Melinda pulled her single throw pillow out from under her head and hitched herself up so she could put her laptop on her legs. If Elena was right, she could contact all of her professors and let them know she was injured.

Who knew she would need the email addresses for more than handing in assignments? Opening Notepad, she composed an email explaining her injury and asked if she could listen to her lectures remotely. When her email program pinged within minutes, she couldn't quite believe it. Not only was she approved for remote learning, two of her five classes offered her the option of continuing indefinitely.

Melinda was tempted to hole up in her apartment and forget about the world. And then she remembered. Today's class was a night class. It fit in perfectly with her work schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 pm to 9pm. Accounting 202. It was a smaller class, only thirty students and it reminded her of the pictures she saw online. Classes in juvie weren't very big, and they got a surprising amount of one on one time with instructors if you pushed for it.

What shocked her even more were the social media sites and the consistent amount of hate on the internet. What would these, ---what was it? --- Trolls do if they found out the truth about her. No way she was going to sign up for any of them. No wonder the state blocked access to all of them. The only things she could get into with ease were Wikipedia and a couple of other encyclopedia sites.

When Lana explained the term troll to her, she had to agree it was appropriate. The fairy tale and now fantasy monster was hateful enough in an imaginary world. Who needed them in real life?

Passwords were another reality. Computer hygiene was completely foreign. She had an assigned laptop inside, but it was locked up at the end of every school day. And nothing she saved on it was private. Fortunately, there was more than enough time for her to get assignments done. She was always an avid reader, and she remembered her mother helping her learn to type just before the fire.

Shuddering at the unwanted memory, she turned up the music to drown out her thoughts, until the doorbell cut through it making her jump. She didn't even know she had one. Hitting pause she stood up and almost collapsed.

"I'll be right there."

Her right knee throbbed in time with her heartbeat and her left one wasn't much better. Forcing herself to ignore the pain she padded across the living room and through her kitchen. Stretching up on her toes she checked the peephole and recognized Gregory. He was even taller than she thought.

Can I really trust him? He's carrying a grocery bag. I just needed some ibuprofen. How did he know I was going to stop at the Walmart on the way home from class tonight?

She unlocked everything and let Gregory in.

"Just a few little things I expect you might need. Having three daughters and six granddaughters, I'm pretty sure these are all on your list and maybe not in your cupboards just yet."

Melinda laughed. "How did you survive? All those girls and women in your life, it's got to be insane at times."

"At least I have four allies now. My sons-in-law and now Darlene's husband. My oldest granddaughter just got married on July the fourth. Kind of ironic considering the day."

She burst out in a full belly laugh. For the first time in forever, Melinda found someone who had her own sarcastic sense of humor.

"Now, since you're laughing as hard as I did when they announced the date, I'll let you in on another little secret. Only my mother calls me Gregory and then only when I've done something, she considers totally stupid. I'm Greg Ste. Claire."

He put the bag down on her kitchen counter and held out his right hand. "And you are?"

Melinda wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans and grasped his to shake it. His hand dwarfed hers, but his grip was just firm enough to show her he wasn't a pushover.

"I'm Melinda Jean Durant. My mother used to call me Melinda Jean all the time, but I'm Mel to Lana, and Dr. Elizabeth because she's helped me so much."

Why did I tell him that? I'm trying to keep my past under a rock.

Greg didn't seem to care about what she let slip and started to unpack the grocery bag. It was one of the giant sized ones Walmart sold to help them be green.

Quick cooking oatmeal, honey, teabags, and milk were the first things out of the bag. She started putting stuff away, like she did when she was living with Lana. Orange juice, salt, pepper, and eggs followed, and she crossed the items off the grocery list in her head. He really did know what she needed.

"How am I going to pay you back?" she asked.

"You're not. You're going to pay it forward. When you see someone or something wrong that needs fixing, then you do it. Kindness multiplies if you give it away," Greg said.

A small Walgreen's bag came out of his jacket pocket, and then he unzipped his jacket and handed her a bunch of tulips wrapped in florist paper.

Tears overwhelmed her. Of all the flowers he could have picked these were the ones which said everything would be alright. Sniffling, she opened the cupboard beside the fridge stretching up trying to reach the vase sitting on the second shelf. Whoever lived her before adjusted the shelves for a person far taller than she was.

"I'll get it." Greg brought it down. "Why the tears? Usually my girls are happy about them."

Melinda grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. "I am too, but tulips are very special to me, and they're out of season or so I thought."

"So, did I. Which is why I picked up all the single stems that were left over and made a bunch for you. I have over two hundred of them planted all over my yard."

"They're so pretty. I love them. Thank you." Melinda said.

"Do you want to tell me the story? I have to tell you; I remember where I know you from before we go any further. Because I want to be honest with you. You deserve full disclosure."

"Yeah right, no one ever tells me the truth." She knew she was being rude, and her heart was thumping hard as she spoke.

I hope he doesn't get mad at me. I'm already hoping he's going to be a friend, but I'll pack everything back up and kick him out if he's like everyone else. What if I have to leave Fort Collins and school and everything?

"I know. My Dad didn't think you were guilty, and neither do I."