I guess this is relatively due for an update.
Her parents left for the weekend, as well as her brother for some sort of a get-together, so she took the opportunity to come see me. We went to a bookstore and just chatted, spent time together, etc. Generally, because I have been given few facts, I asked her what was really going on... the whole story.
She was a little reluctant, but it came down to one thing: her brother. It seems that her and her brother don't get along that well, actually, not at all... he is two years younger, and has been the golden child in the family (culturally, because he's a boy and also because he's the more... academically intelligent one).
The story is quite long, but to summarize, her brother has been snooping, not the parents, in her life and has been notifying the parents of what's been going on in her life. Now, the parents are strict, but apparently, the brother instigates much of the issues. This, by the way, is her perspective, not mine.
Example 1: She used to be a smoker, but over the summer, she quit. I knew this, and applauded her for quitting, but two weeks after she quit, her brother bought a pack of cigarettes and hid it in her room as well as in the car so her parents would find it. It wasn't that she "forgot" she left these cigarettes there, because they were an entirely different brand than the ones she used to smoke...
Example 2: He snooped and found our conversations, printed them out, highlighted portions of it, and showed it to her parents.
Example 3: Last week, while she was working, her brother came by to her work, searched through the car and her purse. She has no proof that it was her brother, but since both of her parents were working at the time, and no one else has keys to the car except her parents and the brother, he seems to be the most likely suspect.
Example 4: While she was at work, as well as her parents, her brother searches through her room... not sure what he's looking for.
Example 5: She has recently received computer privileges back, but her brother, upon seeing her use the computer, disconnected the internet all together.
Example 6: This past weekend, while the parents went away and he was going to his get-together, he said to her, "Someone's watching you...always," then left... only to come back 20 minutes later, stay in the driveway for five minutes, and then leave again.
So... this is entirely her perspective. I can't really pass judgment on the guy because I've personally never met the guy, so I can't really confirm/deny what the issue is... but that's that.
We had a long chat, because when I saw her, she seemed extremely stressed and generally unhappy. We discussed the matter at hand, and the likelihood of a long term status, and we've determined that even if we did end things, things weren't going to get better for either of us while we're here this summer, so might as well enjoy each others' company and support each other...
3 weeks left!
I've been keeping busy by working out, studying ahead, and also, since I figured I could use the skills, I bought myself multiple suture kits and practice them on banana/orange peels. Now, if I can find myself some sort of a live human practice patient...
