Kirsten set the phone down in her room. Her marriage had been strained for a long time. Starting even before Ryan came into her life, and became increasingly strained over time. It especially increased when Rebecca Bloom came back into Sandy's life. In recent months, sometimes Kirsten wondered if he ever did love her as much as he loved Rebecca. She thought that when Sandy looked at her, he saw a second place wife, but when he looked at Rebecca, he saw first place wife. Of course, the distance between them was worsened by Carter Buckley showing up into Kirsten's life. When Kirsten saw Carter, she saw someone who was like a younger Sandy, which is what attracted her to him in the first place.

While she was at the treatment center, Kirsten came to realize that she was not sure that she wanted to be with Sandy anymore, and that maybe - they were not really meant to be together. Of course, this could have been the anti-depressants talking, or maybe all the vomit that had accumulated while she was going through detox; however, there was something inside of her that wanted to know if she was missing out on something out there in the world. Something that could be great.

Her period at the treatment center was ending, and she had been invited to spend some time at a home of one of the women who were also in the treatment center with her. At first, Kirsten had not thought seriously about this, but as her time was approaching to leave that serene place, she was considering the offer more and more. Maybe more time away from Sandy would do her some good.

She looked at her watch. It was about time for her appointment with the psychiatrist. This was her last visit him. She got up off of her bed, exited her room, and walked down the hall to where his office was. She waited outside in the secretary's office, for her turn to see him. It did not take more than a minute for his last patient to leave, then Kirsten entered. She sat down in one of his chairs, and he sat at his desk.

"Hi, Kirsten, thanks for seeing me," he greeted her.

"No problem," she replied.

"So this is your last meeting with me, and I have some questions for you. Some things from your medical records, which I just don't understand," the psychiatrist told Kirsten.

"You have access to my medical files?" she asked him.

"Seeing as how I am a doctor myself, yes, I am privy to your medical records," he answered her.

"What don't you understand?" Kirsten wondered.

"You have been pregnant twice, but only given birth to one child, is that correct?" he questioned.

"Yes... I was pregnant when I was in high school, but I had an abortion," Kirsten told the psychiatrist.

"Do you think that may have affected you becoming an alcoholic?" he asked her.

"No," Kirsten said.

"Why not?" the psychiatrist probed.

"Because I was okay with the decision that I made," Kirsten replied.

"Does your husband know?" he asked.

"No, he doesn't. This happened years before I met Sandy. It had nothing to do with him. He doesn't need to know," Kirsten told the doctor.

"Well, anyway, that was just a discrepancy that I wanted to clear up. Your progress has been terrific, Kirsten. If you ever need someone to talk to, any one of us here is willing to talk, just remember that," he said, his parting words to her.

"I'll keep that in mind," Kirsten told him. She stood up, and shook hands with the doctor.

"What are your plans, after here?" he asked of her.

"I think I might stay with a friend of mine for awhile, before going home," Kirsten replied. He shook his head approvingly, and she left the room. Now it seemed official in her mind, now that she had told someone. She was leaving Sandy, even if it was only temporarily.