Opening Up

Elinora, five years later…

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17 was a dark age, but the future opened itself up to me. I don't know about you, but I am definitely feelin' 22, with the complete Taylor Swift emphasis on the phrase.

I spent years grieving and wallowing in the suffocating curiosity of just what exactly my mother claimed to be my gift. I only snapped out of it when I finally completed and earned my GED. Though pain still lurked in the corners of my chest, I set my sights on my studies and career. I locked in a five-year plan and only looked back when I realized I was passionate, driven to learn but never to conform.

I withdrew from university my first semester into my graduate degree. The regulations and guidelines of diagnostic psychology didn't quite match my more free-flowing philosophy for mental health. I tried to use what little grasp I did have on my "powers" to my advantage. I wanted to make an impact. I wanted people to benefit from my extensive knowledge of healthy communication and social strategies.

Sometime between earning my GED and landing a dream job, or at least an excellent stepping stone in my career, I met my best friend and roommate, Holly. Truly opposites, at least physically. Having inherited the gene for albinism, Holly's skin is so pale it is almost translucent, lacking melanin and all. She has violet eyes and bright white hair that she leaves long and flowing down her back, leaving the ends to brush freely against her hips. She is tall, exceptionally tall for a woman. Standing just over 5′11" (about 181 cm), she is willowy with legs for days.

We made a striking pair with my medium, olive-toned skin, amber-brown eyes, and brunette hair to match. I perfectly juxtapose Holly's extraordinary complexion and energy in all my painful mediocrity. More than that, the height difference is just laughable. I barely reach her chest at a whopping 5′ even (about 152 cm).

Holly and I met during the junior year of our bachelor's program. After that first group assignment in our Introduction to Sociology class, we were inseparable. We seamlessly integrated as friends in a way I had never experienced. This effortless companionship is tried and true. We accept each other unconditionally, enduring necessary interventions of tough love. We went as far as renting a house together once we both settled into long-term employment.

Today, we are going on 23 and almost 2 years of steady employment, same house, same best friend. Did I mention we both studied psychology? Or that we now work together? Like I said, we are inseparable.

Holly came skipping through the playscape at our behavioral center. I was working with a little girl, Vada, trying to gently teach her to communicate instead of just running to her interest.

"Vada, I know we have talked about this before. Remember what we do when we are ready to go to the swings?" I coaxed her, trying to set her up for some good ole' positive reinforcement.

No response. Nothing. Vada just stared straight past me and over my shoulder, probably not even listening.

A tap on the shoulder startled me from my analysis of Vada's behavior, and everything made sense.

"Hiya there, Elinora," Holly greeted me before peering over my shoulder, "and a warm hello to you, too, Vada!"

Kids, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, are utterly captivated by Holly's appearance. I'll be the first to throw jokes around about the kids that run and cry when they see her, but mostly children become entranced by her peculiar attributes.

Vada wasn't quite ready for Holly's exuberance, so I crouched to her level and ushered her on her way, saying, "Alright, Miss Vada, you can go swing. Thank you for being patient, and if you want to go somewhere new to play, please come ask me first. I'll be right here!" She sped towards the swing, practically throwing herself into the seat.

Once she seemed content, I allowed myself some focus on Holly. "Hey Holly, I thought you were at the Thompson's today?"

"What?" She broke out of her daze with that automatic reply, "Oh, no. Clara called in and canceled because Sawyer was running a fever. I'll be going back to in-house sessions with him as soon as he is better. I just had a quick question for you… It's Friday night. Are you free?"

Holly knew me all too well. I kept busy on weeknights with babysitting for the families from the center or volunteer work at local animal shelters. Still, I always left Friday nights open for relaxing time with my closest loved ones. Usually, this time is reserved for reading in my horribly expensive bean bag chair with my closest loved one, my cat, Luna. But Holly knows that already. She disagrees with me anytime I try to use my quality time with Luna as an excuse to avoid human interaction.

Making sure Vada was still content on the swings, I heaved out a theatrical sigh, "Well, you know that personally, my answer is no, I am not free. But, since you are already aware of what occupies my near-future, you can judge whether or not I participate in whatever you have planned."

An ungodly shriek broke through the room, startling the few child stragglers of the center-based program and me. Though surprised, Vada quickly refocused on trying her hardest to swing as high as her little legs could muster.

"Holy Holly," I said, clutching my chest from the fright, "try to warn me before ever hitting that volume again."

She playfully smacked my shoulder, "I just can't believe you agree to be at my whim tonight! This is really special to me. I've told you about my family of misfits, but you've never been comfortable meeting that many strangers at once."

Before I could even argue, she squealed again, "Oooohh, you're not going to regret it! We will have so much fun, and I just know everyone will love you. There's nothing to worry about; you're my sista-from-anotha-mista, so they are officially your family."

She started bouncing up and down as she squeezed me into a brief hug before running off.

"See you at home, A-S-A-P!" She yelled as she clocked out and rushed away, happy to not ruin my reluctant acceptance of her plans.

Breaking out of the la-la land that Holly carries everywhere she goes, I turned to find Vada standing at my feet, patiently awaiting my undivided attention.

"Sorry, Vada! What is it?" I asked, glancing around to see if her parents had arrived.

She pointed to the back door, where her mom waved excitedly, signaling the door was locked.

"My mama is here. Can I go home now?" Vada inquired.

I effortlessly replied, "Why, of course, Miss Vada! Thank you for using your words; it's always important to ask an adult before approaching a new situation. You did wonderful letting me know your mom was here and asking me if it was your time to go. Great job!" Remembering to give her the positive reinforcement she deserves for communicating to me what she needs.

Following Vada's departure, the last two kids were picked up from the facilities. I shut everything down and locked up, walking to my car slower than usual, contemplating what Holly had planned for us tonight. I reached my car, promising myself I would go with the flow and enjoy myself enough to appease the tyrant I call my best friend.

Holly had an unconventional childhood. Being raised by a single father, they lived at the will of his whims. They constantly traveled for the first 15 years of Holly's life. Thomas, Holly's dad, used the money from her late mother's insurance policy to gift Holly an all-encompassing and worldly home-schooled education, taking odd jobs along the way to maintain their savings for security.

When she was 16, they began exploring the other half of the 50 states after a brief intermission in South America. Slowing down, they spent a few months each in both the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and even Louisiana. Becoming acclimated with the culture of the southern states, Holly felt at home in the heat and humidity.

Finally, this dynamic duo arrived in Texas. At 17, Holly was exhausted from traveling, and it felt right to be in Texas. Even though she was settled, she knew her dad could never stop running from the loss of his wife, her mother. With Holly's blessing, Thomas continued his escapades and is now somewhere in Nepal, basking in the colorful culture.

In Texas, left to her own devices, Holly quickly found a group home for "estranged youth." She worked for her room and amenities until she got her GED, applied to university, and was accepted. Before leaving her temporary home for a dorm on her new campus, she made lifelong connections with a few outsiders and wallflowers. Holly took them under her wing and forced them into opening up to her.

While Holly got on the path to meet me junior year, her temporary home transitioned into something more. Those wallflowers and outsiders dug their heels in and turned "Split Creek Home for Disadvantaged Youth" into what they call "Misfit Mansion." Now the historic manor is home to gypsies, rogues, and runaways without a family or place of their own. The Frankenstein family grows and changes, but the foundation rests on the 7 children who grew up and out of Split Creek, forcing it to change into something more meaningful and long-term.

Though focused on her studies during the bulk of the shift, Holly is one of the 7 pillars of her beloved Misfit Mansion. The other 6 are Zindra, Victoria, Reese, Jo, Harley, and Alec, if I remember correctly. Not counting Holly and Zindra, our other roommate, this is the gang she has been so deadset on me meeting.

Okay, so I realize being asked to meet 5 new people is not outrageous, but keep in mind they live in a mansion. The manor they own houses at least 25 people at any time. The unique 7 and the 25 residents don't include the numerous other members of this quirky family who live in their own houses. I don't know for sure. I tend to zone out when Holly and Zindra get caught up trying to explain how expansive their family is. Honestly, a group of more than 10 people is a lot for me.

After pulling myself out of my spiral of social anxiety, I realized I had made it home. My brain had gone auto-pilot, setting the parking brake and everything, without ever breaking my stream of consciousness. One day, all of the moments where I wasn't observant or didn't pay enough attention will catch up to me, but tonight I made it home safely, thanks to muscle memory.

I had barely opened the door to my SUV when Zindra yelled from the porch, "So, you're really going tonight, huh?"

I collected my belongings and took my key out of the ignition before stumbling out of the vehicle. Once balanced, I shut the door and locked the car with the remote until it let out a satisfying honk in confirmation.

"Yes, Zin, I am really going tonight," I said with an eye roll.

She took a drag from her half-smoked cigarette before replying, "I didn't think we could ever convince you to go, not with your pathoseia or whatever." She scoffed before adding, "You always say social gatherings are too overwhelming."

I didn't miss the mocking tone or her snickering.

"Well, gee, Zin. One of these days, I will have to find out one way or another because I am sure as hell not getting rid of Holly… or you, I guess…." I teased, "You two come as a packaged deal with this pack of drifters."

Zindra just nodded, rushing me with the shrinking cigarette between her fingers.

I sighed, "And, this time, Holly didn't give me time to argue before squealing her excitement and running."

"Ah," she said, blowing out smoke as she dropped the last of her cig to the ground and rubbed it out with her boot into the cement, "there it is. You were tricked into it. I knew it had to be something when Holly wouldn't make eye contact with me when she told me you were coming."

That made me giggle. Holly was a lousy liar, even with something as small as this.

"Guess it's my turn to let loose a little, open up to someone other than Holly. However, I am perfectly content with the two sisters that have already adopted me." I winked at Zin, who rolled her eyes, continuing into the house to see what Holly decided I would wear tonight.