At least at face value, the next few weeks were fairly uneventful. Whenever she wasn't dropping Porsha off at school, taking her to the hospital to get her arm treated, or going to the Perkins Home to look after Bernie, Stephanie was mostly confined to her room at her apartment, drafting, rehearsing then re-drafting and re-rehearsing her prospective plan to present to the representatives of the SFJ Bank.

There a slight but still fairly comfortable chill in the crisp October air, and the vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow on all the trees painted quite the picturesque backdrop to Stephanie and Porsha's morning walk. Stephanie kept a tight but still gentle grip on Porsha's left hand, which had been fully healed and released from its cast around a week or so prior, though the five-year-old was never one to complain about staying close to her mother all the way up to the gate of the kindergarten entrance.

"Alright, same as always, baby..." Stephanie knelt down to Porsha's level, her warm breath slightly visible in the air as she did some final checks of the little one's backpack. "I'm gonna be right here at three when ya come out, okay...?"

"Okay!" Porsha then jumped up, throwing her arms around Stephanie's neck and giving the older wolf a kiss on the cheek. "Love ya, Mommy!"

"Hmm... love ya too, sunshine..." Stephanie pried herself from the embrace and gave Porsha a quick little peck on the forehead, then held open the gate to let the pup run over to Meena. "Have fun, Porsha!"

Stephanie then stood back up and took a few steps away from the gate, her goldish-green eyes surveying the crowd of other parents as she tried to search for a familiar face. She eventually did find one, and while it wasn't the one she had been hoping to see, the young gorilla heading alone towards the main school entrance was a good enough substitute as she quickly ran over to him.

"Oh, uh... Johnny! Hey, Johnny, just hold up a second!"

"Huh...?" The boy stopped at the gateway and removed the earphones he'd been listening to, keeping a grip on his backpack as he turned to face the much taller wolf. "Oh... hi, Stephanie. I mean, Miss um... Miss Franga... uh... Frangee...?"

"Oh no no, sweetie, Stephanie's fine..." She chortled, hunching a little closer to his level as she cleared her throat. "Anyway, I uh... I've not seen your Mom the last couple days, is she here?"

"My Mum...?" Johnny bit his bottom lip, then shrugged. "No, she um... I don't think she's been feeling very well."

"Aw, really..." Stephanie tilted her head. "What, she got the flu or something...?"

"Well no, I... I don't think so." Johnny rubbed his arm and took a few steps closer to the door, the nine-year-old clearly not wanting to continue this conversation much longer. "She's been acting weird."

"Weird...?" Stephanie bit her bottom lip, feeling her claws anxiously dig into the fabric of the gym back slung around her shoulder. "It's uh... it's not cause of the funeral, is it?"

She noticed Johnny freeze up on the spot when she said this, which did quite a lot to answer her question despite his silence. Though after a moment or two he snapped out of this brief catatonic state and quickly shook his head, keeping it lowered as he shuffled closer to the door again.

"I um... I... I..." He stammered nervously, before finally clearing her throat as he straightened up a bit. "My Mum and Dad say I'm not supposed to talk about that."

"Really...?" Stephanie kept a neutral expression, though on the inside she felt her heart sink a little. She had hoped for a different answer, one that would relieve her concerns, though all this one really did was raise more questions, but she could at least tell this wasn't the right place or individual to ask them. "Alright, I'll uh... s-sorry to keep ya waitin' there, honey, you go ahead..."

Johnny nodded, then quickly turned around and bolted straight through the door, making a run for his classroom before Stephanie could change her mind and question him further. Stephanie hung back there for another moment or two, focusing on the young gorilla until he finally vanished from sight, and the hundreds of thoughts swirling in her head about what she had seen in the cemetary were slowly turning into thousands.

Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate (haters gonna hate)

Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

The sudden burst of music made Stephanie jolt up for a moment, though the subtle buzzing in her back pocket made her realize it was one of her ringtones, and she reached into her pocket to pull out her phone and answered.

"Oh... hey, Rosita... yeah, I can talk, what's up...?"

"But this is not just a broken down old building. Oh no, not at all. It's a palace of wonder, and magic, but above all else, it's a place full of history... a long, proud history, almost as much as Calatonia itself!"

Stephanie continued gesturing towards the flip chart she'd set up, then straightened up again as she prepared to wrap up her long-practiced pitch. She'd been going on seamlessly for the better part of five minutes, and her audience of one still seemed quite engaged, so all she had to do was bring it on home for the final stretch.

"And with this renovation project, I'd like to have the opportunity to continue that history. To inspire the next generation, just as mine was all those years ago. If I can breathe new life into this hallowed temple, I won't just be bringing back a place for folks to sing and dance in. I'll be restoring a vital part of our city's community!"

She lowered her head as she finished talking, before casually flicking the switch beside her to turn the lights in the room back on. "Well, uh... w-whaddaya think? Pretty good, huh...?"

"Hmm... well, you uh... you've definitely got the charisma for it, kiddo, I'll give you that..." Bernie nodded, shuffling over to the edge of her bed as Stephanie helped her down to the floor. "You think the bank lady's gonna take to it...? Uh... what'd you say her name was again?"

"Oh, uh... Judith. Yeah, Norman said her name was Judith..." Stephanie said, rolling her eyes with a scotch. "She's apparently a real stick in the mud. Y'know, like uh... like hard to please and stuff."

"Ah well, I'm pretty sure you've gotta be when you're in that line of work..." Bernie said, prompting Stephanie to shrug in acceptance. The koala was slightly shaky, but stable enough, as she made her way over to the dresser on the other side of the room, pulling out a darkish-red shawl to drape over her shoulders. "What's the place you're wanting to buy, anyway?"

"The place? Oh, nothing, it's uh... it's just some old broken down building downtown..." Stephanie said, putting her hands in her pockets.

While Stephanie felt she had gotten quite close to Bernie - and was sure that Bernie had taken a shine to her too - in the weeks she'd been working at the Perkins Home, the old koala had made her disdain for the performative arts quite apparent. So while she had greatly appreciated all the advice and feedback that Bernie had given her about this pitch and her long-term business plans, the wolf still couldn't bring herself to say it was the local theatre that she'd set her sights on.

"But anyway, uh..." She spoke up after a moment of rather awkward silence. "Do ya really think the presentation's good, Bernie?"

"Oh yeah, absolutely. Hmm... you might wanna consider rewording some of that last stuff, though..." Bernie said as she made her way back over to her bed. "Y'know, that whole hallowed temple thing makes it sound like you're talkin' about a church or something."

"Ah... yeah, that uh..." Stephanie cringed a little as she looked to her notepad, quickly crossing out that section. "That's a good point, actually."

"Then again, it's not the old church place you're trying to buy, is it...?"

"Oh no no no, it's not that..." Stephanie forced a laugh. "Yeah, I think I've committed more than enough sins in my lifetime."

Bernie chuckled, shaking her head as she climbed back up to her pillow. "Well, uh... well other than that, it seems pretty great. Yeah... I definitely think that Judith lady's gonna like it."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. I mean, it's not that I don't like workin' here and all, seeing ya and stuff, but... well, I gotta admit, I'm real passionate about this whole project, Bernie..."

"Yeah, I can tell. You actually remind me a lot of my son..." Bernie pulled a small, possibly proud smile, though she still seemed rather uncertain. "Y'know, Baxter always told our kid to... to dream big dreams and stuff, but... well, passion can only take you so far. There's no point chasing a dream if you're not gonna be able to keep it going."

"Hmm... yeah, I've learned that the hard way..." Stephanie itched under her chin as she eyed the doorway, her eyes widening a little as another thought popped into her head. "Say, uh... didn't you say they were comin' to see ya today...? Your husband and your son, I mean..."

"I did...? Wait, is it Monday...?" Bernie pursed her lips, then glanced over to the calendar that was hung up on the wall, rolling her eyes in a playful manner. "Ah, so it is. Alright... look Steph, I'll let you know right away, my kid's a lot to take in. So you might find yourself a little -"

"Actually, um... ugh... I really hate to do this to ya, Bernie, but I actually gotta run..." Stephanie reached into her pocket and fished out her phone, before folding away the flip chart and shoving it into her gym bag as she gathered the rest of her belongings. "Tell 'em I said hi, okay!"

"Oh, uh... y-yeah, okay..." Bernie was rather taken aback by how quickly the wolf took off out the door, though she couldn't help letting a small smile cross her face as she looked over to the pictures on her bedside table, particularly focusing on the happy young koala that was posing in the centre of the biggest one. "Yeah... probably a good thing not having the two of you in the same room..."

From her past few visits to the Calatonia Infirmary - mostly regarding treatment for Porsha's arm, and the subsequent removal of her cast - Stephanie had rather gotten used to the the smooth white walls, the bright fluorescent lights, and the rather sharp scent of antiseptic that she always sensed as she made her way through the hospital wing to Rosita's office. Though she was rather taken off-guard when she opened the door to see the nurse holding one of her tools like a microphone while she belted out the chorus to the song playing on the radio.

This is...
The part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before

This is...
The part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more

"Gah!" Rosita jolted up when she finally turned around and realised she wasn't alone, almost looking like she was about to suffer a heart attack, though she quickly straightened up again and cleared her throat. "Ah, uh... Stephanie, hi! Yeah, um... s-sorry about that, I was just on break, so... kinda got a little lost, then."

"Oh no no, it's fine. Yeah, it's amazing, actually..." Stephanie chuckled, putting her hands on her hips. "Y'know, ya got a great set of pipes on ya."

"Really...? Hmm..." Rosita tilted her head when Stephanie nodded, a rather flattered red beaming on her cheeks before she looked away. "Norman's said so too, but y'know... kinda figured he was just being nice."

"Oh yeah, I can see he's been real nice..." Stephanie raised an eyebrow as she gestured towards the big, beautiful bunch of roses that were sat beside the radio on the windowsill, a gift from Rosita's all-but-confirmed boyfriend.

It had occurred to Stephanie that Norman getting this particular flower for someone called Rosita was perhaps a little on the nose, but she had to admit it was still a very romantic gesture nonetheless, especially from someone who didn't have cash to burn like her own ex did.

"Well, uh... anyways, what was it ya wanted to talk about? Y'know, ya said it was pretty urgent."

"Huh? Oh yeah, urgent stuff. Well, uh... why don't you just take a seat, honey?" Rosita gestured towards the operating table, letting Stephanie sit down while she went to her desk to get the file. "Yeah, so... y'know how we had you go through that check-up the day we took off Porsha's cast?"

"Uh-huh..." Stephanie nodded, casually draping her tail over her lap as she softly stroked it. "Yeah, I remember."

"Well, I had a quick look at the results and I just had a few, um... I don't wanna say problems, just... minor concerns." Rosita opened the page, trying to find the section she was talking about. "I guess the first thing worth mentioning is your weight."

"Oh God..." Stephanie grumbled under her breath as she put a hand to her face. She had to try her best to fight back tears as she sat a little straighter again, though she couldn't disguise the fearful tone in her voice. "Look, I put on a ton when I was havin' Porsha, and I really have been tryin' to keep it all off, Rosita, but it's just so damn -"

"No no no no no, that's not what I'm saying at all!" Rosita took on a more motherly-sounding tone - though it almost sounded like a reprimand - as she took the wolf's trembling hand. "Honey, you have to stop losing weight!"

"I know, but I... wait..." Stephanie's eyes widened. "Stop?"

"Yes! Stephanie, look at your waist, you're insanely underweight for a wolf your age... alright, I got the number somewhere here, uh..." Rosita quickly skimmed through the pages of her document. "Ah, there it is. Yeah, last we checked you're only around 67 pounds."

"Oh..." Stephanie bit her bottom lip. "How much am I 'sposed to be?"

"Ninety at least, but even that's pushing it!" Rosita let out a sigh. "Sweetie, I dunno what kind of diet you've been on since you had Porsha, but you're way past the point of needing it now. Add that to what's been going on with your liver, and -"

"Liver...?!"

"Ugh... yeah..." Rosita shook her head as she turned the page again. "I um... I don't usually prod about this sorta stuff, but um... do you drink, Stephanie?"

Rosita noticed the wolf's entire body freeze up when she said this, as her claws dug right into the metal table she was sat on. The slight twitches in Stephanie's eyes and nose, and the soft, strained whimpers being forced out of her mouth almost made it seem like she was reliving some rather uncomfortable memories, though she eventually snapped out of it in order to finally give a verbal answer.

"I... I did, a lot..." She said. "But not after... after, uh... no, not anymore."

"Okay, well that's good." Rosita nodded, finally letting Stephanie see the document in her hand as she pointed to the X-Ray scan paperclipped to the page. "I don't know when exactly you stopped, but it's a good thing you did. If you kept that up, plus you not eating, well... I hate to think what could have happened."

"Ugh... well, if you're trying to get me to eat more, Rosita, that's definitely ruined my appetite..." Stephanie forced a laugh, though the more serious look on Rosita's face only made her feel even more unnerved. "But um... b-but yeah, that does look pretty bad. So what happens now? Do I gotta have like a surgery or something?"

"Oh no, nothing like that, thank goodness..." Rosita took on her usual tone again, closing the document and putting it back in her desk. "Like I said, you're really lucky we found this when we did. If you're already stopped the drinking, all you need to worry about now is eating more."

"Uh, yeah... y-yeah, okay... I'll get right on it..." Stephanie shrugged with a smile, before lowering her head as she bit her bottom lip again. "But y'know, he, uh... he made it do it."

"Hmm...?" Rosita turned back to face her. "What was that, honey?"

"He... h-he made me do it. Porsha's Dad." Stephanie felt her eyes misting up again. "I was pretty lean and stuff when I first met him, then I kinda ballooned and stuff when we were havin' Porsha, and... hmm... she was barely even outta me before he was talkin' about gettin' me back to... t-to normal."

"Aw, Steph..." Rosita clicked her tongue, shaking her head in disapproval, and a bit of disgust. "Hmm... I'm starting to see why you left that guy."

"Oh, ya don't know the half of it..." Stephanie let out a rather harsh chuckle, though she managed to regain her more chipper mood as she wiped her eyes and stood up off the table. "Well anyway, uh... that's all ya wanted to say, huh?"

"Uh-huh, that's about it." Rosita nodded, counting on her hand as she reiterated her previous advice. "Yeah, so stay off the alcohol, put your pounds back on, and uh... oh yeah, doesn't look like you're a smoker, but I'd suggest you stay away from that too."

"Oh yeah, obviously. Hmm... don't wanna let Porsha see me doin' that sorta stuff..." Stephanie held back in the doorway for another moment or two, then glanced over to the radio that was still playing beside the flower. "Oh and by the way, Rosita, ya better keep that singin' voice workin' good. You're gonna need when I have ya workin' in the Prairie in a couple years!"

She noticed the pig freeze up as her face beamed red again - her expression seeming to mix flattered with flabbergasted and even a little terrified - then gave her an encouraging wink and closed the door before Rosita had a chance to respond or object.

Although it was just after two in the afternoon, there was already a warm, red to black gradient in the autumn sky to begin the early evening. The faint chill of the air gently caressed Stephanie's fur as the wolf made her way down the street, and she followed the faint sound of gently lapping water all the way to the canal that cut right through the middle of the city.

While she'd already been trying her best to avoid the temptation of drinking since her return to Calatonia, hearing that suggestion from someone else - a medical official, no less - was exactly the prompt to continue doing so. And as unfamiliar as the thought of not vomiting out most of her meals was sure to be, Rosita's insistence was more than enough to convince her. These thoughts continued racing through the wolf's head as she gripped onto the railing and overlooked the now darkened and slightly turbulent waves of the water below her, and finally dissipated after she took a long, satisfied inhale of the cool but comforting afternoon air.

By what seemed to be completely random chance, the direction of the wind then turned Stephanie's attention towards the bridge that overlooked the canal, about fifty yards or so to her right. At first glance there seemed to be a figure stood there, right in the centre of the curve, but it wasn't until she squinted a little harder when Stephanie finally recognised the individual in question.

"Oh... Mary! Hey, Mary!" She pulled a big smile and stood on her tiptoes and frantically waved to get her friend's attention, though the gorilla didn't seem to notice her as she continued silently gazing at the river below. "Mary...?"

Only clad in a simple, short-sleeved shirt and jeans, Mary had her eyes shut and she wasn't wearing her circular glasses, which upon closer inspection Stephanie noticed were actually folded up beside the gorilla on top of a folded up scarf and jacket. She seemed to be holding something small in her eyes, and held it up to her lips to plant a small, tearful kiss on whatever it was, before saying something to herself that Stephanie was too far away to hear.

It was only then when Stephanie realised that Mary wasn't standing behind the railing of the bridge at all - she was in front of it, dangling right over the water - and she barely had time to process this before the gorilla suddenly loosened her grip and plummeted like a rock into the barely-lit depths below.

"Oh my god... MARY!"