Chapter 9
Karen awoke to light streaming through the window. She lifted her head from atop Suzie’s hand. The crisp, white sheet was still damp from her tears of the night before. She remembered why she was there, and her heart grew heavy. She looked at the clock. Almost 7:30. Slowly, she began to regain her senses.
She turned to look into her daughter’s face, praying to see a sign of life, any indication of consciousness, but saw none. Sitting upright on the edge of the chair, she realized Terry was gone. She was disappointed but not surprised.
Afterall, how many total strangers would stay in a room sleeping upright, in a chair, if they could be elsewhere? Then a sad thought swept over her. What if he had decided this was too much and had gone back to North Carolina, never to be seen ag
