Life is Strange: End of Nightmares
Chapter 5 of my Life is Strange story, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Life is Strange or its characters.
Chapter 5
Rachel bit her lip, worry gnawing away inside of her.
'I can't believe I'm actually doing this...but, but it's the only way.' She reflected. 'Chloe won't take action herself and, despite my efforts, she won't talk about it, she won't act...I need to take initiative...but to go behind Chloe's back like this.'
She grimaced, hating the feeling within her, she felt like she was betraying her girlfriend, even if this was for her own good. Taking a deep breath and trying to collect herself, knowing Chloe was currently out and David was still working, Rachel approached Chloe's home; she knew the person she wished to see would be home by now. She knocked on the door and waited. Before long Joyce answered the door, smiling, yet naturally looking surprised.
"Rachel, how nice to see you...you're alone?"
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, um, I needed to talk to you, in private."
Joyce seemed to sense Rachel's concerns because she then nodded and stepped back.
"You better come in." She said. "Is everything okay?"
Rachel sighed as she entered. "Not exactly. It's difficult to know where to start."
She could see the concern etched in Joyce's face and tried not to sigh. Joyce truly was an amazing mother to Chloe and she understood partly why Chloe hadn't told her mother anything. But in order for Chloe to get the help she needed, Joyce needed to know the truth.
They sat down at the dining table, silence stretched between them as Rachel tried, repeatedly to figure out what to say, how to say it.
"Rachel?" Joyce queried. "Is everything okay with you and Chloe?"
Rachel replied at once. "Yeah, yeah we're great. It's just...there is something, about Chloe..."
"What?" Joyce asked, worry filling her at once.
Rachel shifted in her seat, feeling guilty again. "I...she's been hiding it for so long, I think she just didn't want you to worry about her...I found out by accident, but I can't hide it...Chloe needs help..."
"Help, Rachel what are you talking about?"
"Chloe has...for a long time...she's been suffering from, nightmares...they always, involve her father and, and..." Rachel stammered. "They, I did a bit of research and, they sound like, anxiety dreams..."
Joyce let out a shaky breath. "Which stems from William's death, and she...how long has this been going on?"
"I don't know, I just know she mentioned having dreams when we first met...probably even longer than then...years." Rachel admitted.
"She never told me, not wanting me to worry, God Chloe..." Joyce muttered. "Why are you…?"
"Because, I think it's going to get worse, unless she gets help. I know it's...hard, but...she needs help and she won't admit it. I hate going behind her back like this but, I had to, for her." Rachel explained.
Joyce nodded slowly. "Chloe's lucky to have you, still, this won't be easy...we still need to tell her."
Rachel sighed, she knew that and certainly wasn't looking forward to it.
Arriving home Chloe smiled; all in all, the day hadn't been as bad as she thought it was going to be. Her good mood only lasted however until she closed the door.
"I'm home!"
"In here, Chloe." Her mother said.
Confused by her mother's tone, Chloe made her way through to the living room, where her mother and Rachel were sitting. Both had serious looks on their faces.
"Mom, Rachel…?"
Joyce sighed and then spoke. "Chloe, Rachel's told me something...important."
Chloe froze, thinking quickly and coming to the only possible conclusion.
"Rachel!" She cried.
Rachel shook her head. "Chloe, you need help with this, it'll destroy your life otherwise, I don't wanna see that."
"But, you didn't...you went behind my back..." Chloe burst out.
Joyce intervened. "Chloe, Rachel did what was necessary, you wouldn't talk about it, you tried to hide your nightmares. Rachel had to tell me the truth."
"I just, but, Rachel..." Chloe stammered, looking to her girlfriend.
She was frustrated and shocked in equal measure and all the more so seeing Rachel's tears.
"I'm sorry Chloe, but it's for you...to help you."
Chloe turned to her mother. "So, what, I'm supposed to see some shrink and..."
"Chloe, the last time you saw a therapist went badly because we didn't know." Joyce explained. "This new person, is a specialist, they'll..."
"Mom, the cost of that..."
"I don't care about the cost." Joyce burst out. "You and your health are more important to me Chloe."
Chloe bowed her head at that; as always, aside from Rachel, the one person who could completely disarm her with words, was her mother. She couldn't deny however, the words moved her greatly.
Unable to deny her mother, after hearing that, Chloe sighed. "Alright, I'll see this therapist..."
And with that she yielded, wondering just what she had let herself in for.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.