Abbys advice
Lexa carefully entered the unfamiliar apartment and heard how Clarke’s mom yelled for her, it smelled like she was cooking.
”Hey mom” Clarke took her shoes off and looked back at Lexa. ”I’m here with um…Lexa”
”Wait what?” Her mother entered the hall and looked a bit surprised as she saw Lexa. ”Oh hi dear, my name is Abby”
”Hi, I’m Lexa” She reached out her hand but Abby pulled her into a hug.
”She’s a hugger, sorry” Clarke chuckled.
”Nice to finally meet you, I heard a lot about you”
”Mom” Clarke hushed her.
”Oh really now?” Lexa smiled. ”Only good things I assume”
”You’re her opponent right?” Abby asked.
”Correct” Lexa nodded.
”Well, dinner is ready I hope you’re both hungry?” Abby looked at them. ”We can get to know each other a little bit more over lasagna, how does that sound?”
”Thank you Mrs.Griffin” Lexa smiled.
”Oh please, call me Abby” She laughed.
They had a nice time at the dinner table and Lexa had forgotten how it felt to have a family dinner - or actually a home cooked meal, it had been a lot of take outs lately. She liked Abby, she was down to earth and kind - it sort of reflected in how she had decorated their home, it felt safe.
After dinner Clarke showed her around and brought Lexa to her room, it was pretty cramped but big enough for the necessary stuff. A pretty big bed, a colorful one, there was a drawer next to it and a big mirror and on the other side she had a desk where she probably had kept hours studying at.
”It’s not a fancy mansion” Clarke sat down on her bed. ”But mom did a pretty good job with the apartment”
”You know I don’t care about that stuff, I actually really like it” Lexa sat down next to her. ”It feels more like a home”
”Yeah?” Clarke looked at her.
”Thank you for letting me come over”
”How are you feeling?” Clarke wrapped her arms around her and forced their weight to fall back in the bed.
”Better now” Lexa hugged her back.
”Sorry for my mom, she asks a lot off questions I know” Clarke wined.
”I like her” Lexa calmed her. ”She’s just…interested”
”I guess” Clarke sat back up again. ”I need to take a shower”
”That’s alright, I noticed it’s big enough for two people”
”Schh..” Clarke laughed as she threw a pillow in her face.
”Ouch” Lexa smirked.
”Will you survive here by yourself?”
”I guess I have too” Lexa pouted.
”Make yourself at home…” Clarke stood up and took her hoodie off.
”First you don’t wanna shower with me and now you’re stripping in front off me..who’s the teaser again?”
”Still you babe” Clarke chuckled.
”Alright…get your ass in the shower” Lexa kissed the air and watched as the blonde left the room.
Lexa wasn’t sure why but there was something about Abby that had made her feel comfortable around her and she found herself back in the kitchen where Clarke’s mom was drinking some tea and reading at the table.
”Are you leaving?” Abby looked at her.
”Um…no” Lexa shook her head as she got a bit nervous.
”Is something wrong?”
”Can I ask you something?” Lexa looked at her curious to how she would react and Abby’s eyes got filled with warmth as she nodded.
”Of course, sit down” Abby closed the book she was reading and Lexa sat down next to her.
”I’m sorry to bother you with this but…Clarke told me you are a doctor and I guess I am just looking for some advice. It may not be an expertise at this but maybe you know something -”
”What is it love?” Abby cut her off. ”I’ll try my best”
”Well…My mom is bipolar, I didn’t know until a few weeks ago. She survived cancer but the long journey took a toll on her I guess. I haven’t seen her in almost 6 months and…I just, my family remembers this but I don’t. It’s new for me and I…I’m not sure how to help her”
”It’s okay…dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can be difficult—and not just for the person with the illness. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone around—especially family members and close friends. It can put a strain on your relationship and disrupt all aspects of family life.”
”I feel like it has…my haven’t seen my dad like this ever and my sister don’t wanna talk about it…and I just feel a bit lost in this”
”During episodes of depression, you may have to pick up the slack for a loved one who doesn’t have the energy to meet responsibilities at home or work…” Abby took a deep breath. ”The good news is that most people with bipolar disorder can stabilize their moods with proper treatment, medication, and support. Your patience, love, and understanding can play a significant part in your loved one’s treatment and recovery. Often, just having someone to talk to can make all the difference to their outlook and motivation…and maybe that could be you”
”Just be there for her?” Lexa wondered.
”Yes, but caring for a person with bipolar disorder can also take a toll if you neglect your own needs, so it’s important to find a balance between supporting your loved one and taking care of yourself”
”Yeah…I just want her to be okay you know. I miss her” Lexa looked at Abby.
”I know sweetie, you have to be patient though. Getting better takes time, even when a person is committed to treatment. Don’t expect a quick recovery or a permanent cure. Be patient with the pace of recovery and prepare for setbacks and challenges. Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process” Abby was honest and real, Lexa appreciated that.
”I got that part…” Lexa sighed. ”Thank you Mrs-G… I mean Abby”
”Anytime Lexa, thank you for trusting me with this”
”It was really helpful actually…”
”It sounds like your mom has been through a lot…it’s a lot off responsibility for you too take on, so if you ever need me. I am here okay?”
”Thank you again”
”You’re a good girl Lexa, nice to see that you and Clarke get a long”
”She’s pretty awesome” Lexa smiled at the thought off the blonde.
”So are you” Abby smiled back.
”Well, I will let you read…I think Clarke is done in the bathroom”
”Okay, can you tell her to put the washing machine on please?”
”Of course” Lexa stood up and walked back to Clarke’s room, she had changed into some comfier clothes.
”Where did you go?” Clarke asked.
”I just chilled with your mom” Lexa winked. ”She wanted me to tell you to put on-”
”The washing machine, yes it’s done” Clarke smiled.
”Always one step ahead” Lexa smiled as she lied down on the bed she watched as Clarke brought her computer before laying down next to her.
”So I need study a little bit” Clarke looked at her.
”It’s the first day back?” Lexa laughed.
”What did you just say?”
”Always one step ahead” Lexa nodded. ”Alright, you do your thing babe”
They laid there in silence for a while and Lexa actually found the tapping sound from the computer calming as she scrolled through her social media on her phone. She wasn’t sure how long it had been when Clarke finally closed the laptop and stretched her body.
”Done?” Lexa mumbled as she kept typing on her phone.
”Yeah…” Clarke turned to her side and looked at the brunette. ”Who have you been texting this whole time?”
”Replying to some DM’s” Lexa answered. ”Keeping my voters happy”
”Oh…” Clarke smiled as she crawled closer and Lexa put her arm around her so that the blonde could rest on her chest.
”They are talking about the speech today” Lexa showed her.
”You looked great up there” Clarke read an message out loud. ”Sounds more like flirting to me”
”Look here…” Lexa opened another one. ”Glad to see you back on stage, always cheering you on”
”And a winky face” Clarke chuckled.
”Well to be fair…they don’t know that I have a girlfriend” Lexa slipped out and looked at Clarke in panic to see how she would react.
”Girlfriend?” Clarke smiled.
”Yeah, actually. You are my girlfriend” She said more confident.
”I like the sound off that” Clarke tilted her head so she could reach for a kiss and Lexa met her halfway.
”Me too” Lexa smiled into the kiss.
”I do not like that you have tons of DM’s from girls that think you’re single though”
”You know I’m just being friendly” Lexa chuckled.
”Yeah…yeah…” Clarke nodded as she rested her head back on Lexa’s chest.
Clarke had offered Lexa to spend the night and even if she wanted too, Lexa felt like she had to go home and see her mother. After talking to Abby she had felt a bit more confident about it, she needed to show her mom that she was there for her.
”Okay Lexa” Her dad was standing outside the closed guest room with her. ”Remember, she’s still your mom. Just…”
”I know” Lexa nodded.
”Okay” Her dad carefully opened the door, it was dark but she could see a shape off a body laying on the bed.
”Okay” Lexa looked at her father before she closed the door behind her, as she turned back to the bed there was no movement or a sign off her mother even noticing her. She carefully walked up to the bed
”Mom…?” She whispered into the quiet room, still no reaction. She crouched down and was finally able to see her face, it was pale and her mom had lost a lot off weight. ”Mom?” Lexa placed a hand on her shoulder and by the touch her mom opened her eyes and stared at her scared. ”No it’s okay mom, it’s me Lexa” She panicked a little bit but tried to calm herself.
”No” Her moms voice was raspy and dark, not as she remembered.
”I’m here now mom, I’m here for you” Lexa breathed out and she waited for her mom to speak again but instead she closed here eyes again.
She looked at her for a while, not a single face expression - just her body moving due to her breathing - she decided to leave her alone. She walked out and her dad was waiting for her outside.
”How did it go?” He wondered.
”She didn’t wanna talk to me” Lexa sighed.
”Come here sweetie” Her dad pulled her into a hug.
”She opened her eyes and then she just said no…” Lexa explained.
”Wait - ” Her dad let go off her and stared into her eyes intense. ”She talked?”
”Not really…she said one word”
”Lexa…she haven’t said a single word to me in…weeks” Her dad was suddenly smiling.
”I don’t understand?”
”Seeing you…it must have triggered something in her”
”So you’re saying what just happened was a good thing?” Lexa had felt the opposite.
”It’s a start at least” Her dad smiled at her.
”Okay” Lexa was still a bit confused but glad she was able to get some sort off reaction from her mother at least. She reached for her phone and texted Clarke.
Lexa Woods: I think it went alright, thank you for being there for me today. Tell you more tomorrow, goodnight.
Lexa Woods: I mean, goodnight girlfriend! ;)