The Healing Process

Chapter 15: The Healing Process

Months passed.

Erica smiled more. Laughed more.

Initially, it went hand in hand with pretending. Smiles that never crossed her eyes. Laughter that faded too quickly. Soon, it began to feel real, but little by little. It was no longer gray. The nights weren't so heavy.

"Erica!" She waved across the courtyard and called out Risha.

Erica turned and an actual smile tugged at her lips. "You're late," she teased.

"Excuse me? Risha huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder and giving her head a dramatic toss, "You're lucky I even showed up for this dumb practice." Audrey snorted beside her.

Audrey reminded her, "You're the one who begged to choreograph the dance."

Risha replied: 'I was having a moment of weakness'.

Erica laughed. A laugh that shook her shoulders and crinkled her eyes. Her friends exchanged a look—relieved. It had been months.

She started softly, "You ever wonder if we're all just lying to each other that we're okay until we actually are?"

Looking over was Angel, sitting beside her. "Yeah. However, pretending is sometimes the first step."

Erica didn't answer right away. The wind tugged at her hair, the stillness came to surround them. Finally, she said, "I'm not pretending anymore." "Not as much."

She was healing.

She was learning to laugh without guilt.

How to enjoy things again.

How to look into the mirror and not see a piece of a girl.

"Want to go get fries?" Angel asked suddenly.

Erica blinked. "Now?"

"Yeah. My treat."

Erica smirked. "Because you lost that bet yesterday, you're only offering."

Angel grinned. "Guilty."

Perhaps she wasn't completely over Nicole, perhaps she never would be.

But she was healing.

And that was enough.

For now.