Kimberly Bryant

Sidney tilted her head down, nodding solemnly. “You better be,” she said with a sad sigh. “We’ll take Emmy to the beach. You have to find the best ones, okay?” Sidney looked away from Kim, trying to stay positive. But everywhere her eyes went was only a reminder of the fact that her best friend was really leaving for good. Her office was so… bare, so un-Kimified. “I’m definitely coming, Kim. Do you, um, do you want me to carry anything?” Sidney was trying her best to keep it together, to be an adult about everything. 

“Absolutely. The best beaches and the best food.” Kim said with a sad smile. “I hope you guys do come and visit some time.” She cleared her throat turning away from a moment to wipe her eyes. “Yeah I have a couple of suitcases in my apartment. I sent everything else out already.” The two walked over to her apartment and when Kim opened the door she almost forgot and expected to see furniture and hear music playing. The apartment was so empty, it looked like it had never been lived in. “I hope this apartment is good to the next person. Whoever they are.” The woman took one last look at the place that had been her home and after a moment, clicked the lights off for the last time. She rolled one of the suitcases over to Sidney and took the other two. “Okay so the car is here, time to go out.” She explained after glancing at her phone. Kim offered a little smile, feeling such sadness knowing she would soon have to say bye to her best friend. 

“Oh, Kim…” Sidney squeezed her best friend even harder, just a little bit. “I’ll miss you so much… We all will. But you’ll call, right?” She pulled out of the hug and held Kim’s hands. “I can’t believe you’re leaving… I-I.. I know it was the best decision. I just… I’m sad to see you go. But I’m happy for you.”

“Of course I will. You’re my best friend, the first person I met while here, I’m only a phone call or flight away if you ever need anything.” Kim said rubbing the side of Sidney’s left arm. The brunette took a moment to look around her once vibrant office that was now an empty room with a basic furniture. “I can’t either, this place was my home. But I can’t help but be excited to see what else is out there on this new journey.” As she said these bittersweet words she could feel her eyes start to burn and well up. “The car should actually be here soon, do you want to walk out with me?”

“Kim!” Sidney rushed in the room. “Never. Of course I came! I meant to make some time to help you pack up… but, well, you know…”  Sidney sighed and held out her arms. “Oh, Kim…”

“No you’re fine! I had other help and I know you’re busy saving children and raising a child.” She chuckled moving towards Sidney and falling into the embrace. “I going to miss you.” Kim tried smiling. With the hug came a flood of emotions from when the two first met to the times they laughed together late into the night to all the different life events the two were there for. “I have so loved getting to know you.”

“Well that’s not true, Kim.”

“Really? Do I know them? Whoever it is I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.” Devin smiled genuinely happy for his freak despite the slight pain in his chest that he felt from wishing his fiancé was still around. “Nothing really new with me. Just trying to get settled back in. It’s a long and complicated story. But I’m glad to be back. I missed it here despite the fact that I got yelled at by children almost everyday here.” 

“Hmm, I don’t know. Nina Persaliano? She’s a therapist here also.” Kim smiled back at the man. “Thanks, do you want to sit?” She asked, gesturing to the seat in front of her as she walked around and sat back down behind her desk. “Oh yeah, the serenity screams I’ve started to call it.” Kim said right before bursting out laughing. “I never realized how stupid that sounded till I said it out loud.” 

Devin felt guilty about leaving the facility without saying goodbye but he knew that it was for the best. To him saying goodbye meant never seeing them again and that was something he just couldn’t do. He was glad that it wasn’t a goodbye and that he was now back at the facility though so much had changed since he’d left. “Yes, I’m back and I promise not to randomly leave again.” Devin smiled and returned the hug then he pulled back and placed his hands on her arms for a moment. “How have you been? How are things around here?” 

“You know same old, same old. Oh but I’m with someone now which is quite a change from when you last saw me.” She smiled, she didn’t usually tell many people about Nina but she felt she could with Devin. Kim remembered the friendship she had with him, she didn’t know what it was, maybe their bonding over theater but she felt comfortable with him. “So whats new with you? Where did you even go?”

“Guess who’s back.” Devin said as he entered the other’s office where the door had been so conveniently opened for him. “Long time so see. I’m sorry I left without a warning. It all happened so quickly and it was probably better off that way. But you couldn’t get rid of me that easily.” 

[ @kim-bryant ] 

“Oh my god!” Kim beamed at the man and threw her arms around him. “Hi, So you’re back back? Like you’re not going to randomly leave me again?” She chuckled and learned on her office desk.

I’ll just come back later, I guess. You haven’t even told me where we are going!

“Or I could wrap it for you while you go get dressed?” She walked over bending down. “What did you even get?” Kim tilted her head at the half wrapped object.

“Pet therapy is my favorite kind of therapy.”

Kim scrunched her nose and laughed. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Kimberly Bryant, a therapist here.” 

She nodded, knowing how genuine Kim’s words were. “A little sick…” Sidney began, chewing on her bottom lip. “Guilty.” She let the word sit in the air with a sinking feeling in her stomach, realizing she finally knew at least one word that could describe what she was going through. 

“I’m so sorry Sid.” She took a deep breath trying not to sound too much like a therapist. “I know this won’t help at all but I want you to know feelings of guilt are normal. We may tend to blame ourselves for things we did or didn't do.” She could think back on a million reason to feel guilty about her parents death and could only imagine what Sidney’s were.