Wilton wakes, furrowed brow, eyes squinting because of a migraine and a crick in his neck. His bloodshot eyes stare at Antonio Ramah and the doctors enter the room to let him know that the coma should be temporary, but they cannot predict how long Antonio will be in this state. They assured him that they are doing everything they can, but stressed the importance of physical touch and frequent conversations with Ramah even though he cannot respond yet.
As they leave the room, Wilton vaguely remembers Mercy wildly weeping, kneeling, and frantically begging him to forgive her for all the outrageous, unbelievable things she has done! Confused, Wilton reasons with himself that everything Isabella said was a part of a nightmare or hallucination, because he hasn't been able to function or sleep much because of concern for his big brother; he looks around and realizes Isabella isn't in the room.
He gets up and stretches and walks down the hall. He indistinctly hears a voice that sounds like Mercy's coming out of Room 211. He opens the door even though he knows it is inappropriate and finds Isabella in the fetal position, heaving on the floor, and shaking! He slides over on his knees, wraps his arms around her, and gently lets his body cover her. Wilton kisses her and promises that they can make it through whatever it is that is going on, but Mercy mumbles hysterically to him, "No! No! No! It is impossible for you to love me! How can it work out? Why are you being nice, you are supposed to be angry? My Father used to get angry..."
Wilton marvels at the condition she is in because she has never let him see this side of her before! Isabella has always been strong-willed, independent, passionate, and maybe a bit too pretentious. She thought being vulnerable and submissive would make her look weak.
Isabella never wanted to seem broken to Wilton out of suspicion that he would leave her the second she trusted him or needed him too much. Ironically, Wilton holds her tightly and sees this moment as a phenomenon because he always wanted to help her but felt like a failure, because Mercy pushed him away every time. He whispers and sings softly over her and Isabella weeps even more; she falls into a deep sleep.
At the end of each session, Annabelle is required to journal the emotions that come to the surface. The last line Annabelle writes in her journal says,
"I fear the one who took me more than the one I once feared, because at least I know his face... I can never forget his distinct face, disapproving and distant! But every time I remember the rickety swing, it is as if I am looking at my own reflection and that makes me feel insane! How can I escape from myself?"
Abigail praises Annabelle for her participation and progress. As she begins to leave, a man opens the door not realizing there was a therapy session; he apologizes, but Abigail says, "Pierre, we just finished. What are you doing in town? Come in! Come in! What are you doing here?" She turns and looks at Annabelle and says, "This is my brother. I will see you on Monday at the same time." Annabelle quickly grabs her journal even though she is curious and closes the door slowly.
She overhears Pierre asking Abigail if she has heard from Vladimir, Audrey, or Gretchen. Annabelle steps onto the elevator and pushes number two. She gets to the second floor and stops at the nurse's station and asks if she can have an orange or grapefruit with her lunch because she feels a bit under the weather. The nurses usually feel slightly irritated when patients come to the front desk instead of waiting for their nurse to come to their room, but none of them could be stern with Annabelle because they knew the state she was in just a few weeks ago, and are still astonished!
Annabelle reflects on what Abigail told her in the session. She learned she should deliberately be aware of her surroundings and find things that are constant in her life. Her therapist told her to make a point to create a routine because change is inevitable, but if she keeps track of what is going on, she won't be blindsided and easily overwhelmed by change.
Abigail also told Annabelle to do one new thing each day, because then she can create change as well; nothing is too big or too small, each decision counts. Annabelle passes each room as she usually does, but quickly steps back, because there is only the man with the beeping monitor in the room. She looks around and quietly, hesitantly enters...
TO BE CONTINUED...