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✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall gasped when Claire's aunt finally snapped. Lyall looked at her, then glanced over to Claire. He'd never been told off with such harsh tones, and he wasn't sure if the girl was alright. When she started the explanation, she looked to the older Wizard. He nodded, knowing she'd need to break their secret. Vonnie still looked baffled, so Lyall took over. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. That's the mysterious school we go to.. well, went to. Claire still goes... but... nevermind. I'm Lyall Thompson, and I've been Rider's friend for years. Right now, we can get to the hospital. I don't know which one, so you'll have to drive. I know it's a lot of stress, but I'll do my best to make sure we're all alright. It's what I'm supposed to do." He looked somehow optimistic, the man's natural personality shining through. As they went to the car, Lyall climbed inside, sitting awkwardly at the front. He didn't know their aunt at all, but he had a feeling that over the next while, they'd get really well acquainted. Not exactly the best terms.... "As Claire said, we're magical. I'm a Healer, I guess... like a doctor. I come from a non-magic family like yours, so I know it's hard to hear. You're probably thinking us crazy. Rider's magic... might be how she survived. Witches can do magic instinctually if they're scared or angry or... or um.. But I think, no.. I know that she'll make it through. Even if I have to use magic. I don't care what laws are broken." His words were resolute, the man willing and ready to face any consequence if it saved Rider. He wasn't about to forget his brand new Healer oath. He'd protect her at any cost, making sure she'd survive to see a new day. See herself getting married. See her kids grow up and go to school... Tears fell from his eyes and he struggled to even try to keep the calm façade.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall had been spending a majority of his free time at Rider's house, trying to help the girl overcome her depression. After work that day, however, he'd decided to go home and switch out his laundry. Besides, he rather missed his parents. After spending a bit of time home and packing a bag of fresh clothes, Lyall said his goodbyes and apparated into the Wilson house. The first thing he noticed upon entering the house was the smell of fresh blood. He promptly dropped his bag and sprinted over to the couch, where he saw Rider with bloody feet. "What happened? No, I think I can figure it out. Hold still so I can fix your feet." He grabbed his wand and gently started work on Rider's feet, pulling out glass and healing the cuts there. After he'd finished, he cleaned the blood away, then slipped woolen socks over her feet while he silently went to clean the mess she'd made. Instead of hanging the pictures back on the wall, he gently tucked them in the linen closet until she was able to handle seeing them again. When he had finished, he moved his bag into the guest room and wandered downstairs, sitting politely on the couch. "Are you alright now, Rider? Now you got that out of your system?" He remembered the book on depression he'd read at work, making his tone as quiet and calm as possible. It wouldn't do to upset her again.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall finished his cleaning and sat on the couch, noticing Rider's shivering. She was a little thin, so he figured she wasn't eating much... again. He slipped off his sweater and transfigured it into a blanket and carefully tossed it over the girl. "You're not eating again, are you?" His tone was quiet, but firm. He wanted to keep her healthy, but it was exceedingly difficult when she couldn't care less about her own health. It was stressing to see her in such dismal states. Rider spoke about the pictures on the wall, and Lyall sighed. "They weren't saying anything, Rider. They're photos. They can't talk. Not even magical photos can talk. You know that." Reasonably, he knew that she wasn't thinking straight, but he had to try and stop her from needlessly hurting herself every other day.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall looked disappointed in his friend when she said she'd had a piece of toast. He highly doubt it was a full piece, and figured it had been a half, or even quarter piece. "How 'bout in a bit I make something to eat? You and I can split something tasty. Anything you want." He looked over at her, hoping she'd take up the offer. After she'd said there were voices in her head, the man seriously began to consider taking her to therapy sessions. Maybe he'd ask at work if anyone knew a good therapist... "Are you taking your medicines? And talking to people about all this? Ri, tell me what's going on in your head instead of... of being destructive. You can't keep hurting yourself like this." He looked over at her with wide, pleading eyes, imploring her to talk and take her meds before he found her in a really bad way. He didn't think he could handle it, much less Vonnie or Claire!

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall sighed when Rider said her head was fine. He knew it wasn't, but... but she wouldn't just outright lie, would she? He wrapped an arm around her, hoping she'd just relent and let the medicines help her for a while. At least until she wasn't so vulnerable. He pet her short hair a bit, trying the comforting gestures she so loved in school. When she said she was hungry, his expression changed to a hopeful smile. If she was hungry again, that was a good sign! "Soup sounds great! I can do grilled cheese too- well, not real cheese, but you know, soy cheese." He grinned brighter, thinking of making a tomato soup... but that might be a bit acidic... maybe a creamed potato? Or creamed tomato. Mmmm now he was hungry too.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


Lyall grinned at Rider's expression of disgust when he'd mentioned his safe alternative to cheese. "Alright, you got me. I'll use your milky cheese on your food." He pet her hair a bit more, wondering what she was thinking. She was quiet lately, and while he knew why, it disturbed him. He carefully propped her up on the couch, then went to make a small meal of sandwiches and soup. He returned a while later and used a fold-up table to set their food upon. "My sandwich wedges have the toothpicks in them. I made yours nice and cheesy." He offered a small grin, hoping she'd mimic the expression.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮


After setting up their little dinner, Lyall watched Rider take a bite, before eating himself. "I hope you like it. There were a few kinds of cheese in there, not including mine, so I grabbed some I thought smelled nice." He blushed a bit, offering a smile. Hopefully Rider would smile back, but he doubted it. He dipped his sandwich into his soup and ate some more, still watching the girl to make sure she followed suit. He felt like a nanny of some sort, which was weird given that they were the same age. He didn't want to think of her as a sick child, but that was honestly what he thought most of the time, now. He didn't want to admit it, but he was scared his friend might not ever recover.

✮𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇✮𝒜𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓊𝓈✮𝐻𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓅𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒜𝓁𝓊𝓂𝓃𝓊𝓈✮

Lyall started on another sandwich, looking at Rider as she said she loved cheese. There was a lot still in the fridge for someone that claimed to love cheese... "I really wish I could try cheese... and chocolates... and milk. I've heard great things about them all." He sighed a bit, noticing Rider's attempt at a grin. Even the effort was enough to bring a relaxed sort of grin to his lips, and the man gently pet Rider's hair. He was hopeful that she would start feeling better soon.