"Did something happen while we were gone?" Aaron asked with fascination, when they arrived to see all three of them playing a board game. Chris knew his question was because of Ellen, and he smiled. "It's great to see you playing out of your room, Ellen." Dr. Jen complemented, taking a seat by her. They were playing monopoly, so the adults decided to join in on the fun. "Oh right, ladies, how would you like to go Christmas shopping with us tomorrow God willing?" Isabella asked excitedly and the girls smiled. "Seriously, how did you get her to smile or even play?" Aaron asked Chris again, in a whisper. "I'm just being a supportive and dependable friend uncle. Ellen has always been a strong girl, it's just a matter of time before she gets over this phase, and we can tease her like we teased Stephanie, after killing him of course." Chris answered with a smirk and Aaron smiled. As much as he didn't want any boy near his daughter, he didn't mind if it was Chris, because he knew better, than to hurt his baby girl. That didn't mean he was going to hand over his daughter to him though, Ellen needed anything else but a boyfriend, and from recent events, at least it would take a really long time before she thinks about dating anyone behind them ever again.
Christmas passed quickly for the new year to come, and it was time for them to go. This vacation had served its purpose as Ellen was much better than she was when they first arrived here. That alone made Aaron not care about the millions of dollars he had spent here, since he would work to get every cent back. Ellen could hold conversations now, and Chris was a huge part of her road to recovery. Even though she was best friends with Steph, Chris took it upon himself to make sure she was fine. Ellen however has been reserved now, especially when it comes to the male species, and made sure to put a good distance between them. Not that Chris would play her or anything, but she thought she was too special to be played by Henry too, and look at her now. She learnt how to play the piano as Chris insisted, she pick up a hobby to occupy her time, at the counsel of Dr. Jenomiah. She had to leave the arcade earlier with Chris behind her, when they went for a family day out, because it was too traumatizing for her. Her excuse was that she wasn't well, but they caught on with her lie. Chris followed her outside, putting them at ease. He took her to an amusement park instead, since they would be visiting Disneyland the next day, he didn't take her there. "Please tell me he never took you to an amusement park." Chris had joked, but his audience was in no mood for a joke. "Eleanora." He called. "Please…call me Ellen, please." She responded with a plea, slight irritation backing it. She had grown to hate her full name, as it reminded her of how he called her. "Okay, Ellen. You can't continue to live like this. You could end up going insane, or worse, dying. Believe me, I know how heartbreak feels, but you can't live the rest of your life crying over spilt milk. I bet you, he is not thinking of you, or sulking in pain like you're doing. Heck, he's probably with some other girl telling her the same things he told…" "That's enough Chris, stop it please." Ellen cried. "No, I won't. You have to hear these things and understand that he never loved you. Do you get that? He never cared about you. No guy would do what he did to a girl he cares about. I wouldn't even do that to my worst enemy. He cared less about your image, or dignity Ellen. You were nothing but a bet to him, get that through…" *Slap*, "I said that's enough Chris! You think I don't know that? You think I don't lie down, thinking, trying to figure out why anybody would do this to me? I keep waiting for him to call or text me that this is all a huge misunderstanding like the fool I am, yet he doesn't. Not one of them has contacted me to even know how I'm doing. You think I don't know I was just a challenge to them, and nothing else? I do Chris! I do! I just can't bring myself to accept that. I would die Chris. What could I have possibly done to deserve this? I've thought about it every single day for the last three months. I go crazy just by thinking of it, you want me to accept that? I just can't, Chris…it would kill me. I don't deserve this. I…I don't deserve this. My only mistake was trusting the wrong guy…" Ellen got defensive, breaking down right there at the park. Chris crouched to her level, gathering her in his arms. "I'm sorry I pushed you Ellen, but you need to know you have to move on. You can't continue like this. It's not worth destroying yourself for. I promise to be by your side till you find yourself again." Chris consoled. "Don't promise me that Chris. I can't take any more promises, not even from you. That's how much I'm damaged Chris. I just don't know if I can come out of this." Ellen said amidst tears and snivels. "You will Ellen, but you have to help yourself first. You have to dwelling on the past and focus on yourself. I know you to be a strong girl who has her life planned out, you had a setback, but you have to get back in line." Chris counselled. And since that cry from that day, Ellen begun putting herself first, even though it had only been two weeks. Deep within her, she dreaded having to go back to Ghana, and to school, which gave her anxiety some times. Instead of telling her parents or therapist about it, she kept it to herself, giving fake smiles here and there.