illusion.
A short story written by Joy Coleman of North Crawford High School


“Well the thing is I never loved you”, Cyrus’s low voice mumbled through the phone.  Ivy’s heart stopped as it dropped into her stomach.  “What?” the confusion was thick in her voice.  “You heard me, Ivy.  We’re done.”  Click.  The conversation was finished before Ivy could even get an explanation.  Shock stuck with her for a few minutes as her mind tried to piece everything together.   It didn’t make sense to her.  Cyrus Morris and Ivy Murray had been dating for a year and madly in love, so Ivy thought.  Suddenly all the romance was ripped from her without even a warning.  The hurt began to seep in as thick teardrops rolled down her flushed cheeks.  Small gasps escaped her lips before turning into large sobs.  "Cyrus" she whimpered, falling to the carpeted floor beneath her.  Sitting there still for a moment as a few more sobs poured from her.   "What's school going to be like when I have to see him everyday?  What if he was cheating on me?  Why would he say he never loved me?  Was it something I did?" Ivy's thoughts raced back and forth.  Curling into a ball, she cried herself to sleep that night.
    Sun light filled the messy bedroom, pouring over Ivy's body.  Slowly as she woke up, her cheeks still burned from tears and her eyes bloodshot.   The alarm clock flashed 6:09 AM in red neon numbers.  Ivy picked herself up from the frozen state and wrapped the favorite yellow satin robe around her to warm up.
            The small bathroom attached to her bedroom stung with its luminous white light.   Eyes squinted, Ivy cranked the knobs to warm up the shower.  She slumped onto the floor and looked around aimlessly.   Ivy’s mother, Jane, was an interior designer, which led to the whole house looking like something from a Homes And Garden magazine.  Even Ivy’s small bathroom was decorated with exotic fake plants and priceless knick-knacks on the counter.  The emerald eyes fixated on a Japanese geisha doll.  It’s porcelain skin was pure along with the coral lips.  She wore an oriental crimson kimono and a pink rose in the pulled back hair.  Ivy studied the small figurine and it’s every feature.
            “Ivy!  Are you awake?” Jane called from outside the bathroom door.  Bringing Ivy out of her trance, she quickly replied, “Yeah, Mom!”  She could hear her mother's tapping fingers on the door frame.  Ivy knew that habit well, it was something Jane did when nervous.  "Mom, you're tapping.  What's going on?" she hollered through the door.  The nervous habit stopped and the sound of a sigh came from the other side, "Honey, can I come in?"  Creeks came from the oak door as it began to open, Ivy didn't respond to her mother's question.  Jane appeared and Ivy's eyes studied her mother's looks.
Jane Murray seemed flawless, much like the small doll.  Her skin had a natural tan, complementing her blazing blue eyes.  Ivy shared her mother's heart shaped face and caramel wavy hair.  For a middle-aged woman, her mother was beautiful.  "Ivy dear?" the honey voice arrest her thoughts.  With a slight shake of the head she responded, "What is it, Mom?"  Jane put the porcelain toilet seat down to sit on top, "I heard you crying last night, Ivy.  Is there something the matter?"  Ivy quickly bit down on her lip and her cheeks became red with embarrassment.  "Was I really that loud last night?  But it's just Mom, I can tell her about Cyrus."   A small tear formed in the corner of her eye by just the simple thought of his name.  A small sigh left her lips, "Cyrus...broke up with me without even an explanation.  He just told me he never loved me."  The bothersome tear released itself only to be wiped away quickly by the sleeve of Ivy's robe.  "Oh honey!" her mother broke out, grabbing her up into a hug.  "I'm so sorry, dear.  He wasn't good for you anyways.  Boys like that are nothing but dogs, good for nothing dogs."  As Jane continued to rant, Ivy thought about last night.  The dreadful phone call to the crying fit.  Her eyes began to swell quickly leading her to shooing her mother out.  "Mom my shower is going to get cold", she told the woman who was tangled to her.
The door shut behind Jane and Ivy lifted herself from the floor, allowing her golden robe to fall.  Warm water thawed out the frozen joints causing small goosebumps to raise on the pale body.  Ivy allowed her tears to be washed away with the rest of the used water.  She stood there until the water became cold.
School taunted her.  Nothing seemed right there anymore, everything was foreign.  Every inch of the hallways had been walked being hand in hand with Cyrus as others gushed about how cute they were together.  Even her friends seemed a million miles away, for none of them would come over to soothe her.  Ivy approached Rachel, her best friend since junior high, hoping to find some kind of sympathy.  "Ivy look, here's the thing.  I used to like being your friend then you became a total bitch and stole the one thing I admired, Cyrus Morris.  So I played along for awhile then three days ago at Tristan's party, I hooked up with Cyrus and it was wonderful.  Something you wouldn't ever know about because you're nothing but a prude bitch.  He even told me himself you would make up excuses constantly.  I'm done being your friend." and with that, Rachel Stuwert turned her back on Ivy and ran off beside the other false friends.   Ivy's heart dropped again.
"What's going on?  I wasn't that mean, was I?  I thought Cyrus loved me for me but he was just another jerk that used me.  Rachel was suppose to be my friend forever."  Ivy couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened.  Occasionally her eye wandered the Chemistry class to find a friend, but not a single one of them looked back at her or allowed a shoulder to cry on.  A strange feeling, stronger than dislike or love, ate up her insides.   It was something she never felt before.  Loneliness.
The next day Ivy came back to school with dark circles beneath her eyes from lack of sleep and bright red cheeks due to crying.  Nothing ever changed about high school until now.  The fluorescent light would burn your eyes after being in the haze of morning outside.  Your friends would dance to your side, gossiping about who's with who.  A long sip of coffee kept you going until lunch.   All of that felt taken away.  The school was dingier now, like a prison.  Cliques of people who were once blurs now seemed to be looking at Ivy, taunting her.  Her once friends remained a dark shadow as they gossiped about the pale girl.
It struck her suddenly.  The stab wound she was anticipating.  Cyrus Morris was against his locker sharing a never-ending kiss with Rachel Stuwert.  His thick fingers ran through her golden hair like they once did with Ivy.  Rachel's body was in the arms Ivy had been dying to be in the past two days.  Nothing was right.   "What's going on?" her mind whined.  "She's totally staring at them!" someone babbled, snapping Ivy out of her trance.  Embarrassment hit her along with disgust and hurt as she continued the way to her locker.  
The week drug on.   Everyday was a replay of the previous events.  The only thing changing was the depth of the dark circles.  Ivy stopped caring about what she looked like.  Her hair was shoved back into a messy bun, her green eyes bloodshot and comfortable sweats had been her new look for the past week and for the many weeks to come.
A month went by like a silent black and white movie.  The color had been sucked from Ivy's life.  Her grades dropped dramatically due to the lack of caring.  Her mother would of been concerned if she wasn't busy constantly, helping others with their new decor.  Ivy's father ran off many years ago to start a family with a banker's daughter, so there was no such thing as 'Daddy's Girl' to her.  All her friends became Rachel's friends and basked in the radiance of her and Cyrus' new love.  The thick sickness named loneliness continued to infect the girl to a point where life no longer had meaning.
Sitting alone at home, slumping over the large oak desk, Ivy attempted some AP History homework.  But the ambition wasn't there.   Graduation was only three months away, something Ivy once dreamed about, now it was quickly becoming another obstacle.  She had planned her whole future around Cyrus, now with that jerked from her the future seemed pointless.   That's when Ivy got an idea.   The first thing that seemed correct to her in a long time.
Jane, her mother, was out with a client and wouldn't be home until late.   Everything was set up correctly for Ivy's intention.  Prying open her mother's secret alcohol stash, she managed to find some strong vodka.  Months back Ivy had her wisdom teeth pulled out and the dentist prescribed her to some intense pain killers.  Two was all you needed to kill any kind of agony.   Smuggling all the goods back into her bedroom, she took out a notebook and begun to write.
"Dear Mom,
Before you find this letter you'll have already seen what's happened.   There was nothing you could of done to prevent this, it was something I had to do.  The disease that's been with me for the past month would not decease, so I needed to.  You were an excellent mother, so please don't blame yourself.  I'm off in a better place, somewhere I belong.   Earth just doesn't cut it for me any longer, I haven't even been able to smile the past month due to my illness.  I love you, Mom.  And I'm saving you a spot.
-Ivy"
Those were her last words.  Reading over the note gave her encouragement to continue on with her agenda.  Setting out the remaining pain relievers, she counted ten.  The vodka bottle was half empty, so she calculated half of the drink would wash down the ten pills.  She would take five in one gulp, five more in another.   Then consume the rest of the vodka to knock her out for sure.
Minutes passed before the plan was in motion.   Ivy fixed up her room for her mother's pleasing and packaged all her clothing so it could later be given away to younger relatives or the local Goodwill store.  Even leaving a small note on them stating what should be done.  Taking a glance around the room, everything had been dusted and vacuumed.  The bed was made perfectly.  Her desk was organized along with the pills sat out in two groups.  It was time.
Sitting down once more, Ivy prepared herself with thoughts of Cyrus and Rachel.  The taunting images of their love torturing her.   A hesitated sigh left her before shoving the first group of pills into her mouth then washing it down with the alcohol.  The strong taste stung her throat but didn't stop her.  One more dream popped into her head, a photograph of Cyrus and herself being happy and in love burning away to nothingness.  Giant tears strolled down her cheeks as she finished off not only pain killers and vodka, but her life.
Ivy felt woozy from the large consumption.  She laid down on carpeted floor to comfort her death.  Slowly her vision turned into black fuzz and her body tingled with numbness.  Death was creeping upon her and Ivy couldn't be more appeased.
Jane barged through the front door with a cell phone attached to her ear and Chinese food in each hand.  "Well thanks for the call, Karen.  I arrange something in the morning."   She told the other person before snapping the phone shut after tossing the Chinese onto the counter.  She had gotten off early to surprise Ivy.  Jane noticed her change in moods the past month and figured some daughter-mother time would be good.  "Ivy dear, I'm home and I have food!" she shouted up the marble stairs but no respond.  "Hm, maybe she's taking a nap" Jane thought out loud and continued the path to her daughter's room.  
Hammering on the bedroom door, Jane didn't get a response.   Helping herself into the room, she softy spoke, "Sweetie, I got off early.  I brought home Chinese."  Then the sight hit her.   An alabaster corpse that belonged to her child laid still on the floor beneath her.  An open medicine container knocked over beside a large bottle of vodka.   Jane stopped breathing as her body froze in shock.  What seemed like a lifetime passed before Jane registered what her daughter had done.  Quickly stumbling to the pink telephone on Ivy's desk, she called 911.
Hours passed by slowly.  The only sound now in the hospital room was the bothersome beeping of a heart monitor.  Tardily Ivy's eyes began to open as they took in the sight of the hospital room.  A feeling of failure struck her as she realized where she was.   “Why am I still alive?  Didn't the pills work?”, she asked herself.  Her eyes peered over to find her mother asleep in the chair beside her.  The look of horror and worry still stuck with her, making Ivy sympathize for Jane.  “Mom” her weakened voice called out.   The sapphire irises showed themselves as a large sob let out.  “OH IVY!  YOU'RE ALIVE!  OH MY GOD, YOU'RE ALIVE!” her mother shouted, hugging the fey body of her child,  “Please honey never do that again.  I don't know what I'd do without you.”  Ivy could feel the tears of her mother soak through the hospital gown.
After her mother straighted up, she went into explanation about how they had to pump Ivy's stomach and how horrified she was that her little girl was gone.   Not long after the doctor came in telling Ivy her stomach would be in pain for a couple days and due to legal purposes she would need to spend a couple weeks in an institute where she would receive therapy and be watched closely.  Jane signed Ivy up for weekly therapy also and she'd get to meet the new shrink tomorrow.   Ivy pieced together all the information and silently wished death would of taken her.
The morning came fast and before Ivy could wake up, she was on her way to Evergreen Institute, also known as the home for nut jobs.  The building was large and an off white color with a sign in the front yard advertising the name.   Small but strong bars were placed in every window and a thick Victorian Gothic style fence surrounded the perimeter to prevent any runaways.  
“Mom do I really have to go here?  I mean I feel fine.”  Ivy whined.  “Honey, you tried to kill yourself.  Of course you need to go.” her mother responded.
“Why?  So they can just tell me I'm insane.”
“No.  They are going to help you with whatever drove you to try suicide.”
“But I promised I wouldn't do it again.  Mom, don't you believe me anymore?”
Jane let out a sigh before answering, “Ivy, you have no idea what I felt that night when I saw you practically dead.  I'm gonna do all I can to never have that feeling again, so if a couple weeks at an institute is what it's going to take, I'm all for it.   Just please be cooperative, sweetie.  They are there to help you.”
Before Ivy could argue back, they were pulled into the driveway of Evergreen.  A hostile look stayed with her as she hopped out of her mother's vehicle.  Taking a glance at the building she thought back to Rachel and herself laughing at those that got sent here.  Now here she is outside of it, about to be checked in.
“Ah you must be Ivy Murray.  We've been waiting for you.  If you don't mind, please take a seat right over there while your mother fills out some forms.”  a cheerful nurse squawked and directed Ivy to a plastic blue chair.  Gazing around her new home, she noticed some patients watching television.  The majority of them were in fact young children equaling the show to be Spongebob Squarepants.  They giggled as the annoying yellow sponge bounced around on the screen.  Ivy's eyes stayed still on one little girl in particular.  The youthful skin of the child was painted in bruises and cuts.   Her right arm set in a bright pink cast.   Obviously she was a victim of child abuse, but to see the small girl smile was almost a metaphor in the making.  Although her body was broken, her soul was able to remain strong.   Instantly Ivy admired her.
“Alright sweetie, you're registered.   The nurse is gonna show you you're room.  I'll call you tonight to see how things are going.  You be good for them and this will all go by smoothly.  Pick you up in two weeks.” Jane said her farewell to her daughter with a hug and kiss on the forehead.  Ivy watched her mother leave as a nurse came up beside her.  “Okay Ivy, it's time to unpack your things.”   This time it was a male nurse named David.  His voice was as kind as the chubby one behind the counter but not as annoying.  He had a dark complexion and deep chocolate eyes that made him instantly attractive.  Nurse David picked up Ivy's luggage and lead her to room 302.
The room smelled like bleach and laundry detergent.   Every inch of it was pure white making it intensely bright.   Nurse David set the bags on the twin size bed and turned back to Ivy.  She immediately searched for the deep eyes, watching them closely as he spoke.  “There's a dresser over there for your clothing.   Lights out is at eleven and morning begins at eight.  If you're having troubles getting to sleep, press the call button and a nurse will attend you.  You can get yourself something to eat down in the cafeteria, but you can only eat down there so that means no food in your room.  Feel free to use the entertainment room anytime you'd like.  Every Thursday is a movie night, where you're treated with popcorn, soda and of course a film.”  Nurse David continued to ramble as Ivy admired his looks.  Finally finishing, he turned around to leave, “Oh!  And you're therapist will be meeting you in your room at one, so please make sure you're in here.”  Then the door shut behind him.
Ivy looked around the room one more time.   Assuring herself she wanted to be out soon.   The only way she could think of time going fast was by taking naps.  Pushing her luggage off to the floor, she laid still in the small, clean bed and allowed herself to drift off.
“Ivy, wake up” a British accent interrupted her sleep.  Groggily she awoke to find a woman who resembled a modern Mary Poppins standing above her.  A soft smile came across the woman's face, “Ah.  There we go.   Now if you could properly wake up, we'll get started.”  As she sat up on the bed she thought to herself, “This must be the shrink.”  The woman's smile stayed put as she introduced herself.  “I'm Anne Fray and I'll be your therapist until my services are no longer needed.   I won't be difficult with you if you're not difficult with me, deal?”   Ivy agreed by shaking her head.   “Alright then, now I know the story that the hospital gave  me but what I want to know is your story.  Tell me all the thoughts you had when committing the act.  Allow me to be a friend, please.”  The idea of telling a stranger her deepest thoughts made Ivy timid but her mother's words stuck with her.  “ Just please be cooperative, sweetie.  They are there to help you.”   Slowly she revealed the pain to the other woman.
Two weeks flew by.  Even the emotional Mary Poppins sessions seemed quick and painful after awhile.  It was surprising how rejuvenated Ivy felt yet she still anticipated her mother's arrival.  With all the naps, Ivy's dark circles were no longer and the disgusting illness that had a hold of her for the past month and a half was eased some.  Before leaving, Ivy thanked the nurses for taking care of her especially Nurse David.  The thought of going back to school was a bit discouraging but somehow Ivy figured she would survive now and shock everyone will her newly forming self.  
The time had come for Ivy to test her strength.  It was her first day back at Franklin High.  She allowed her doubts to be dominated by Dr. Anne's words.  “Keep being strong.”  Repeating the mantra to herself, she walked the familiar hallways once again.   Taking a long sip of her coffee, she didn't care to look at those around her.    Walking right pass the Cyrus-Rachel love fest without even a second glance.  “Today will be a good day” she told herself.
Ivy couldn't be more wrong.   Now instead of getting looks of revolt, everyone stared at her in fear.  The principal had filled them all in as to why she wasn't attending school for a couple weeks.  Now each being was afraid of their actions around her.  No one wanted to be held responsible for killing Ivy Murray.   Cyrus and Rachel were too absorbed with each other to notice.   Ivy didn't understand.  She was better now, a new person.   Although she still felt bad it was taking over her life.
Another dreadful month passed.  Ivy had barely spoken a word at school.  She was always bad at meeting new people.  That was something Rachel always helped her with, but now without the back-stabbing companion she went back to timid Ivy.   She was scribbling on her AP English notebook as the teacher continued his lecture.   “That's a beautiful, uh, doodle”, someone beside her spoke.  Her eyes shifted to find a bronze boy with thick, dark hair.  Pearly whites revealed through his plump lips.  A slightly uneasy feeling came upon her, “Who is this guy?  Why's he talking to me?”
“Excuse me, did I say something to offend you?”, he asked  as his smile slowly faded to a frown.  She shook her head no and the smile returned.  “Well alright then, I'm Jude.  May I ask what your name is?”  A gulp went down her throat.  “Um, Ivy Murray.”
“Ivy Murray, huh?  Well pleased to meet ya.” he extended his hand to offer a shake.  “Ms. Murray is there something you'd like to share with the class?” Mr. Webster interrupted the meeting.  “Uh, no.  Sorry.”  she responded.    Mr.  Webster cleared his throat and went back to the lecture.   Ivy looked over only to find Jude was gone.  She didn't put much thought into it and went back to scribbling.
Lunch rolled around and Ivy drug her limp self to the cafeteria.  Grabbing her tray of greasy burgers and overcooked fries, she sat at her usual corner table.   Her head rested on the knuckles of her fist as she stirred a fry in ketchup.  “Hey there” a familiar voice made Ivy jump, sending the fry across the table.   Putting her hand to her chest she saw it was Jude.  “Oh it's you” her voice blurted.  He laughed some and stole a fry.  “Tis I” he joked.  Ivy studied the guy for awhile as he ate up her fries.  “Why are you talking to me?” her voice was sharp.  “Huh?” Jude sucked down the last fry.
“I asked why are you talking to me.  Is this like some joke or something?  Some bet you have with all your friends, whoever can talk to suicide girls gets the latest edition of Playboy?”
Jude let out a small laugh, “Well I heard that's a good issue.”  Only to be shot down by Ivy's glare.  “Um, actually I thought you just looked interesting.   I mean is there some rule that I can't talk to you?”
“Well no, but it's been kind of an unspoken thing.  Literally.  No one speaks to Miss Suicide then they don't have to worry about her trying again.”
“Let me guess.  You're Miss Suicide?”
“Correct”
“I thought you said your name was Ivy Murray.”
Another glare cut him off, “Oh okay, gotcha.  Not a subject to joke about.”
“Why would you think suicide is something to joke about?”
“You seemed to be taking it kind of jokingly so I figured I'd jump on.”
“Well it was something serious.  Now if you don't mind, I'd like to eat in peace.”
“I don't mind at all” was Jude's last statement before making the gesture of zipping his lips.  Ivy threw him a disgusted look.
“You're unbelievable.” she scoffed.
Rachel and her gang sat on the opposite side of the cafeteria.  They all watched their old friend closely.  “Who's she talking to?” one blabbed.  “No idea” another answered.  Rachel slammed her hand onto the table, “Who cares?  Probably plotting another suicide.”  The girls busted out in a booming cackle.
Weeks passed by and Ivy had become more acquainted with her new friend, Jude.  “So he left you for that thing?”  he asked with a hint of disgust.  Ivy simply agreed with a head nod while slurping on  a Vitamin Water.  “Oh gross.”   Jude looked over at her, his hazel eyes meeting her green ones.  “So tonight there's a party.  I would really like to see you there.  Is that okay?”  Ivy nearly choked on her drink.   No one had asked her anywhere for the past three months.  “Unless you don't like parties, I mean that's okay with me.” he quickly reassured her.  “Uh no, no.  I'd like to go.  Just a little surprised, heh.” a nervous laugh ended her statement.  “Awesome!” Jude shouted and told her the address.
That night in the shower Ivy made sure she scrubbed every inch of herself.  Once that was finished she dried off and styled her hair.   It had been so long since anyone took any kind of interest in her, she wanted to look great.   “Hot date tonight?”  her mother caught her in the middle of putting on make-up.   “Kind of” Ivy smirked.   Jane smiled and went back to her office to continue the plans for the notorious Karen, the client who constantly got bored with her house's style and changed it frequently.   Checking herself one more time, Ivy was ready to go.
Memorizing was a talent Ivy carried, so it wasn't hard for her to find the house.   The yellow two-family home seemed familiar but it didn't matter to her.   She was excited to see Jude and show off her new self.   After knocking, she took the opportunity of fixing any flyaway hairs or wrinkles in the dress.   The door knob jiggled and her insides instantly fluttered, awaiting to see those hazel eyes.   But the eyes weren't hazel, in fact they didn't even belong to a man.  Rachel Stuwert stood in front of Ivy.  The puzzle instantly pieced together.  The reason the house was familiar was because it belonged to her ex-best friend.  The other girl scoffed at the sight, “Ivy, what are you doing here?”
“Um.  Jude invited me.”
“Jude who?
“Jude from school”
“Whatever Ivy.  Do yourself a favor and leave.”  With that, the door was slammed in her face and Ivy instantly hated Jude.
Before falling asleep the previous night, Ivy vowed she'd never talk to Jude again.  So the next morning she repeated to herself she'd go back to Miss Suicide and remain to herself until graduation.  But the obnoxious jerk sat pleasantly in his spot next to Ivy's desk in AP English, flashing his gross yet beautiful smile.   Ivy sat down without speaking a word.  “Good morning to you too.” Jude's typical sarcasm-filled voice spoke.  She remained silent and looked forward at Mr. Webster.   Jude didn't say anything else which surprised her.   Her eyes peered over to notice he was gone.  “How does he do that?” she asked herself.
Another week passed but Jude was no where to be found.  Ivy began to miss him some.   She didn't even allow him a chance to explain.  Maybe he was at the party and Rachel was just being a jerk.   Now with graduation only a week away, Ivy grew concerned about her only friend.   “Is he going to graduate?  What if he moved?” was all she could think about.
Ivy decided to walk home after school instead of catching the city bus.  The weather was warm with a slight breeze, making it a perfect day to be outside.  While humming to herself, she was interrupted to someone shouting at her.   Being born and raised in a city gave you the instant fear of being mugged.   Ivy got silent and searched for the crook.   The voice came from a familiar figure.  “Jude?”   An accustomed grin indicated she was correct.   The scrawny man stumbled over to her, reeking of alcohol.  “Ugh Jude, have you been drinking?”
“Only some.   Would you like a sip?”  he asked.  Since the incident Ivy sworn off any kind of strong drink, but Jude's large smile was too convincing.   “Alright but only a sip.” Ivy promised.   Jude's grin got wider as they walked off to her house.  
A sip turned into almost a full bottle of Grey Goose and three Mike's Hard Lemonades.  “This is really good.” Ivy giggled.  Her speech was slurred and she was about to pass out.   Jude uncovered something from under her bed.   A small plastic baggy that contained a white substance on a metal try.  “Oh, what's this Miss Innocent?”  Jude scoffed.  “That belonged to Rachel.   We were going to try it but chickened out.” Ivy kept pausing in between sentences while battling with consciousness.
“Let's try it”  Jude's persuading grin shone again.
“Okay” Ivy responded.
Ivy set up the cocaine, making perfect lines onto the tray.  Digging around in her purse, she found a stray twenty dollar bill and continued to roll it up, making a straw.  She was a bit unsure, but with the alcohol and assurance of Jude the feelings eased and she snorted the first line.
The drug burned at first but after settling Ivy immediately felt hyped up.  She didn't look to see if Jude had taken any before snorting up a second line.  “I have an idea” his deep voice rang.  Ivy looked over at her friend with a drugged smirk.  “Let's go streaking!”   Ivy agreed by jumping up and shouting, “Yeah!  It's a beautiful day!”
Undressing herself, she looked over to see Jude was the exact same.  Together in nudity they hoped down the marble stairs into the living room.   Before leaving they each other a smile and opened the front door.   Normally Ivy would be terrified to show her body but this time was different.
Being with Jude made everything seem better as they ran along the street, allowing themselves to be shown.  The light breeze sent chills throughout Ivy's body but she ignored it and continued to run.  Every worry, every care blew away as she freed herself.  And knowing Jude was doing the same exact thing gave her the kind of encouragement to never stop running, keep going until completely relieved.
Ivy woke up in a familiar place, but it wasn't her bedroom.  Matter of fact, it was Evergreen Institute.  Realizing where she was at, she quickly sat up.  Anne Fray, her therapist, was beside her bed.  “Anne!  Why am I here?” she demanded.   A sigh escaped the Mary Poppins look-a-like, “You're mother found you boozed and drugged up, lying naked out in Cyrus' yard.   There's been reports from fellow students you have talking to yourself, something about some Jude fellow.  To make sure they weren't feeding lies, I checked the records and there is no Jude at Franklin High.  You're mother instantly called the institute and they asked to have to you stay awhile longer.  It appears you will be having to take some homeschooling and receive your GED.  I'm sorry Ivy, but you're mental status is too risky for public school.  You will not be graduating with your classmates.”  Taking in the information, Ivy looked around the annoyingly white room.  Something gleamed in the window of the door.   There stood Jude, Ivy's one and only friend, looking clean with the huge smile across his face and the credits began to roll.
“Wow!  That was intense.” Brandon uttered.  “No kidding.  What a great movie though!” Joy pleasantly agreed.  Brent tried to register the fact Jude didn't exist, similar to the ending of The Sixth Sense.  “Someone could write a book about this.” Brandon spoke again while cleaning up his theater seat.   “Yeah, you really could.” Joy assured him while sliding into her jacket.