Standing motionless in the middle of the living room, her gaze fixed in a void, Lucy seemed disconnected from reality. The world around her continued to exist, to turn, to express itself without her.
"Officer Chen?"
No response.
"Officer Chen?"
No movement.
"Lucy?"
But it was the hand placed gently on her shoulder that helped. Lucy lifted her head.
"Lucy?"
"We're out of milk. I need to get milk."
"Lucy, look at me."
And Lucy looked at Angela.
"Lucy, I need you to come with me."
"But I need to get milk, I..."
"I need you to come with me. The milk can wait. Okay?"
"Hm."
Angela gently grasped Lucy's shoulders and guided her outside. Lucy crossed the living room, her feet crunching the shards of glass scattered across the floor, smearing the traces of blood that told the story of the night's events.
Lucy was taken to the hospital and placed in a room, alone, with two officers stationed outside the door.
Angela, who had been watching Lucy through the window, was joined by Grey.
"How is she?"
"In a daze. Superficial physical injuries, a mild concussion."
"Are you sure you want to take the case?"
"Yes."
"Very well... Go ahead."
Angela nodded, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door before entering the room. She pulled a chair closer to the bed.
"Lucy?"
"Hm?"
"Can you tell me what happened tonight?"
Angela gave Lucy time to hear and process the question. But nothing.
"Lucy?"
"T... Tim? Oh my God, Tim!"
And it was as if the question had revived the night's events, as if her brain had deliberately pressed pause to forget.
"Lucy, look at me, breathe. Tim is alive. He's in the ER."
But if Angela were being completely honest with Lucy, she hadn't received any updates on Tim in over an hour.
Lucy locked eyes with Angela.
"Lucy, I need you to tell me what happened tonight. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
◇───────◇───────◇
A few hours earlier.
For weeks now, Lucy had fallen back into the habit of meeting Tim at his house several times a week, just like before, without anyone knowing.
"Babe, I'm here."
But there was no response.
"Tim? Koj, Buddy?"
