Time Skip 
Caroline's P.O.V.
                          
   How dare he?! How dare he say I'm only good for my body?! I swiftly packed my bag and grabbed my phone off the counter. Alex had driven me here, so I couldn't use a car. So I chose the next best thing. The bus. 
   I exited through my main office door and walked through the halls, down the stairs, and out the door to the next bus stop. I kept a nice expression on my face, but did nothing more. The bus came and I stepped on. 
     "Caroline?" I turned at the voice. It was Jason. "Hey Cara are you ok?" He asked me. I looked at the ground and sighed heavily. 
     "Not really. Just a stupid man saying a stupid thing. It wasn't Alex, but his friend. And besides today I'm meeting with a therapist to discuss what I need to do for Veronica." Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. 
     "Want me to come?" I smiled at Jason's offer. 
     "Would you? I would love to tell myself I can do it, but we all know that's a lie." Jason came to me and hugged me. All the sparks I'd once felt for him, were gone. Now he was just the best friend I could ever ask for. Other than Veronica. 
     "Of course I will. And you will need me." We chatted a little bit longer before the bus came to a halt. I saw the therapist's office and walked in with Jason behind me. There was a woman at the front desk typing away. 
     "Hello, how can I help you?" The woman asked us. I looked at Jason before turning back to answer. 
     "Hi, my name is Caroline Wilson. I'm here to meet up with Leah Anderson." The woman looked at the computer. 
     "Right. Follow me." I walked with Jason and the woman to Leah's office. We stopped at the door and the woman opened it for us. I stepped in and saw Leah sitting at her desk going through documents. The room seemed cozy and welcoming with a friendly vibe. It was colorful and there were chairs, cushions, and a couch. "Miss Anderson. You have guests." Leah looked up and saw us. "This is Caroline Wilson. And this boy is here too. I'll leave you to that." 
     "Alright thank you Marge. Now come in darlings. No need to feel shunned. Here we try to make everyone feel welcomed and have a homey vibe going." Leah seemed young. Around my age I guessed. I don't know why, but I'd assumed she'd be an oldish woman married with kids in college. 
     "You exceeded on the homey vibe. And you are succeeding on the whole welcome thing." I told her. 
     "Well that's good to hear, now let's talk about your sister, that's why you called am I right?" I nodded. "Great. Let's sit over there." I smiled and went up to the couches and sat down across from Leah. Jason sat on the arm and rubbed my back. "Is this your boyfriend?" She asked me. 
     "Used to be. Now he's more of a best friend. And emotional support animal." Leah chuckled. Jason smiled. "Now my sister. She's 12 years old and suicidal. I found out about her problems yesterday. I asked her if she wanted to end the pain. And if she wanted a therapist. She said yes. So here I am." 
     "How long has she been suicidal and what kind of stage is she in?" 
     "She's been suicidal for awhile, but 3 months ago she started cutting. She took no pills or antidepressants at all. But I think she was about to just give up. I think if I didn't catch her, then she would have killed herself soon." A tear escaped but I quickly wiped it away. Leah nodded slowly. 
     "How close are you? What would you do for her?" 
     "We're really close. Nothing could pull us apart. I mean, I would die for her if it meant saving her. If that's what it took then I'd do it." Leah nodded again. 
     "Why do you think she didn't tell you? And tell me the situation at home." I sighed. 
     "I do think think she wanted to worry me. Or feel like a burden. You see, my mom was 17 when I was born and my dad was 18. My mom got kicked out so she went to live in my dad's apartment. 12 years later my mom had Veronica. She died when she gave birth so Veronica never met my mom. Then my dad died after 2 years. Our grandfather came to live with us and I immediately started working. We both went to public schools because we couldn't afford anything else. I was able to go to college through all the money I'd saved and scholarships. V was bullied right from the get go. Just like me. Then I just found a good paying job and now I'm married in an arranged marriage and living away from my family. I guess Veronica got more depressed at my leaving. But I did this for her. I'll be payed by the end of the marriage and we could solve all of our problems." 
     "You started working at 14?" She asked. I could only nod. "Have you struggled with anything? We're you suicidal once?" 
     "No. I mean I went through a little depression after our breakup," I looked back at Jason," but I quickly got over it. I was never as bad as Veronica. I mean yeah I was never happy, especially with how poor we were, but I didn't let it get to me. I just focused on keeping my family afloat. And to make my sister proud." 
     "She is proud. I guarantee it. I mean think about it Caroline. You've been struggling your entire life. But you still found a way to make good things happen. You worked whenever you could. You got to college despite money problems. You were able to lead a good example. I think your sister kept feeling abandoned because she kept losing so much family. I know I can help her, but I also want to talk to you. You've been working for a very long time. And you lost your parents, you went through a break up, now you're in a marriage that will end with you having money. Please tell me the truth. Are you really ok?" I thought about Leah's words. She was right. 
   I'd been under so much pressure and put myself through so much. I witnessed my dad's death and worked my ass off to make sure my family would be safe. My grandparents of my mom's side hated me. And I was bullied gravely in school.
     "No. I don't think I ever really was a kid. I always worried about my family and if we would stay under a shelter another day. I worked right when kids were actually allowed to earn a salary. And I never went on sleepovers or just hangouts with my friends. I don't think I ever really was ok." Leah nodded. A few tears fell from my eyes but I wiped them away. Though I'd been through so much and had every reason to want help, I didn't want to appear weak or get help. 
     "Your sister will receive help. Once a week on Wednesday. Now what about you? Do you want to come in?" I looked at the ground. I couldn't come. I had so much going on in my life that I needed to focus on. Once I had enough time and money I would. Maybe. But I couldn't now. Not when everything I did could cost the money that would save my family and I. 
     "I can't. I have too much going on that need to do first. My problems can come later. But thank you. So much. Veronica will be so happy." I told her. Leah frowned. 
     "You know, sometimes we need to put ourselves first. Take care of us and then deal with the world's issues. I think you should come in." 
     "I would love to, but I can't. Besides my problems aren't that big of a deal. I've been fine for 24 years. I think I can make it." Leah nodded and then we left. Jason was quiet and wouldn't talk to me. "Jason are you ok?" I asked. 
     "I am. But you aren't." He told me. 
     "Jason. I'm fine." I insisted. 
     "If that translates to I'm not ok then yes you're fine. Cara do you realize how much time you spend taking care of everyone else? You have always put everyone else first and never take care of yourself. I know we aren't dating or in a relationship, but I care for you. I want to see you happy. The last time you were happy was when we were dating. You felt free of all the problems you dealt with. I want to see that again. But I can't if you insist on putting yourself last." 
     "I'm not putting myself last. Jason I don't need therapy. I'm going to get money, make sure Veronica gets the help she needs, help heal my grandfather, and get my family stable again." 
     "I didn't hear your name in there receiving something without having to work your ass off. And the money you are going to get isn't for you. It's for your family. You need to take care of yourself!" He shouted at me. 
     "Stop it! Do you know how it feels to lose both of your parents in the span of 2 years? Do you know how it feels to never get a break from work? Do you know how it feels to have your little sister, barely 12 years old, become suicidal and you have no idea? Do you?! No you don't! So don't go thinking you know how I feel because you don't! You never lost your family like I did! You never had to work all day and all night just to make sure you had a roof over your head! You never had to marry yourself away to someone! You haven't! So just stop acting as if you know what's best for me!" And with that I stormed away from Jason. 
   He had no idea how it felt to be so fucking poor, you have to get involved in an arranged marriage. He had no idea how it felt to watch you dad die in front of you. But I did. And I was fine. I knew that much. 
                          
Ok thanks for reading this chapter! I got really sad by the end of it. Tell me what you think! 
~Marissa-Meyer-Fan ☺️