“It’s December 1st,” her dad replied. “It’s been a long time, Rachel. A really long time. I’m surprised you came back to us.”

“Well, I’m back. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I want to put my room back together. Where’d you put my things?” Rachel asked.

“Um…they’re in the garage. But why are you going to put your room back together. You can’t stay here!” her dad said, sternly.

“What do you mean I can’t stay here? Where do you think I should go then?” Rachel questioned.

“I don’t know. Where have you been living this past year? Why don’t you go back there? You’re probably more welcome there than here. After all we’ve been through you don’t seriously think you can just march back in here as if nothing happened, do you?” her dad remarked.

“All you’ve been through? It was ONE NIGHT! Don’t get all worked up over it. You’re completely blowing this whole thing out of proportion,” Rachel said, letting out a little laugh. “You and Mom are so dramatic! Where’s Mom anyway?”

“She’s not here,” her father said.

“Where’d she go? The store?” Rachel asked.

“I told you the other day where she was. Don’t pretend you don’t know,” her dad said.

“Is she on vacation?” Rachel said. “The other day? I don’t remember her leaving.”

Rachel felt her dad’s hand touch her forehead, “You’re not well,” he said. “You should get some rest. We can talk about this when you wake up.”

“I feel fine, Dad. Completely fine. The only thing that’s bothering me is you telling me that I don’t live here and that I can’t stay in my own house. I think you’re the sick one here, not me!”

“Listen, Rachel,” her dad said. “I’ll let you stay here under one condition.”

She looked back at him in awe, what was he even suggesting? Was there another option to not staying here? Was he kicking her out?

“What’s that, Dad?” Rachel remarked.

“You need to see a shrink,” he said, in a serious tone. “You need to work out these issues if you are going to live under my roof.”

“A shrink?” Rachel questioned with a laugh.

“Yes, a shrink. A therapist. It’s clear it’s what has to happen. We have to get to the bottom of this,” her dad said.

“Um.. OK dad, whatever you say!” Rachel said, assuming he was joking.

“I’m not kidding. You either agree to it or you’re outta here,” he said.

“Ok, fine. I’ll go. Whatever you want, Dad,” Rachel said.

“All right, I’ll set up an appointment for you with Dr. Goldman, he’ll be the perfect person to help you through this. You’re mother saw him before she was admitted. And he still visits her now, talks to her, you know?” her dad said.

“Huh?” Rachel questioned. “Mom? A shrink?”

“Rachel, please. Don’t rehash this right now. I’d rather let sleeping dogs lie,” her father said.

Rachel hated that expression, yet her father used it all the time.

“OK, OK! Whatever you say. Let me just get my things,” Rachel said.

“Ok, I’ll help you,” her dad said. “But remember, if you do ANYTHING that I don’t agree with, you’re back out. Do you understand me?”

“Yes! Yes! I get it,” Rachel said. “I’ll be good.”

Then, out of nowhere, her stomach began to growl and she felt an insatiable hunger come over her. She couldn’t believe how hungry she felt. It was like a hunger she’d never experienced before. She clutched her stomach and ran downstairs to the kitchen to get some food, hoping she could get control of this feeling.

CHAPTER 3

“Rachel?” Mark said, in a surprised voice. “Is that you?”

“Mark!” Rachel said, in an excited voice. “What’s up little bro!”

“Wow, crazy to see you again!” Mark said.

Rachel didn’t know what was up with her family today. It was as if they hadn’t seen her in ages. She couldn’t figure it out.

“Um, yeah! Here I am!” Rachel said, going along with it.

“What are you doing back here?” Mark asked.

“Well, I came home today. Aren’t you happy to see me?” Rachel said, playing with him.

“Well, yeah, I guess so. But what did Dad say? Was he angry?” Mark asked.

“Not too much!” Rachel said. “I got off easy this time!”

“Clearly!” Mark said.

She then took a closer look at Mark and realized he looked different to her. She couldn’t pin point exactly what it was but it was as if he was a different person. He didn’t quite look like himself and the way he was acting around her was odd. Sure, the conversation was normal, but it was almost as if he was hiding something. It was very out of character for him.

“What’s wrong Mark? Are you ok?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be ok?” Mark snapped. “I’m just feeling a little off today, that’s all.”

Rachel watched as Mark washed some blood off his hands in the kitchen sink.

“What happened?” Rachel asked.

Mark turned around and looked at her, trying to cover up his hands, “Oh, nothing.”

“What’s on your hands? Did you hurt yourself?” Rachel asked concerned.

“Oh, that. It’s nothing really. Just a minor scratch,” Mark answered.

It looked like more than a minor scratch to Rachel but she didn’t press it any further. She didn’t want to upset him and he was already acting a little strange. She didn’t want to alienate him.

“So why’d you come back anyway?” Mark asked.

“What do you mean?” Rachel asked. “I was only gone for a night! Why are you and Dad acting as if I’ve been gone for a long time?”

She waited as Mark looked at her, as if he were trying to read her.

“What?” Rachel asked. “Why are you staring at me?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that, well, you have been gone since we moved,” Mark said.

“Moved?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah since we moved back here, you’ve been gone,”

“You’re funny, Mark!” Rachel said. “Stop playing games with me!”

“I’m not playing games. Don’t you remember?” Mark asked, still staring at her with an odd expression.

“Remember what?” Rachel asked.

“You know, Bedford, AHS, Benji?” Mark said.

Then, all of a sudden, Rachel had a flashback to a moment she had with Benji where they were kissing on the balcony of his castle. The flashback came and went quickly and then she shook her head, trying to remember it all, but she couldn’t.

“Not really? We’ve lived here the whole time though,” Rachel said. “Bedford?”

“Remember Dad’s job got transferred up to New York? We moved for a year and then after you left things got really bad for the family and mom went into the hospital. Then, Dad decided to move us back to Pennsylvania. He felt the move was all a terrible mistake and he wanted to bring the family back home, back to better times,” Mark said.

“WAIT WHAT? Mom’s in the hospital?” Rachel shrieked.

“Yes, it was all too much for her after you left. She couldn’t take it. She’s in a coma now in the hospital. Doctor’s aren’t sure if she’s going to wake up,” Mark said.

“But why? What do you mean?” Rachel asked. “This is MY FAULT?”

“Well, I guess so. Indirectly it is your fault. You caused us a lot of stress and grief. It was all so unpredictable one day to the next and nobody knew where you were going or where to find you. It was really hard on us,” Mark said.

“I had no idea. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I never did anything,” Rachel said.

“Listen, Rachel. I don’t really want to go over this with you now. It’s really not a good time for me. I have to go now,” Mark said, looking down at his watch.

“Wait, but you just got here. Where are you going?” Rachel asked.

“I have to go. Stop asking so many questions!” Mark said.

CHAPTER 4

Rachel went upstairs to start putting her room back together. She was puzzled by the fact that everything was in boxes but didn’t want to keep questioning it. She started taking her things out of their boxes one by one. She pulled out old trophies, posters, and her clothing. Her favorite MTV t-shirt was there, in the box with her Dr. Martin shoes that she loved so much. Then, she pulled out some old photographs of Dana and all her friends. She hung them back on the wall in their proper places and continued unpacking. She was happy to see her room take shape again, just as she’d remembered it.

As she reached down to the bottom of one box she found a dusty picture album, blew off the dust and opened it up. She was confused by the photos she saw and didn’t know who these people were. It was pictures of her with a group of girls she didn’t know. Then she saw pictures of a homecoming football game and her sister Sarah as a cheerleader. It didn’t look like the high school she remembered and all the kids were strangers to her. She didn’t recognize one of them. This was all very confusing to her. Maybe what everyone was saying held some truth, she thought to herself. Still, she didn’t want to believe it.

Then, she pulled out her cell phone to text Dana. She missed her; it felt like forever since they’d hung out for some strange reason. She wanted to see what she was up to and if she wanted to hang out.

Rachel: Hey Dana! What’s up? Wanna come over?

Dana: Rachel?

Rachel: Who else would it be!

Dana: Is it really you?

Rachel: Um, yeah! Stop acting weird. What’s up?

Dana: Where are you?