Chapter 11 - Claire asks for a locked door
The hospital transferred Claire to a private rehabilitation and trauma-care unit after four days.
She was physically stable.
Psychologically exhausted.
Sleep came in fragments.
She asked staff to lock her room door at night.
That surprised everyone.
Wouldn’t a lock trigger her?
No.
Her problem was not locks themselves.
Her problem was other people controlling them.
The hospital lock opened from inside.
She had the button.
Choice changed meaning.
She also asked for:
Water bottles lined where she could see them.
Door slightly open during daytime.
No male staff entering silently.
No surprise visits.
Michael followed every instruction.
I did too.
Richard was barred.
Marcus obviously.
Lily asked to see Claire.
Claire said:
“Not yet.”
Lily cried.
I explained:
“Aunt Claire is tired.”
“But I found.”
“You helped us know she was there.”
“She needs me.”
No.
That was the dangerous story.
I crouched.
“Claire needed you to tell me. You did that. Now doctors and grown-ups take care of her.”
Lily frowned.
“What I do?”
“Be six.”
“What means?”
“School. Draw. Annoy me.”
“I don’t annoy.”
“Debatable.”
She smiled reluctantly.
Two weeks later Claire asked to see Lily.
Short visit.
Lily brought no gifts.
Samantha had suggested:
“Don’t turn it into a rescue reunion.”
Good.
Claire sat in a chair near the window.
Lily entered.
Stopped.
Then walked over.
“You look better.”
Claire laughed.
“Thanks.”
“Was floor cold?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“I stomp.”
“I know.”
Then Lily asked:
“Why didn’t you yell before?”
Claire answered honestly enough.
“I tried. The room was hard to hear.”
“Then knocks.”
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
Problem solved.
Then she asked for hospital pudding.
May you like
Recovery benefited from pudding.
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