The Hidden Truth

Epilogue

In the cafeteria of the hospital Phoenix and I sit down at a table in the back of the room. I push the tray up to rest my arms on the table as we wait for my sister to finish with her therapy. It’s been a few weeks since Kenneth terminated my strict orders and allowed her to come around, without any confrontations. However, I still worry every day about their safety. I know how inhuman my sister can be at times especially if she’s in an unfamiliar environment where she feels threatened. Even though Kenneth tries to assure me that he is monitoring her personally, he is untrained at managing her sudden but destructive outbursts.

“What’s wrong with you?” Phoenix says, jerking me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, nothing.” I reply trying to figure out how to release the thoughts floating around in my head.

“I know you don’t want to be here so if you want, you can pick me up again later.”

“No. Actually since we have some time alone, I guess I should tell you that I plan on leaving soon.”

“Another business trip?”

“No.”

“Then where?”

“I'm leaving for good.”

“Michael, you can’t leave a thirteen-year-old on their own.”

“I'm not, she has you, she doesn't need me anymore.”

“Sounds to me like you have been planning this for a while. So, tell me, how long have you been preparing to desert her?”

“Shortly after she was expelled from Saint James.” I pause, finding it hard to talk about what went on, before taking a deep breath and allowing myself to continue, “It was then that I knew I had to distance myself from her. On the contrary of what you think Caleb, I am not abandoning her. I will simply be a phone call away but only if she wants me. Otherwise you have my number in case of an emergency.” At that point I lean on the table more as I stare at him and add, “Whatever you do, don’t allow her to manipulate you.” There is no doubt in my mind that my sister will try and get her way even without me around and I had to make sure he knew it. Phoenix nods his head.

Shortly after he finishes his lunch my phone buzzes with a message for us to come back up to her room. As we step into the room Kenneth sets her chart on the countertop as he walks towards me and quietly asks, “Can I have a word with you in my office?”

I nod and follow him to the room just down the hall from the one she’s in. Once inside with the door closed he says, “I did a cognitive test with her shortly after I woke her up, the same one I gave you and well, here look for yourself.” As he hands me the piece of paper.

As I take it, I ask, “What prompted you to test her?”

 “I guess you can call it a hunch. I gave her some books and some notebooks if she got bored. You might want to take a look at those too.”

After looking over the paper I hand it back, “Give it to me straight, I don’t have time for this.”

“Fine. I know we agreed that she would be going home today but I'm sorry, I don’t feel confident enough to send her home just yet. It seems that there is more damage than I originally thought. Along with the muscle loss and bone density being so low she also has amnesia. If I were to send her home today, she would just be back here in a matter of days.”

“What about school? She has already missed the first week after winter break, how much longer are we talking?”

“Maybe a month. Could be more. Depends on her.”