"The day it all broke down to her"

She opened her journal, reading it carefully. The words embedded with her beautiful handwriting made her curious as to what she wrote in the thick book.

[November 16th, 2021]

A sudden ring in her head woke her up from her slumber... Did she really just sleep on a bus? Aurora looked at her wrist-watch, rolling her eyes, realizing she missed her stop. She looked out the window to see where she had ended up. It didn't look too far from her stop as she saw the grocery shop her family visited once, and it was a 15 minute walk from their house.

Pressing the button to let the driver know she needs to get off, she quickly stood up and walked out of the bus as it stopped. Wasn't too hard, was it? Except she had to walk all the way back to home now. She sighed as she shrugged her shoulders to fix her bag that was almost falling when her head rang once again. She grunted, sitting down and holding her head in her hands. It suddenly ached, She had felt this pain before. But why?

"Are you alright?" Someone walking by asked her.

But strange enough, she couldn't hear anything.

"Hello? Are you alright?" He asked once again as he tried to help her get up. "I am a doctor. Mind if I take a look?" He added to his series of questions.

Aurora looked at him as her vision blurred.

"I don't know what's happening..." She murmured in a soft tone.

The doctor helped her walk towards a hospital, which was just a few steps away. He took her to his room and she vaguely read his name as 'Dr. Matthias Evans - Neurologist'. She remembered how he was her Father's friend.

"Uncle Matthias?..." She said as she recognized him, sitting on a chair in his room.

"You know me?" He said as he sat down as well.

"I am Aurora." She introduced herself, as she felt a bit better.

"Aurora?" He exclaimed in surprise. "You've grown so much!" He added as he also recognized her. "But, we should do a check-up for you first, then we'll catch up."

"No, I feel fine now... Thank you Uncle."

"We need to run some tests still. Don't worry, I won't eat much of your time."

Aurora agreed to have it checked. She suspected her diet as she was eating a lot of fast food these days. She, too, preferred home-cooked meals but due to her high-school group assignments, she had to stay out of home for longer. Except 'assignments' was really just an excuse to keep hanging out with her friends. They ran a few blood tests, and scans for her. Dr. Matthias also asked the labs to get him the results quickly.

Aurora just sat in his room as she texted messages in her group chat, with all her friends in it. She didn't tell them that she was at a hospital but she needed someone to talk to at that very moment.

"Are you guys home?" She texted.

"Part-time. My dude wants over-time from me *sad emoji*" Ethan replied quickly, as if he wasn't on his part-time job at all.

"Out with Mr. Goggles." Lucy replied referring to her dog, called Mr. Goggles for the big eyes he had. He was a Shih Tzu.

"What a torture to Mr. Goggles, to be out on a walk with someone as lazy as you." Sean replied. "I wanna join too." He added.

"Here he goes again..." Giselle replied, referring to Sean's multiple personalities.

Aurora read all of those text messages with a smile. She really only needed a single text to have everyone gather at once. That's what made her happy despite having to sit in a hospital. However, she knew it was just for a brief moment. So, she sat tight waiting for all her reports to say 'clear' so she could go back home and sleep for the day.

Dr. Matthias entered the room with her reports and sat down. She stared at him out of curiosity. But. he looked a bit alarmed.

"It is nothing serious, right? Don't tell me I can't eat fast food anymore..." Aurora murmured.

"Aurora... When did you start feeling odd? I mean how often did your head hurt and you felt tired?" He asked.

"It happened from time to time during last year's exams... It was fine after I improved my diet."

He nodded as he picked up his telephone receiver and started to dial a number. To Aurora, it looked like her Father's number. And his eyes, worried.

"Wait!" She exclaimed as she slammed the telephone's hook button, ending the call. "S-Sorry... But why do you need to call my dad? Is it something serious? Just tell me first." She added.

...

"Glioblastomas." He said after a pause.

[November 16th, 2020]

"Giselle! Please!" Aurora exclaimed, "Just this once! Just show me once and I won't mention it to anyone!" She added.

"Last time I showed you my notes, you showed everyone!" Giselle said as she sulked.

"I was just being nice though..."

"I know, but being nice doesn't mean you have to show my hard work to everyone. Why should they get it for free? I'm showing you guys only because I want you guys to be with me next session. Except keep your 'kindness' to yourself."

"You just touched my heart." Lucy said as she wore glasses to look sophisticated.

Exam season had everyone nervous, except Sean.

"You guys worrying about notes? Just use your brains. That's the point of school." Sean said.

"You don't need a job later because you already own your dad's company. That's why you don't worry." Ethan cried staring into his wallet.

"Fair point." He paused for a moment. "I should treat you guys lunch." Sean said.

They all gasped in joy as a rare sight was spotted. Lunch from Sean was imagined as a luxury five-star restaurant. However, depending on his personality, he could take them to a place with rotten vegetables as well. He suffered from DID (Dissociative identity disorder) since the past 7 years. However, his other alters were the reason he befriended all of them anyway.

"Let's focus on the exam we have in 2 hours for now." Giselle reminded them of the exam so they could stop day-dreaming about five-star restaurants.

The exam went fine for everyone mainly because of the notes Giselle provided them. She had always been a hard-working student despite being gifted with intellect. She always ended up thinking that she didn't do enough.

After school, the moment they had been waiting for had arrived. While standing in front of his locker, Ethan looked into his wallet. Sean, being a concerned fellow, looked over to Ethan's side that caused him to switch. 

"How does steak sound for lunch?" Sean's 75 year old alter was a hefty spender, and his friends loved that.

"Great choice, Uncle." Ethan nervously laughed, having Sean triggered out of nowhere. 

Sean laughed like an old man, knowing he wasn't one but also knowing that he was. It was confusing for those who didn't know him as closely. His eyes sparkled with youth yet wisdom. It was a sight, not to be missed.

They all made their way to a restaurant, taking a cab. It was all on Sean, the old man, the hefty spender etc. They placed the order of their choice. Aurora placed an order for the lightest salad they offered as she felt nauseous. She would always worry about exams and feel nauseous so it was normal too.

"You're going to be okay, right?" Lucy wanted to confirm anyway.

"Yeah... It's just nausea. Salad is good here too." Aurora said.

"And expensive. How can a salad be so expensive?" Ethan cried and sulked.

Aurora smiled at his reaction, also reassuring everyone that she was doing fine. And she did feel better after coming out with her friends. A mere nausea couldn't stop her from hanging out with her friends. The food was served and ready to be enjoyed by them. It was just a salad, but Aurora couldn't enjoy it well. Her nausea would kick in for a minute then disappear for the next minute. The cycle made her tired. But she smiled despite that, in case she wouldn't worry anyone.

"Why did I just pay for all of this?" Sean said as he chewed.

Sean was back. But it was too late now, as he had already paid for everything. Except their return though. But they could just take the bus.

"Old man loves us." Lucy explained. "You know him. He has always been generous." She added as she chuckled.

"No wonder he's my least favorite."

"You like the kid then?" Aurora said as she laughed referring to his other alter i.e. the 7 year old kid.

"He would at least spend money on toys, they are not too expensive and good to donate to orphanages"

It was not like Sean hated to spend. He just wanted to spend for good. He was one of those few rich boys who liked to spend for the welfare of others. Not for some luxuries. And his friends respected that. But they can't ever deny the old man.

[May 3rd, 2018]

"So you kids wanna disrespect an old man when he says he wanna treat you guys to an expensive meal?" Sean the old man, shouted at his friends... or grandchildren.

"No Sir, it's just..." Ethan said nervously and stopped mid-sentence realizing he just called his friend 'Sir'. How obnoxious! "Sean, what has gotten in to you all of a sudden? I thought you hated spending money on luxuries." He added.

"You are not my luxury, kid. You are a blessing. I must treat blessing as such!"

[November 16th, 2020]

When they had learnt about Sean's DID some years ago, they also tried to find about how to trigger it so his 'Alters' might show up. They never tried to trigger him but daily life activities would trigger him on his own.

Aurora got on the bus to her home waving at her friends waiting for their buses. She sat down let out a deep sigh. She put her palms in front of her face and stared at them. Her hands trembled, very slightly but she could feel it. Of course, it was cold. She let out another deep sigh before closing her eyes in peace.

By the time she reached home, she felt better. Her mom also cooked her pink sauce pasta. She washed up before having food, and started to dry her hair when her phone suddenly rang. 'Hmm?' She just saw her friends off. Did she worry them that much? She grabbed her phone smiling that her friends cared for her. More than the smile, it was just pleasant to know that. She opened the text,

"Can someone keep me for the night?" Giselle had texted in the group chat.

"Is it your brother again?" Aurora typed in concern.

"Hmm." Giselle replied.

Aurora ran towards lounge where her parents were seated.

"Dad, can we go pick up Giselle? It's her brother again... I'm scared she might get hurt." Aurora explained.

Her father nodded in concern, standing up and grabbing his car keys. They both got in the car and made their way to Giselle's house where they saw her sitting on the steps outside her main-gate. Aurora quickly got off and ran towards Giselle only to see a bruise on her forehead.

"Giselle...?" Aurora called her, "Come on, You don't need to sit here." She added as she grabbed her arm and lead her to the car.

"Are you alright?" Aurora's father asked her.

Giselle nodded, and looked out the window as the car drove. Upon reaching their house, she was treated with pasta that she couldn't eat properly. Aurora knew she didn't like contact after her brother acts up so she just took her to her room.

"Now tell me." She said as she made her sit on the bed. "What did that jerk do?" She asked.

Giselle looked away.

"Hey, it is better to talk it out." Aurora insisted. "I know you feel better after you rant." She said.

"I couldn't do his laundry on time because of exams. And he made a fuss about it." Giselle said emotionlessly. "Mom couldn't care less. She just added fuel to the flame by bringing up past things." She added, as her eyes went moist. "And my younger sister stated her issues... All while I was trying to study for tomorrow." Her voice shook as she talked further. "He threw his headsets at me, saying I don't do the work I am supposed to." She finally burst into tears. "I don't understand."

Aurora pat her back to ease it down for her.

"Once you're 18, just move out. There is no need for you to stay with them when they can't appreciate all of the things you do for them." Aurora tried to comfort her. "Stay with me for as long as you feel like."

They went to bed afterwards. At least Giselle's head was cleared up for the time being. She had two older brothers and two younger sisters who were twins. Her oldest brother had moved out. He was the only one who would understand her. But he moved out as the parents wouldn't stop pressurizing career options onto him. Her parents degraded her for making him move out, while it wasn't really her fault to begin with. Everything they decided for him, was now Giselle's fate. All the career options and everything about her life.

The only difference was that she was a middle child, much less appreciated than the older ones and the younger ones. She was expected to do much more than her capacity. When she rebelled against it, everyone would start blaming her brother's departure on her. Her only safe-zone was her friends after all.

The night was rough. She overthought a lot. Even when Aurora was right beside her. She overthought. Not just about herself, but about Aurora too. She stared at her face as she slept. She would squint her eyes from time to time, as if in pain. Giselle knew she wasn't actually sleeping. She was just the type of person who wouldn't want to make her friends worried. Especially when they had their own problems to fix.

'I will take her to a doctor and no one will stop me' Giselle had set the goal for tomorrow. If anything, she felt like her friend at least needed to see a doctor. Sure it was her normal nausea because of exams but she wanted that checked too. It would at least bring her to peace.

Giselle wasn't the only one worried about Aurora. Ethan stared into his wallet for a doctor checkup as well. Lucy cooked the healthiest meal overnight. Sean ordered her favorite fruit juices for tomorrow. She took her friends lightly, thinking they would let it go. But they were her friends. Her forever, friends.