At least the psychobabble people gave her something to do. Even if it was write in a stupid fucking notebook, go to group therapy and volunteer. The volunteering she actually liked. After hanging out in the kitchen with Red and their crew, Piper was great helping out at the soup kitchen. Also, the nuns that ran the soup kitchen reminded her of Sister Ingalls. She felt like she was at least doing something for humanity.

Piper had originally tried to volunteer at Big Bothers and Sisters, but she heartbroken when she was told that she couldn't mentor kids. They don't let convicts around kids. They did keep her number around, in case they wanted a "scared-straight" lesson for kids going down the wrong path.

Overall, in her notebook, she recorded facts and memories about other people. Sometimes Alex. Sometimes Nicole. She eventually found herself creating other characters and giving people she barely knew a background story. It was refreshing to just write. To remove the circle-of-doom thinking that so often happens while lying in bed thinking. Once a thought is written, it doesn't need to be repeated.

The group therapy group started three weeks into therapy. The drugs had just begun to kick in. She had volunteered four times already. And was two-thirds the way through her notebook. She was still spending a lot of time lying around, watching tv, drinking and barely existing, but there was some light, and it had only been three weeks.

She drove her mothers car to the group meeting. She pulled up to her shrinks building and was so busy trying to find 223, that she turned a corner and ran directly into a very tall woman. Upon looking up, and realizing who it was, Piper shouted,

"WHAT?... what are you doing here, Alex! You're not supposed to be here!"

Alex was clearly at a loss for words. While normally verbose, she only managed,

"Uhhhh… Um… I honestly… I didn't think I would run into you…Uh.."

"What do you mean you didn't think you'd run into me?! I live in fucking Connecticut. YOU KNOW THAT."

"Yeah, but I was just released a week ago. I'm not allowed to leave the state. I'm currently at the half-way house provided by the jail. How the fuck was I supposed to know I would run into you?! No offense, I don't particularly want to see you. Look, don't be mad. I'm really just here to see a therapist, so I'll be on my way."

As she started to walk away, Piper tried to catch up and apologize.

"I'm sorry Alex. I'm here for the same thing. Group therapy actually. Are you okay? How's it feel to be out?"

Alex sped up, but did manage, "it fucking sucks. I thought prison sucked, but no, this is bad too. I would buy a shitty car and move far far away if I could, but I'm stuck, in Connecticut."

"do you have a job? What have you been doing?"

"geez Piper, I've only been out a week. No, I don't have a job. I'm unskilled and uneducated, remember? I'm going to be fucking late. I have to go."

Her long legs moved even faster and Piper was left in the dust. Even more lost in the building than before.