2020-11-21 - You Can Run, But You'll Always Come Back

April 2020

It had been a long time coming. Isolde could feel it in her bones. That boiling point threatening to reach its limit and explode.

So she left.

On a stop halfway there she'd texted Alexander that she was going back to Portland and that was it. No further explanation given even if it was requested. She just needed to get out of Gray Harbor before things really went South.

Isolde swallowed hard, staring up up at the hospital. Cedar Hills. She's been here before, when she was younger. More than once. "You alright, Miss?" The Taxi driver asked, looking over at her a touch concerned.

Isolde cleared her throat and put on a smile. "Yes. Fine." She grabs her bag and her giant stuffed frog as she gets out of the car. "Thank you for ride." She knows that she won't be able to actually keep her stuff but she didn't want to leave them behind. She waits until the Taxi drives off to walk into the hospital lobby.

It's a lot less scary than she remembered, which gives Isolde pause. The lobby seems welcoming almost and the receptionist, though clearly a little tired - offers up a friendly smile as she approaches the desk. "Welcome to Cedar Hills, Miss. How can I help you?"

"Uhm, Checking in."

7 Months Later

Isolde walked out of Cedar Hills with a grin, accompanied by one of the aides, to a waiting Taxi. "I think you'll really like Green Acres, Isolde. You'll have more freedom to do what you want, but the support will still be there when you need it. You've come a long way."

A tinge of red flushed Isolde's cheeks as she laughed. "I appreciate it, Trinity. I feel better. I think better. I'm looking forward to starting my classes and just trying to...make something of myself."

While the initial transition to Cedar Hills had been difficult, being away from the Glimmer Haven that was Gray Harbor helped immensely. The Dreams were less and being on a regimented medication schedule cleared up her paranoia and helped her focus. There was therapy - mental and speech. Slowly that tangled web of strings that was her mind untangled and straightened. Sure, there were still a few knots scattered around but that's to be expected. Those would probably never untangle themselves fully.

Green Acres was an assisted living type of facility. While her time at Cedar had been up, they helped place her at Green Acres since she had no where to go and didn't trust herself to be alone. Green Acres was a good place. She got her own little apartment and was able to come and go as she pleased. She started up a couple online classes at the Community College and did some waitressing at a cafe close to home.

Then she had a Dream. Sure she still was pulled in and it sucked but this Dream was different. This one involved the Creature. The one she felt all that time ago. The one that she had promised to help free. She couldn't really remember too much when she'd spilled out of the Dream an onto her living room floor with sand scattered all around but Isolde knew one thing for certain.

She had to go back to Gray Harbor. Whether she liked it or not.