Author's Note: This is the revised version of the original chapter I wrote in 2023. I wanted to revise chapters I am no longer happy with in order to tell the story better/clean up errors, etc. Anyways, thanks for reading!

Chapter One: Janet

The storm that had been brewing in the skies over Denton finally broke through the wall of dark clouds as Janet Weiss, still dressed in her clothes from the work day, loaded a single suitcase into the trunk of her car. She was just slamming it shut when the downpour of rain began pouring from the clouds, forcing her to hurry to safety as she rushed around the car and slid into the driver's seat. Her fiancé, Brad, was slumped over in the passenger seat, forehead pressed against the window, already asleep. She expected as much - he had barely spoken more than a few words to her all week.

She looked longingly at his softened features as he slept, a familiar heaviness settling in her chest. She wished more than anything they could go back to the time when they were happy together; love-struck and planning their future. These days it felt as though a heavy fog had settled permanently over them, their once bright and promising future now obscured by doubts and hardships.

With a heavy sigh, she turned the keys in the ignition and they set off on their way.

Once outside the city limits, Janet consulted the directions printed inside the pamphlet that sat unfurled in her lap. They were the only car on the desolate country road that lead them away from Denton. The area outside of the city was mostly, farmland and the occasional decrepit house. Herds of cows watched them pass from behind wire fences, huddled together in the grass as they braced for the oncoming weather. Brad remained undisturbed in his slumber, arms crossed in front of him, still protesting to Janet even in his sleep.

She wished he knew how many nights she had spent laying awake, fighting with herself over this decision. In truth, it hardly felt like her own. She had wanted Brad to stay with her, to be by her side through this. After all, she was engaged to be his wife. She wanted nothing more than to uphold those future vows, to stand by his side through thick and thin, to care for him in sickness and health. Yet, as they always seemed to do, her parents talked her into making the choice towards which they were now driving towards.

Her parents had passively brought up the idea, presenting it to Janet as if it was a vacation - a getaway for her stressed groom-to-be. Her parents had heard through the grapevine at their country club that Dentonvale and it's team of doctors were miracle workers. Her mother's friend's aunt swore they cured her sister's mania after only a weekend long stay. Surely, they reasoned, she wanted Brad to get the best care that was available, right?

Janet's mother had discreetly left the pamphlet on their kitchen table, unfolded to display a phone number printed in bold red numbers.

"It's for his own good." Her mother insisted, resting her hands on Janet's shoulders. "You can't help him anymore. Leave it to the experts."

"You're taking me... where?" Brad demanded, turning away from the stove to face her. He had been in the middle of cooking breakfast when she finally brought the topic up to him. His expression was exactly as she expected - baffled, betrayed - worst of all, hurt. He clutched the wooden spoon tightly in his hand as he returned his attention to the eggs in the pan, giving them an aggressive stir, trying to avoid Janet's apologetic eyes.

She knew this conversation would break her heart, but she pressed forward with the speech she had rehearsed. Her mother assured the feelings of reluctance would fade once she saw this was the best choice for him, but it only felt like they were growing stronger. She pushed on, ignoring the anxiety now churning inside her.

"Think of it like.. a resort. It would be like a vacation." She suggested gently, smoothing the pamphlet out on the table in an effort to show him the benefits listed inside. "It'll be good for you."

The center panel of the pamphlet showcased a variety of pictures, highlighting the different treatments and activities Dentonvale offered - art therapy, a pool,and top tier psychologists leading the field with their expertise in mental health care. Janet didn't know much about the doctors in charge. The brochure didn't give much detail about them - a brother and sister who had moved to Denton in order to pursue their passion project, helping vulnerable and troubled individuals who were in need of the term they coined "mental hygiene". Her friend, Betty, had interviewed the doctors for a segment of her show, The Denton Dossier, though Janet couldn't recall much from the episode. All she could remember was their faces and the strange dynamic they had with each other. She chalked it up to their profession; of course two people who work in a mental hospital would be a bit weird.

"A 'resort'?" He laughed, loud and sarcastic. "That is a fancy way of saying you're shipping me off to the loony bin!"

She pushed the paper in his direction, pointing to the pictures of the hospital's manicured gardens, begging him to look and give it a chance. "No, Brad, it's not like that. Look, see, they have so many different activities that could help you-"

He cut her off before she could finish. "I don't need help, Janet!" He threw the spoon down in frustration. "I'm not going!"

"I'm sick and tired of being humiliated by you!" Janet slammed a hand down on the table, her frustration boiling over. She paused to collect herself, Brad's wide eyes starring at her in surprise. She stood up from her seat so she was now eye level with her fiancé. "They've already made all the arrangements. You're going."

She turned to leave, pausing in the doorway with her back to the kitchen and Brad in his "kiss the cook" apron.

"Pack your suitcase." Her voice remained firm despite the fact she was blinking back tears. She paused in the doorway, looking back at Brad who was still standing dumbfounded in his 'Kiss the Cook' apron. "We're leaving tomorrow."

That evening, Janet packed the suitcase while Brad ignored her presence from the bed. He refused to make eye contact, sitting with his back turned to her. Occasionally he would grunt the answer to a question.

Afterwards, Brad changed back into his pajamas and slipped into bed without a word. Janet checked on him through the crack in their bedroom door, watching his reflection in the vanity mirror as he starred up at the ceiling. The next morning, he continued to ignore her, leaving her to finish the packing as he watched from the edge of the bed, still dressed in his bathrobe. He announced begrudgingly that he was going to wait for Janet in the car and shuffled out of the room. After he had left, she took the framed picture from its spot their nightstand and tucked into his suitcase, hiding it under a pile of his shirts. It was their graduation photo, a moment they had once looked at fondly. She hoped seeing the happiness they once were so full of would maybe help resolve his anger towards her.

Things felt so far from the time that picture had been taken. It felt as if she barely recognized the couple in the photo, a pair of teenagers donning green robes and caps, smiles beaming as they presented their diplomas proudly for the photographer. They had just graduated high school. She remembered how they radiated with excitement at the idea of their bright futures. Now it was like she was looking at someone else's memory.

Janet wiped away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand before gently closing the suitcase. From their bedroom window, she watched as Brad shuffled towards the car, still in his slippers and robe. Her mother's voice chimed in her ear, chastising her from her subconscious.

"It's what's best for him, Janet."