Wallkery bounced off Maradith like a kid stealing candy. “You have some serious explaining to do,” Wallkery exclaimed in exasperation.

Maradith crossed her arms and gave her a pointed look, “This coming from the one who opened my mail. Still, it was amusing watching you turn a grown man into I shriveling pup.”

“Actual that is just how SoJo talks, he has been that way since he was a kid,” Wallkery stated defensively. “I didn’t scare him,” she said trying to look innocent.

“And I suppose that he shakes like a branch on a windy day for fun?” Maradith questioned.

“Ok fine, I Scared him. Now let me scare you. why did you not let the elders come to talk to me? I am fine, my sister is out there with the men that killed the rest of my family.”

Wallkery was staring at Meredith with a look of pain and anger, but mostly anger, swirling, and exchanging on her face. As Wallkery stared at Maradith, Maradith realized that this girl had seen much more than anyone had expected. The realization that Wallkery was broken in spirit came like a flood. Maradith took the younger woman over to the firepit and sat her down.

Choosing her words carefully Maradith spoke softly, in almost a hushed whisper. “I have no idea what you have experienced. However, it is my task to make sure that you get well.” At this Wallkery started to stand and protest. Maradith put a strong hand on her shoulder and shoved her back onto the stool.

“Let me finish, I have no idea if your sister is alive, I am trying to keep you alive. I need you to trust me to know when you are better, can you do that?”

Slowly the glare that Wallkery had been supporting started to fade. as she sat there her shoulders slumped and her face changed from pain and anger to complete despair and pain. Kneeling Maradith held the younger woman in her arms as she let the pain and sorrow and anger go in a stream of tears and painful cries that made Maradith realize that just how broken her patient was.