"Okay, I'll leave it alone. Just keep me in the loop. You've got my work number?"

"Yeah."

She got up from the table and kissed him on the forehead. "Love you, Gwynn. Sorry, I'm getting all overprotective. Don't want my favorite guy to get hurt, that's all."

Gwynn checked himself before answering. She loved him. That would be a lousy reason to attack her.

"I know. But geez Jaimie, sometimes I think you forget I'm almost eighteen."

"Maybe I do. Almost a man. You're right. I need to remember that. Have a good day Gwynn. I hope everything goes well."

"Me too. Have a good day at work."

"I will. Oh, and Gwynn?"

"What?"

Jaimie winked at him. "Thanks for breakfast."

Gwynn couldn't help it, he laughed. "You're welcome."

With Jaimie gone, Gwynn dashed up the stairs for a shower and proper clothes.

He had come back downstairs when the doorbell rang.

"Good morning Mr. Murray," Gwynn said. Mr. Murray seemed dressed for a business meeting.

"Good morning Gwynn. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, sir."

They drove to the hospital in silence. It struck Gwynn Sophia's father was not one to talk much. What kind of relationship did this man have with his daughter? Mr. Murray's discomfort level seemed to rise with every step bringing them closer to the locked doors of the psychiatric unit.

Mr. Murray punched a code into a numeric pad beside the door. An orderly had them sign in and escorted them down the hall to a waiting area where an older woman sat staring out the barred window. The blond curls identified her as Sophia's mother.

"It's nice to meet you," Mrs. Murray said. She smiled, but her eyes were tired.

"Thanks. Pleasure to meet you too."

"The orderlies are making Sophia...presentable. We should be able to see her soon."

Mr. Murray cleared his throat. "Could I speak to you a second, Sweetheart? Privately."

They went out into the hall and left Gwynn alone in the waiting room. The hospital painted the room a pale green with soft fabric chairs bolted to the floor. There were no other pieces of furniture and nothing hanging on the walls. It felt cold and sterile. A disheveled stack of magazines, the newest of which being over a year old, seemed the single thing giving the appearance of life. How could anyone's mental health benefit from such stark surroundings? Minutes Gwynn didn't keep track of passed. The door opened, and Mrs. Murray returned.

"They say we can go see Sophia now."

Gwynn looked behind her. "Umm, where's Mr. Murray?"

The question made her look flustered, maybe even angry. She recovered and attempted a weak smile. "He had a mandatory meeting today. He appreciates you coming, Gwynn. He needs to keep working. I think it's his way of coping."

"Okay. Well, let's go see Sophia." Gwynn said it with enthusiasm, but it filled him with dread.

The orderly escorted them down the hall. They stopped, and the orderly opened the door. Gwynn worked hard to compose himself. The walls had numerous drawings taped to them. There were terrifying images of creatures Gwynn had never seen, circular lines spinning inward until becoming a mass of darkness. Gwynn found himself more disturbed by those circles than most of the monsters. In the center of the room, a small girl who had once been Sophia Murray rocked back and forth. Her radiant blond curls now hung limp and dull. None of the life and vitality he knew Sophia to have lived within this shell. Gwynn understood why her father ran away to work. Seeing such vibrancy diminished was devastating.

"Sophia?" Mrs. Murray gently touched her daughter's shoulder. "Sweetheart, you have a visitor. Gwynn is here to see you."

Sophia's eyes locked on Gwynn's— too many swirling emotions made them unreadable.

"Alone," Sophia muttered.

Mrs. Murray probed Gwynn, concern in her eyes. He shrugged his shoulders and put his hands up.

"Sweetheart, since it's his first visit, maybe I should stay."

"Alone!" Sophia shrieked.

Mrs. Murray relented. She backed out of the room. "If you need me, Gwynn, just knock on the door."

"Uh... Okay."

The door shut behind him and Gwynn stood alone with Sophia. He tried to speak to her, but he stumbled over his words.

"Sit," Sophia said. She rocked back and forth, her hands in constant motion, but her eyes fixed on Gwynn. He sat.

Seconds took minutes, minutes hours, time played tricks with Gwynn. He started to believe the few intelligible words she said were a fluke. The girl in front of him seemed broken beyond any hope of repair.

She lunged at Gwynn.

Before he could react, she grasped his face between her hands. He struggled in vain. She wouldn't let go. He thought to cry out for help, but something in her eyes held him a silent prisoner.