Author's Note: I've had this idea for awhile and I wanted to finally bring it to life. Enjoy.

Chapter One: Janet

The storm that had been building up that afternoon in the skies over Denton had finally broken past the wall of dark clouds as Janet Weiss, still dressed in her clothes from the work day, loaded the last of the suitcases into the trunk of the car and slammed it shut behind her. A heavy downpour of rain has begun falling from the sky by the time she rushed around to the drivers side and slide into the vehicle, her soft pink pantsuit already dampened enough to cause her discomfort and her hair slipping from it's previously neat up-do.

Brad, her fiancé, was slouched beside her in the passenger seat, napping soundly, forehead pressed to the window. It seemed he had already counted himself out for the drive. She looked longingly at his softened features as he slept and felt a slight tug at her heart. She wished so deeply with every passing day that he could remain in such a peaceful state for longer than just a few hours. Even just one full day she would be grateful for. She reminded herself yet again that this was why she was doing this. It was for him. It was always for him.

With a heavy sigh, she turned the keys in the ignition and before too long they were headed down a winding dirt road, completely deserted aside from the occasional odd farm house and herds of cows behind wire fences. Brad remained in his slumber through the entirity of the car ride, only stirring to shift postions in his sleep or mumble an unintelligable word that Janet couldn't quite catch. This decision hadn't been an easy one for her to make. She'd spent many sleepless nights, for weeks on end, pacing the floors of their bedroom as he slept, deciding what the right choice was.

Truth be told, she wanted Brad to stay with her, to be by her side through this. After all, she was to marry him in little over a year for godsake. She wanted nothing more than to stand by his side through thick and thin. She wanted to take care of him in sickness and in health. But her parents had somehow talked her into making the choice towards which she was now driving to. They had been tossing around the idea for awhile, but it wasn't until after the incident that they made their minds up for sure.

"It's what's best for him, Janet." She heard her mother's voice echo in the back of her mind. "If you truly love him, you'll put him in the best hands possible and get him the treatment he truly needs. You can't help him at this point."

Janet forced herself to swallow what he mother had deemed "her own selfish feelings" and folded the pamphlet into the pocket of her jacket, agreeing to give the number printed inside a call, but firmly said she wouldn't be making a decision yet.

"You're taking me... where?" Brad asked, standing in the middle of their kitchen wearing his favorite "Kiss The Cook" apron, a wooden spoon in hand. He had been cooking breakfast for the two of them when she broke the news, eyes cast down to avoid the gaze she ultimately knew would break her heart.

"Think of it almost as a.. resort, dear." Janet tried reasoning, nervously twisting her engagement band around her finger. She still had't looked at him, guilt clenching her stomach.

"A resort, Janet? Is that your fancy term for 'we're shipping you off to the loony bin'?" He was angry. Not just angry, disappointed. Betrayed. Even with his passive tone, she could feel it in the way he spoke. She had anticipated this reaction, and she didn't blame him.

"Brad, no... it's not like that. We just-"

"We?" He cut in, his tone sharp. They finally made eye contact. "As in, your parents? As in, they're making this decision for you, just like they've made every other decision?" He anunicated those last words, each one more painful than the next.

"Brad please-" she tried, her voice breaking. She had believed these intentions were good but it seemed to only be drawing a rift further between them. If only he could see how much it was hurting her too.

"Save it, Janet. This isn't for me, this is for them."

He stormed out of the kitchen, throwing the spoon he had been clenching in his fist to the ground. Janet sat alone at the table, her engagment ring now sitting in the palm of her hand. She looked down at it as a single tear slid down her cheek. This was the last time they'd speak of the subject. This was the last he'd speak to her until he'd leave.

She helped him pack all his clothes and toiletries as he sat completely still on the edge of the bed, his back to her, silent. He had refused to change out of his pajamas or even shower that morning. When she returned home early from work to help him pack, she found him still lying in bed, staring blankly at the wall. He hadn't spoken a word to her in almost a week and would hardly even make eye contact with her. She knew he was going to take this decision hard, but she didn't expect him to blot out her entire existence.

She carefully folded his clothes neatly into the suitcase, quietly tucking the picture frame that sat on their bedside table under his t-shirts when he wasn't paying attetion. She hoped maybe he would see it later and soften his anger towards her. It was an older picture, his favorite, taken of them at their graduation. They were both dressed in their green Denton High cap and gowns, holding their diplomas and smiling proudly at the camera, though their eyes were locked only on each other. He had always said it was the beginning of their future together. The start of something great. High school sweethearts full of ambition and bursting with hope for the future.

Things felt so far from when that photo was taken. It felt like she was looking at someone else's memory instead of her own.

"We should probably head out before the storm hits." She said softly, noticing the dark clouds rolling in. She zipped his suitcase closed, his only response to her being a single grunt before he hoisted himself from the edge of the bed, slipped his bathrob on and trudged down the stairs. Her mother's voice echoed in her ears.

"It's what's best for him."