Alonzo said, standing next to me at the front door, “she’ll really be back.”
I nodded, watching her disappear into the van. His hand landed on my shoulder.
“She’ll be okay,” he said. “She’s survived the worst thing already. She’s a tough girl.”
I nodded again. Thea was tough. Stronger than anyone I knew to endure her amnesia for years without going crazy. Still, I felt like I was holding my breath as the days creaked by, one by one.
At night, I sat on my couch in my empty house and played “I Will Follow You into The Dark” and prayed that they’d bring Thea out of the dark for good.
Thea came back on what was technically my last day at Blue Ridge, although Alonzo refused to acknowledge it. Joaquin needed me to cover his midday/evening shift, so I rolled into the sanitarium around noon. The parking lot was fuller than usual, and the medical van was parked out front.
In the break room, I began to change into my uniform, fumbling over the buttons, my heart pounding.
She’s here. She’s right here.
Footsteps pounded down the hall and the door burst open.
“You’re here,” Rita cried, breathless. She grabbed my hand. “Come with me to the rec room. Now.”
“I can’t,” I said, my throat dry.
“You have to,” she said, her smile bursting over her face. “I insist. You have to see this.”
“But Delia—”
“Delia can suck it. Come on.”
I followed her upstairs to the rec room. It was full of doctors and staff, clustered in a loose circle. In the center was Thea. She wore pajama pants and a matching shirt. Barefoot, her hair tousled as if she’d just woken up. Her face was free of makeup and her luminous blue eyes looked as if they held all the happiness in the world.
She’s so fucking beautiful…
Alonzo stood off to the side, watching with a joyful smile on his face. Delia kept close to her sister, her expression wary, not daring to let herself be happy yet.
Anna led Thea around, introducing her to the people who had been taking care of her for two years.
“And this is Nurse Sarah,” Anna said. “You remember her?”
“I do,” Thea said. “Hi, Sarah.” The doctors all bent their heads to take notes as Thea threw her arms around the nurse’s neck. “I’m so happy to meet you. Again and for the first time.” She laughed, a ripple of pure joy that filled the rec room. “I remember all of this. All of you. It’s like a dream slowly coming back.”
My goddamn eyes stung, and I bowed my head, jaw clenched. The last time I’d cried was at Grandpa Jack’s funeral and I hadn’t done it since. But the tears that tried to get me now were different. Good. So good they scared me.
But I didn’t cry. I never cried. Thea was okay. She was there and she was okay. Free. I didn’t need anything more.
I can walk out of here with my head up.
I turned to go.
“I think that’s everyone,” Anna said. “Dr. Milton, would you like to—”
“Guns N’ Roses,” Thea said suddenly as if the name had been on the tip of her tongue and she’d just found it.
I froze.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Thea said. “Oh my God, I remember.”
I turned around. Thea was walking between all the people, wending her way toward me. Her eyes wide and taking me in, a shy smile on her lips.
“And… Lady Gaga. One of my faves.”
My heart stopped then jolted again, double-time. Delia was scowling, but now Thea was singing softly, “I want your love. Love love love…”
She was all there. Standing right in front of me.
I waited for our usual script—one that we’d played out a hundred times.
How long has it been?
The doctors are working on my case.
Can I call you Jimmy? You have kind eyes…
“Hi,” Thea said.
I swallowed hard. “Hi.”
She cocked her head. Her gaze roamed my face, my eyes, my mouth, studying me. “You’re Jimmy. Right?”
I wasn’t wearing a nametag. Rita had pulled me out of the break room before I could put it on.
“Yeah.” My voice was gruff. “That’s me.”
Thea’s smile broke free, like a goddamn sun after a decade of gray clouds and rain. She stuck out her hand and said, “It’s nice to officially meet you, Jimmy.”
I had no words. None I could trust. I took her hand, soft and warm in mine, and she gave it her signature, one-pump shake.
“Wow, this is crazy,” she said with a laugh, glowing with happiness. “Crazy and good and just…”
“A miracle,”