Not Even Once//PT2 of Just Once Series

Chapter 8// Rehabilitation

On doctors orders, Alice was sent to a mental hospital for a week. She wasn't going to lie, though, she liked being away from Josh for a while. After the attack, he'd been all over her. All she wanted was some space.

"Now, Alice..." The doctor spoke, playing with the edge of her clipboard, "What happened?"

"Nothing." She lied. She'd barely wanted to tell her dad, let alone a doctor she'd only known for three days.

"C'mon, Alice. I know you have things you need to talk to me about. Joshua says." The doctor was trying to get her to break, using Joshua's name.

"Doctor--" The nurse knocked, "Alice has a visitor in her room."

"Alright. Go, but tomorrow, Alice, your going to tell me everything."

"Okay." Alice stood, leaving the conference room.

The nurse led her up to her room and then left her at the door. Alice loved visitors, but not when she didn't know who it was. It could have been a murderer for all she knew!

She slowly opened the door, seeing no one until she entered.

His short black hair caught the light from the window he was sitting under. He was wearing his usual, tan pants and a black tee-shirt with red SDMN lettering. Alice gasped.

"What are you doing here." Anger filled her voice as she took a step back from the door.

"Alice, it's alright." He spoke softly.

"NURSE! NURSE!" She called, but no one seemed to answer her.

"Calm down Alice... Please." If there was any glimmer of madness in his eyes before, it certainly wasn't there now. He looked sad, tired, drained.

"I don't want you here."

"I just need to talk with you for a little while, Alice Emily." He took a few steps toward her, sadly smiling.

"No, you don't need to talk to me... I-I'm calling Josh!" Alice jumped toward the phone, dialing Josh's number. He didn't answer.

"Alice, please. Hear me out." The boys voice broke.

"Vik-I..."

"It's been so long since I've heard you say my name..." Vik smiled sadly again.

"That's because I don't ever want to say your name. You liar." Alice whispered under her breath.

"I know, I know-"

"And don't you even try to fake me out. Don't try to make me feel guilty! I'm not your personal pawn." Alice snapped. She slammed the phone down on the receiver.

"Woah, Alice."

"Your the reason why I'm in this stupid hospital anyway. YOU ARE the reason why I have depression! YOU'RE the reason I had a heart attack! You caused all these things and expect to be able to come back into my life? Hell no! I don't ever want to see you again. Ever." Alice hadn't realized, but she'd started crying.

Vik looked hurt, but he knew that everything she had just said was true. He flinched.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, his head falling in shame.

"No-your not. If you were sorry, you would have said something a while ago."

"I couldn't, Alice. Josh wou-"

"And rightfully so." Alice cut him off. "Now, leave... Please.... Before I have to call security." She took a few deep breaths, then sat down in the chair next to the door.

"I'm sorry Alice." Vik grabbed his coat, and without another word, he left. Alice sighed.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you, this time-Vik." She pulled out a tablet from the drawer of her small desk in the little room. She began to write.

Dear Josh,
I'm sorry.
For all these years I thought you needed me, but really, you don't need my problems or my depression right now. So, I guess I'm going to get help. I'm going to become a better sister. First, I figured I'd get the divorce papers. I can't do this-what ever this is-with Vik anymore. I'm done with him. Secondly, I'm going to try and move into my own apartment or possibly try to live with Ethan. And lastly, I'm going to leave you alone. No more "Josh, I need help" or "Josh I'm scared". I'm my own person, and I should try to embrace that more. It's not that I don't love you, I do, but I just feel at the age of 24, I should at least try my best to be an adult.
Love, Alice Emily, your sister.

She put the small letter into an envelope, and sealed it. She wasn't going to give him the letter just yet, but as soon as she got home for the hospital, she'd pack up her stuff and leave. She was done.

"Alice?" Simon stood in the door way.

"Oh, hi Simon." Alice continued to stare at her letter.

"Hi." He made his way over to her bed, "What's that?" He sat down and looked over at her note.

"Nothing. Just something for Josh." Alice smiled at Simon.

"Okay. What does it say, Ali?" Simon stood up again, walking toward her.

"Nothing." She picked the piece of paper up off the desk, "Just about stuff."

"Oh, alright." He moved back to the bed.

"Simon- did you come with Vik?"

"No, why, was he here?" Simons face changed. He looked worried.

"Yeah, actually, he was just in here before you." Alice sighed, folding the piece of paper in half.

"We told him not to come..." He whispered under his breath so Alice wouldn't hear him, but she did anyway.

"Did Josh allow him home? I thought he was banned from the house?"

"He was. Josh let him back when you got here because you aren't allowed to stay with us anymore." Simon sighed. He looked stressed.

"Where am I going to stay then?" Alice, concerned, thought.

"With Ethan. He figured it was the least he could do, considering we're all paying for you hospital bills." He tapped his leg anxiously. It looked like he'd wanted to tell her something, but couldn't.

"Simon, what's wrong?" Alice had noted the change in personality.

"Nothing."

"Nothing is something... Come on, tell me."

"A-are you going to divorce Vikram?" He blurted, throwing a hand to his mouth afterward.

"Yeah, I am. I don't love him anymore. He's a liar."

Alice figured she wouldn't need the letter anymore. She'd already told Simon more than half of the stuff that was on it. There was no need for it anymore.