Chapter 43

Five months after the shooting, Charly participates in Walking Group with Angela and Jamie. She announces that she will go home with her husband, Clark, which shocks both friends because Clark has rarely visited. Jamie challenges her claim, but Charly insists they are still together.

Clark arrives, casually dressed, to begin caregiver training. Valerie reprimands him for being forty-five minutes late, then demonstrates safe wheelchair-to-bed transfers. When Clark attempts the transfer, he fails to properly brace Charly and nearly drops her, forcing Valerie to catch and steady her. On a second try, he does better, and the brief session ends.

With an hour before her next therapy, Charly stays in bed. Valerie removes Charly’s helmet, exposing the cranial defect. The sight makes Clark turn green and vomit in the bathroom, while Valerie dryly notes his inadequacy. Clark quickly excuses himself, promising to return the next morning.

Left alone, Charly notices that Clark avoids touching or comforting her and has not hugged or kissed her since the injury, underscoring his ongoing emotional distance despite plans for her to come home.