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She still won’t talk to me. Won’t talk to anyone.
That’s okay.
She will.
“We’ve invited Drew to sit in for this briefing,” Harry explains. Silas is outside, on duty still. He refuses to leave until this meeting is over, then he’s coming back to my place to hang out. His directive, not mine. I shift in my seat, my ribs aching. The internal damage that was done to my spleen looks like it’s healing. I won’t need surgery.
“We’re at a crossroads,” Dr. Higgs explains, a folder in front of him. “Lindsay’s medical progress is solid. The gunshot wound tore through the typical tissue and tendons, but she was lucky. It didn’t hit bone, just soft tissue. She should be ready to be discharged in a couple of days.”
“We can take her home?” Monica asks, smiling. It’s a fake smile.
“Yes. But her psychological state...” Dr. Higgs looks at Dr. Belzan, who takes over.
“We know she experienced severe trauma. We’ve sent therapists to work with her. We’re prepared for a psychiatric evaluation next. She refuses to speak.”
“Are you sure she can?” Harry asks.
“Yes. She’s told us so.”
“That sounds circular. How could she tell you if she refuses to speak?”
“I asked her if she could, and she nodded yes,” Dr. Belzan explains.
“Then why is she refusing to talk?”
“We don’t know. Her interactivity is low. She’s choosing to reduce her contact with humans as much as possible.”
Dr. Belzan puts her hand on Dr. Higgs’s elbow and whispers something. He nods.
“Actually, she did speak last night. One word. One of our nurse’s aides was in the room after she woke up from a nightmare,” Dr. Higgs says.
Monica’s eyes goes wide and she asks with excitement, “What did she say?”
“The aide thinks she said the name ‘Drew.’” Dr. Belzan looks at me.
My heart starts doing a dance in my chest, a flood of relief and warmth flowing through me.
Attagirl.
She’s coming back to me.
“That’s it?” Harry asks, his face carefully neutral. “Is the aide sure?”
Dr. Higgs shakes his head. “No. He’s fifty-fifty on it. She was a mess when she woke up, but she opened her mouth and she tried to say something.”
“Silas Gentian heard it,” I interrupt.
Harry just nods.
“Has she spoken since?” Monica asks.
“No.” Dr. Belzan clearly doesn’t want to say that word, but she has no choice.
“Is this something we need to worry about? She was only home for a week or so after spending four years at a...at the Island,” Monica whispers, eyes wide. She and Harry exchange a look that makes it clear they’ve already talked about the issue.
I harden inside.
I know what comes next.
