*Trisha*

Jonah comes back to the apartment earlier than usual today. And he comes back in a sour mood.

"Everything ok?" Casey asks while helping me fold laundry in the living room while watching TV. We lower the volume when we both notice Evan fell asleep on the other end of the couch. God, is he an old man like Paul now, too?

"Your best friend." Jonah points at me.

I sigh heavily and ask, "Ugh. What did Nate do now?"

"He's a stubborn ass."

"And this is new news how?" I snort. "Let me take a wild guess. It has something to do with Julia."

Jonah answers me with a huff and begins raiding the refrigerator. 

"I put in an order at Celeste's Marketplace to deliver lunch in an hour." I hint, but Jonah doesn't take it and starts making himself a sandwich.

"An hour? Ok." How many lunches does this man consume?! Casey shakes her head and smiles at him. God, she's so in love with that man.

"You need to get that checked." Casey laughs.

"Well, we will all be undergoing physicals the week before tour." I remind them both but also tease Jonah about his appetite. How does he stay so fit?!

"Yeah, yeah." He waves us off.

"So.... mom and dad are fighting. And it's about Moretti. Dare I ask??" I look over at Jonah, feeding his face.

"I don't think he is at the Avalon for the right reasons, and I called him out on it."

"Jone......" Casey reprimands him. "I thought we talked about this. You said you weren't going to go there...." She whines. Apparently, her and Jonah have talked about this in private, and he went against his word.

"Wait, I want to hear what you think the reasons behind it are to see if they line up with mine." I stop folding the towel and give him my full attention.

"I'm sure they align.  I think he is at the Avalon to be closer to Julia and spend as much time as he can with her before we all leave.

"BINGO!" 

Evan flinches slightly in his sleep, and I lower myself, whispering softly, "Sorry, Bingo... yeah, you and me. We're on the same page."

"He's just having a hard time moving on."  Casey unexpectedly defends Nate. However, she is a romantic at heart. That much I do know.  "She's the love of his life. And she chose someone else. Someone safe. She doesn't love Paul. Not the way she loves Nate. That's gotta hurt."

"God, you're just like her. Julia." Jonah scoffs and takes another huge bite of his sandwich. "She chose Paul. He needs to let her go. She's moving on, and he needs to as well." 

"Weren't you the one to cry over James and Julia's relationship? Now you are rooting for Nate and Julia??" I throw a towel at Casey making her laugh.

"No, that was SO different. That was a TRUE love story right there. Don't you remember how attached James was to Julia when he came out of his coma? And even though he couldn't talk, she knew what he wanted when he wanted? She took care of him twenty-four seven like they had been married for fifty years. It was sweet and sad and.."

"Oh God, she's gonna cry." I roll my eyes, and Casey sniffs.

"What?! That was hard to watch! I remember when we took James to Griffith Park to see if maybe it would help him remember things. He didn't remember it but when Julia played their favorite song, he stood up and slow danced with her. They both cried in each other's arms. When the song was over, he kept tapping on the phone for Julia to 'play it again' over and over again while they danced and cried. It was heart-wrenching but beautiful. They have this connection..."

"You watch WAY too many Hallmark movies." I smirk at the love-struck sappy girl.

But deep down inside, my heart aches for that. What Julia and James share. That connection. She has it with Nate, too. Soon, she'll have it with Paul.  Nate tells me it's because Moretti is "Easy to love."

I guess I'm not. I've never had that connection strong like that. The closest thing would have been Dave until the man turned into a monster thanks to the alcohol. 

I envy Julia, envious of a love like that, one she has experienced. One I may never experience.

*******

*James*

Me and Trevor got a good system going. We sit in the library next to each other at one of the large tables. There are a few patients in here, but no one bothers us. Except that one guy in the corner that sometimes talks to his food. He's a little...worrisome.

I may not be able to turn pages, but I know how to read, and Trevor jots down notes on a pad of paper for me to study what I've learned.

"Can I tell you something?" The man closes the psychology book. I shrug and wait. "Typically, you need a combination of education, training, and experience to get certified to work in a mental health facility. Most of the time, you need at least an associate's degree in related fields, but... You could be a mentor right now, you know that??"

"Me?"

"You. You know these books front to back. Study your butt off, always wanting to learn more and soak it all in. I could probably have you take the AAPT, and you'd get a hundred."

"What's an AAPT?" I ask.

"Association of Psychiatric Technicians. It's a specific certificate. I could hand you the certification packet, and you could tell me the answers, and I'd write them down for you. Obviously, we would need to have someone to witness this, so it doesn't look like we are cheating in any way. But even without having your AAPT certificate, you could work right here as a mentor. You have all the skills required. You have empathy, compassion, and patience, which are all essential for working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges."

"I remove myself from situations when Julia freaks out. I wouldn't be good at-"

"Because you love her. It's different. You have a personal relationship with Miss Moretti. You don't do that when you are around Cara, and she has shown you her true colors plenty of times. I see how you talk to the other patients here as well. You have amazing communication skills.

"I couldn't speak for months after my coma, and I stutter often." I furrow my brows.

"James, listen to me. That's not what I mean. Not HOW you talk to others. The WAY you talk to others. You're calm and caring, and it shows."

"So what exactly does a mentor do??"

"Well, for starters... in a mental health facility like this one, a mentor is someone who provides support, guidance, and encouragement to the patients with mental health challenges. You wouldn't be working with detox patients. That's a different area of expertise. But you would be helping individuals develop coping skills, help them navigate treatment options, and play a role in fostering a sense of hope and promoting recovery."

"That sounds like a lot, sir. I don't think I'm qualified to -"

"Also -" Trevor cuts me off and continues. "Mentors provide a safe space. They offer a non-judgmental environment where patients can share their thoughts and feelings. They help with setting goals and help them develop strategies to achieve these goals. They offer encouragement and positive reinforcement so the patients can overcome challenges. Mentors play a crucial role in supporting individuals' recovery and well-being."

"Yeah, I don't know, Dr. Tremont." I hesitate.

"You're already doing it all right now. Did you know that?" He smiles at me and pushes the books aside. I give him a confused look, not quite understanding.

"Every time you go visit Nate Hollan's sister, you are mentoring her.  I've seen you do it with other patients here as well. Heck, we could even document your hours every time you do things like that as part of your training. Most specialists need prior experience in a mental health setting. Whether in a hospital, clinic, or community-based program. You have to have so many hours of hands-on training. You're already doing that now."

"How quickly you forget I am disabled."

"Just your fine motor skills are disabled, Mr. Gallo. Your brain -"He taps the side of his own head. "is not. Your heart is not. That's what matters. So what if you have a nurse with you to help you open doors or write notes down for you. So what if your coordination is off and your hands don't work the way they used to. Yeah, sure. You have a little stutter. No one cares about that! You know what they care about?  They care about your heart. They want someone to listen to them. They want someone to give them hope. Hope that one day they could feel good living in the skin they're in. Even with whatever illnesses or disorders they may struggle with. You would be perfect for that. You've overcome so much already. You'd give them hope, James."

He is serious.

Trevor genuinely believes I could build a future in this field. Despite my disability, I could pursue a career—a fulfilling career—a career dedicated to helping others. Reflecting on this potential future brings a smile to my face, especially considering the times when I doubted, I had any future at all.

For first since my car accident, I feel a sense of purpose. I could truly make a difference in someone else's life.

*****