Description

Panel One: "Later." Cal, now back in his school uniform, and DJ are in the lunchroom. DJ is putting his plate into a bin for dirty dishes. He's saying to Cal, "Class ends at five, so I'll be back then, okay?" "Okay. Later!" says Cal.

Panel Two: The door of Dr. King's office. There are words on the frosted glass window in the door that say, "Dr. King - School Counselor - Psychologist" Her voice is coming through the door. "Here's your class list! I put you in with DJ where I could."

Panel Three: Cal is sitting in the chair across from Dr. King at her desk and holding a piece of paper in his hand. "Thank you," he says.

Panel Four: Overhead shot of Dr. King talking to Cal. His back is to us. "Now, I have some electives for you to pick from, and tomorrow afternoon we'll do some short tests to see where you need extra help getting caught up," she says. "Okay," answers Cal. She continues, "And you have counseling with Dr. Angel on Friday mornings at ten." "Counseling?" asks Cal.

Panel Five: Dr. King gestures a bit, and she has a softer expression on her face. "Yes," she says, "Cal, you've been through a lot, and I know all of the excitement of starting a new life and making new friends can make you feel okay most -"

Panel Six: Cal interrupts, "I'm not okay." The speech bubble is black with white lettering. The panel background is dark, with white cracks creeping in from the edges. Cal is slumped slightly, looking down, and his expression is pained.

Author Note

Yes, Cal goes to therapy. He saw everyone he knows and loves die (he even hinted at having to bury them) and then he had to leave everything familiar behind to move into a whole new society. He's having nightmares, and he nearly flipped a table on Zane just a few hours prior, which is not in his character. He knows he's not okay, and no one would expect him to be.

Consider this a gentle reminder that it's okay to not be okay, and that there is no shame in reaching out for help, professional or otherwise. There's lots of free apps, websites, text services, and phone numbers out there geared to help with whatever mental or emotional problems people are going through. If you're going through a rough patch, consider doing a quick internet search to see what's available.

And next weekend is Steel City Con! Come stop by the table and say Hi! ^_^

Be Well, Friends,
- Bran