheless.

An attractive man about five years her junior sat in the seat next to her. "Hi," he said, placing his bag in the overhead compartment.

"Hello," Deja smiled back.

"I'm Brian." He stuck his hand out for Deja to shake.

"Nice to meet you Brian, I'm Deja." She took his hand in hers and shook it. Deja wasn't sure if this was common practice, interacting with a stranger on a plane, but she didn't see the harm in it. It would actually calm her nerves to talk with someone.

Buckling himself in next to her, Deja got a whiff of his cologne. Their was something oddly familiar about it. She studied him out of the corner of her eye. He had short, dark hair and a thin mustache. He was very attractive. Deja had noticed the glances he was getting from the other women aboard the aircraft. She felt a hint of thankfulness that his seat was next to hers.

"So...you from New York?" Deja asked shyly.

"Yeah, I was down here on vacation. My parents live in Orlando."

"Oh, that must've been nice," Deja smiled.

"Yeah, it was okay. Seven days straight is about all I can handle of the 'rents though," he sighed.

"The 'rents?" Deja asked, confused.

"Parents," Brian laughed.

"Oh, I must really be showing my age."

"Well, I wouldn't have guessed you're a day over 21," Brian said.

"Yeah, tack about 9 more years onto that and you've got it about right," Deja laughed.

"If you don't mind me saying, you look absolutely fabulous for your age. Any age for that matter." He leaned into her ear and whispered, "And I happen to like older women."

Deja felt her face grow hot. She wasn't ready for such intense flirting. Breaking into her thoughts he said, "So what are you doing in New York?"

"I'm moving there. Leaving Florida permanently."

"Why?"

"I was ready for a change. I spent my childhood in upstate New York and remember loving it there."

"So you're going to the upstate then?" he asked.

"No, actually to Highland Falls, a small city just outside of West Point, the military academy."

Brian began laughing. "What's so funny?" Deja asked.

"Nothing, it's just that I live in Newburgh. Near you."

Deja's face flushed again. "Well, that is a coincidence isn't it?" Deja said.

After a few more minutes of chit chat, they both went off into their own worlds. Deja had placed the headset, the flight attendant passed out, onto her ears and searched through the different music channels.

The plane had taken off and Deja was fascinated by the clouds passing by. Brian had taken out a book by author Tom Robinson. Deja noticing this, was immediately taken back to the day she met Mort in the diner. He was reading a Tom Robinson novel that day. Deja remembered that distinctly.

Remembering this, Deja began to silently cry. She looked away so Brian couldn't see her face. Closing her eyes, she drifted off to sleep. Once waking, the plane had landed and people were exiting.

"Sleep well?" Brian asked.

"It was okay," she answered softly.

"This your bag?" he asked, pulling a small purse from the overhead compartment.

"Yeah, thanks," Deja said, putting her purse over her shoulder.

They walked out of the plane together and silently made their way to pick up their luggage. After getting his own suitcase, Brian waited until Deja's came around although she repeatedly told him he didn't have to.

With their luggage in tow, they made their way outside. "So...how are you getting to Highland Falls?" Brian asked.

"I've got a rental car waiting on me here at the airport. I've got my directions on how to get there and I'm ready to roll," she smiled.

"Well, good. I'm actually staying here today. Got a hotel uptown. Gonna catch a cab." The way he spoke, in broken sentences, reminded her of Mort. For the first time in a while, she began to miss Mort.

Blinking tears away, she said, "Well, it was nice meeting you Brian. Take care."

She began walking towards the car rental booth. Brian ran behind her leaving his suitcase in the middle of the floor. "Deja, think we could exchange numbers?"

"I...I don't think so."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm not ready to give out my number quite yet."

"Well, here." He pulled out a business card from his wallet and handed it to Deja. "If you ever get the urge to call me, please do. I'd look forward to it. Even if it's ten months from now." He let out a laugh. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

Deja looked down at the card and said his name out loud, "Brian Barber." By the time she looked up Brian was gone. She slipped the card into her pants pocket and continued on her way.