Lady of the Night by Emilie Richards

Author:Emilie Richards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emilie Richards

Chapter Seven

The apartment was dark with evening’s approach when Maggie opened her eyes. As always, waking from a deep sleep confused her, flooding her body with dread. Staring at the wall beside her bed, she talked sense to herself with the courage of a little girl whistling in the dark to scare away the monster in her closet. There was nothing to be afraid of in this apartment. No, she didn’t remember anything about her life previous to the hospital, but yes, all her memories from that time on were crystal clear.

“Maggie?”

Joshua startled her. She had forgotten that he had been in the room when she’d fallen asleep. Turning toward his voice, she propped herself on one elbow. “Hello.”

He had been standing by the window, and he crossed the room to stand beside her bed. “I wasn’t sure you were awake.”

“I didn’t know you were still here.”

“I was worried about you.”

“You’re going to need someone else to worry about from now on.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I’m going to be just fine.” Maggie sat up, hugging her knees, her chin resting on the blanket covering them. “For the first time, I know I’m going to be fine.”

Joshua had not expected this response. He had watched her for hours as she’d slept the exhausted sleep of the weary pilgrim, and he had wondered how he was going to tell her his thoughts when she awoke. Now she was sitting up, her eyes bright and unclouded, her cheeks once again tinted with color. It was another rebirth.

Maggie smiled and gestured for him to sit beside her. “Don’t look so serious. I feel good.”

“Why?” Instantly he hated his question, but Maggie didn’t seem annoyed by it. She extended her hand and pulled him down on the edge of the bed.

“Because I’m recovering.”

“Are you remembering anything?”

She shook her head. “Just tiny flashes. Enough to whet my appetite, nothing more. But I think eventually it will come back to me. And when it does, I can face it. I proved that to myself today.”

He had been so angry at her for leaving the apartment that he hadn’t paused to consider the fact that her experience might prove valuable. His brows drew together in the semblance of a frown as he thought about her words.

“Do you know that you’re wearing your therapist’s face right now?” Maggie swung her legs over the bed and turned slightly to face him. “When you’re trying to puzzle something out, trying to figure out just how you should respond, you get that frown on your face. It’s fascinating to watch, but I’d rather you just told me what you’re thinking.”

“I was trying to figure out how today could have been helpful.”

“I faced a piece of my past, and I survived. Surviving is a talent I seem to have, and I’m proud of myself for it. I’m tired of feeling guilty about my life. Whatever I did, whatever I was, I did it because I had to do it. I’m not going to spend any more of God’s precious time feeling ashamed of something I don’t even remember.

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