Two Years Later
"Ms. James?" Ruby, her assistant, stuck her head through the door, startling her and causing her to quickly shut her laptop.
"Ruby, how many times do I have to remind you, please call me Cassie or Cassandra. Ms. James makes me feel old and I'm only 24."
"I'm sorry, Cassie." Ruby chuckled, looking down sheepishly. "There's someone by the name of Alice here to see you, but she's not on your client list. Should I send her in?"
"Yes, Ruby, please send her in. Thank you!"
"Well, well, well, sweet digs!" Alice whistled a few minutes later, sauntering into the office. "
"Oh my god, Al, I've missed you! It's been too long!" Penny got up and ran to her best friend, tackling her in a hug.
"I know, I haven't seen you since you moved and changed your name, again, might I add." Alice rolled her eyes, closing the door before laying down on the couch and pretending she was a client. "So, my former friend Penelope, how many name changes has it been now?"
"Stop being so dramatic, this is only the second time." Penny rolled her eyes at her friend, knowing she was just teasing her.
"I've gotta say, I like the name Cassandra. I think it suits you." Alice smiled at her, showing her that she was supportive of this. "How are you doing? Truly, Pen, how are you?"
"I'm doing okay, you know? I really like it here and the longer it gets the easier it gets. Does that make any sense?"
"Of course it does! So, Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, and now Milwaukee. Which one's been your favorite?"
"Honestly, I think I like it here best. The size reminds me of Portland, and the weather is more what I'm used to than Atlanta was. I'm still getting used to the new name, Cassandra James. It's strange, you know? Very different."
"To be fair, Jennifer didn't suit you at all." Alice chuckled, looking around her office. "So, you still like being a therapist?"
"You have no idea. I absolutely love it. I never realized how much I love helping other people until I finally got the job. That's the main reason I hate moving – leaving clients behind, especially when they're finally getting somewhere, is the hardest part of it all. Enough about me though, how's the Peace Corp? Where'd you just get back from?"
"I got home from Cambodia two weeks ago. It's amazing, Pen. You have no idea. I've been teaching English to elementary school students and honestly, it's so rewarding. It's one of the best experiences of my life."
"How are your parents doing?"
"They're not at all happy that I didn't' go to medical school, but you know that. They're okay with me doing this but I think it's because they're holding onto hope that it's a gap year and I'll be going to med school soon, so who knows what'll happen when they find out I have no intentions of EVER going to med school."
"Yikes!" Penny chucked, letting out a breath she did know she was holding. "I miss you, Al. I miss everyone.
"We miss you, Pen. Jules and Viv keep asking about you. Can't you at least come visit us in Seattle? I haven't told them where you are or what your name is because I know how important that is for you, but we miss you."
"The longer it gets, the more comfortable I get. Give me some time to get settled here and we'll find a way to get together. I'm not sure coming back to Seattle is the best idea, but we can take a girls trip or something."
They talked for a while longer, reminiscing about the past and catching up. It was nice for Penny to be reminded of who she was and who she is. She hasn't been able to talk openly with anyone other than Alice and her parents since she graduated, and it's been six months since Alice last came to visit her.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," Ruby opened the door a few moments after she knocked, looking extremely apologetic. "You're three o'clock is here Ms. Ja- Cassandra."
"Thank you, Ruby. Please let her know I'll be out in a few minutes to grab her."
After Ruby left, the girls said goodbye, promising to stay in better touch and Penny promised to actually consider a girl's trip with Vivian and Juliet. As Penny watched Alice walk out the door, she felt like she was watching a part of herself walk away. Every time she changed her name, she reinvented herself slightly. She hadn't been Penelope Mitchell since the day she graduated and sometimes it's nice to spend time with someone who allows her to let the curtain fall and be her true self. Sighing, Penny stood up and smoothed out her skirt before walking out of her office.
"Shelby, it's so nice to meet you." She shook hands with the woman in the lobby, giving her a calming smile. "I'm Ms. Jones, but you can call me Cassie. Are you ready to head back?"
After a meek nod from Shelby, Penny led her back to her office and began their session. As they began talking, Penny felt the thoughts of her old life disappear as she became content and focused on the patient in front of her. She had never felt as whole and fulfilled as she did when she was talking to patients and helping them through anything that they're going through.
After a long but amazing day of seeing patients, Penny said goodbye to Ruby before heading to her apartment. When she was alone and curled up with a nice glass of wine, she had time to think. Her life didn't go the way she planned it, that was for sure. She didn't want to be Jennifer or Cassandra, she just wanted to be Penelope. She didn't think that was an option anymore, though. It had been a long time since Penny had allowed herself to ruminate on the events of two years ago and truly think about Daniel, but he was always there in the back of her head. She didn't know what happened to him after he escaped the hospital, but she didn't care as long as she was free from him. The constant thought that he wasn't dead or locked up is what kept her moving and changing her name. It's what kept her on edge.
Penny didn't hate her life, though. She actually quite enjoyed it. She was able to make an impact on others and help them change their lives in the way that the therapist she found helped her change hers. She couldn't help but think about what life would be like if she was still Penelope, as she often did at the end of a long day or a conversation with Alice. Would she be living in Seattle, sharing an apartment with Alice, Viv and Jules? Would she be living in Portland so she could be close to her sisters and parents? She had no idea because she lost that option the second Daniel came into her life, even if she didn't realize it at the time. She missed her family. She had always been close with her family but the ever present fear didn't allow her to contact them the way she wanted to. After a long internal debate, Penny let out a sigh and picked up her phone.
"Oh my god, I've missed you so much!" Luna gushed as soon as she answered Penny's face time call. "Hold on, let me get Bri!"
"I missed you both so much!" Penny smiled, trying to keep her tears at bay. She knew if she started crying, they would start crying, too, and that's the last thing she wanted.
"What can you tell us? What's your name now? Where do you live?"
"Are you okay? Are you happy? Do you miss us?" The girls fired their questions off at the same time, pausing to giggle at each other after they were done.
"I'm okay. I'm happy. I miss you both like crazy, my heart aches for you. I can't tell you much, as you know, but I can tell you that I live in Milwaukee and I go by Cassie now."
"Cassie. Cassie. Hm, I like it." Luna smiled, trying to hide her sadness from her sister. "It's not as great as Penelope or Penny, but it's definitely better than Jenny."
"I'm sorry, you guys. I know this isn't easy for you."
"Penelope Eleanor Mitchell, which will always be your name to me, stop that right now." Bri scolded, pretending to glare at her sister. "Do not apologize. This isn't easy for us, you're right, but we also know that this isn't easy for you. This isn't what you wanted, and this isn't what you asked for. I want you to listen to this next point more than anything else. If you don't hear anything else, hear this. This. Is. Not. Your. Fault."
"I love you both so much. I hope you know that you can still always come to me with anything and that I love you both like crazy and I'm always here for you. I will risk anything to make sure you two are okay and to help you if you need it."
After talking to her sisters and catching up, they handed the phone to their parents. It had been quite a few months since Penny last talked to her parents and it amazed her just how much her heart hurt at hearing their voices and seeing their faces again. While she had always been closer to her sisters than her parents, it had amazed her as to just how much she missed them when she didn't have them in her life the way she used to. Finally, after many assurances that she was okay and happy and safe, she hung up the phone. Penny fell asleep crying that night, missing her old life but not hating her new one. She wished, more than anything, that she could combine the two, but, given the circumstances, the way it was right now wasn't the worst outcome she imagined when she graduated.
"Good morning, Cassandra." Ruby's bright smile and bubbly personality always amazed Penny when she walked in at 8:00 am every morning. Despite working with her for almost a month now, she wasn't used to it, but that wasn't surprising given how much she loved her sleep and hated mornings.
"Good morning, Ruby. Cheery as always, I see." Penny chuckled, dropping her bag in her office before walking back to the front desk. "Anything new to report today?"
"Actually, yes." Ruby beamed like she was hiding a secret. "You received a gift. I found it outside the door when I showed up this morning. The front of the envelope said 'Thank you, Cassie, for everything' so I think it's a patient who appreciates what you did for them."
"Thank you." Penny smiled as Ruby handed her the gift and card. She couldn't help the content feeling that overwhelmed her knowing that she made an impact on a patient. All she ever wanted was to change people's lives and it brought her so much joy knowing that she succeeded.
As Penny sat down at her desk, she opened the gift box. Inside was a beautiful necklace with an infinity pendant situated in the middle of the chain. She couldn't figure out the meaning, wondering why a patient would give her an infinity sign, when she remembered the note. Penny read it, her smile turning into a frown and her insides freezing as she made it to the end of the note.
Dear Cassandra,
I gift you this necklace so that you know that I will always think about you. No matter where I go or how old I grow, I will always remember the impact you had on my life. You changed who I was as a person and I will always be grateful to you.
I've told you I loved you before and I need you to know that you will always be the love of my life. Always and forever. You will always mean the world to me and I don't regret a second I go to know you.
I hope this gift finds you in good spirits and that you think of me whenever you see it, because I think of you whenever I breathe.
All my love, always,
Daniel
As Penny froze and the note fluttered to the table, there was only one thought on Penny's mind: how the hell did he find me.
THE END
________
Authors Note:
Thank you so much for reading if you made it to the end! I would love any feedback you have. This is my first completed story and your support means the world to me!!