Shadows of Recovery (Everhart Family #3)

Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

T he sedation that had kept Sophie asleep was beginning to wear off. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, revealing a dark and stormy expression of confusion, Tristan, who had been keeping vigil by her bedside, greeted her with a soft smile.

"Sophie," he whispered softly, his voice trembling with emotion.

But the memories of what happened crashed down on her like a tidal wave. Her eyes widened with terror, and she began to tremble. The trauma was the only thing she could focus on, the only thing she could grasp. Panic overtook her, and she tried to throw herself out of the bed, her movements frantic and desperate.

"NO! NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!" she screamed, her voice raw and piercing, echoing down the hallway.

Tristan leaned over the bedrails, trying to calm her, but she recoiled, her fear and anguish too great. Her cries brought the medical staff running, and within moments, her mother and Dr. Skylar rushed into the room. Other staff followed.

"Sophie, it's okay. You're safe," Chris said, trying to soothe her. "We’re here to help you."

She shook her head and continued to scream, “GET AWAY FROM ME. DON’T TOUCH ME!”

Charlotte approached, her face a mask of worry and determination. "Sophie, sweetheart, it’s Momma, please. I’m here.”

Her hazel eyes were blank and unseeing. Their words only seemed to agitate her further. She thrashed and screamed, eyes wild and unfocused. Blood soaked her bandages. The room filled with the sounds of her distress, a harshness of pain and fear.

* * *

Seeing that nothing was working, Tristan felt desperate. He had to do something to reach her, or they would have to sedate her again to pull her back from the edge. He remembered a poem he wrote for her after a patient’s father punched her, a small bit of peace he hoped might penetrate her torment. They both laughed at his rhyme scheme.

"Sophie," he began, his voice firm and louder than her screams. "Listen to me. Just listen.” He took a deep breath and recited the poem.

“Your petals soft, a beauty that never fades,

Through storm and sun, you bloom so bright,

A beacon of hope in the darkest night.

Your strength, your grace, a wondrous sight,

A guiding star in my endless flight.

With every heartbeat, a life so true,

In this world so sweet, I'll always cherish you."

As the words flowed from him, Sophie’s cries began to soften. Her thrashing slowed, and she turned her tear-streaked face toward him, her eyes searching.

"Sophie," Tristan continued, his voice strong, “you are so much more than what happened to you. You are loved, deeply and endlessly."

Her tears still flowed, but her screams subsided into soft sobs. She rocked back and forth on the bed, clutching at the sheets. "No one will want an ugly doctor," she repeated over and over, her voice a broken whisper. “No one will hurt an ugly doctor.”

Tristan's heart shattered at her words. He moved closer, gently taking her hand. She seemed unaware he was touching her. "Sophie, you are not ugly. You are beautiful, inside and out. You are loved, Sophie. Deeply, truly loved."

“No, unlovable. Need to be unlovable. He won’t want me. I can’t be his. He won’t want to own me. I won’t belong to him.” Her eyes, still dark and empty, held his gaze for a tiny moment. The room was silent, the air filled with unspoken fears and shattered dreams.

Charlotte and Chris watched, both pale.

There was still a chance, however small, she could find her way back.

As the minutes passed, Sophie’s sobs gradually quieted. She continued to rock back and forth, her eyes still distant, but her grip on his hand remained strong. For now, all he could do was hold on to her and hope that, with time and love, the light would return to her eyes.

Chris took a deep breath. “Tristan, I’m going to start her on a short course of Ativan. Stay here with her," he said softly. "She needs time to calm down, and your presence seems to comfort her. I’ll be right back. Once she’s calm, we can address the fresh bleeding.”

Tristan nodded, his gaze never leaving Sophie as he gently whispered soothing words to her.

* * *

Chris motioned for Charlotte to follow him. Reluctantly, she did, her steps heavy with worry and anger. He led her down the hall and into a small conference room, closing the door behind them.

Charlotte immediately crossed her arms, her eyes blazing. "What is this about? I can't handle any more of this. Sophie needs proper care, not more lunacy."

Chris took a deep breath, his expression earnest. "Charlotte, I understand your frustration and fear. What happened to Sophie was beyond anyone's control. No one could have foreseen it, and I'm so sorry she had to go through that." He went on to explain what happened with Kay.

Charlotte's eyes remained fierce, her anger palpable. "I can't stand seeing her like this, Chris. She needs a stable environment, maybe another facility. This place... it doesn't seem to be helping."

Chris nodded, acknowledging her concerns. "I know you want the best for Sophie, and I want that too. I'm here to help you with whatever decision you make. But I want to point out something important. Sophie didn’t let go of Tristan’s hand. It showed that she trusts him. She wants that connection, and it's a significant step forward."

Charlotte's face softened slightly, but her voice was still tight with emotion. "You think Tristan can help her?"

Chris leaned forward, his eyes sincere. "I truly believe he can. He’s a skilled physician, but he’s functioning as her boyfriend—a man she trusts. If you'll allow me to work with Sophie, and Tristan, I have a treatment plan in mind that I think could make a real difference."

Charlotte hesitated, but then nodded. "Tell me about this plan."

Chris took another deep breath. "The first step is to create a safe and predictable environment for Sophie. This means hand-picking staff who will be consistently involved in her care. Only those staff members will interact with her, to build trust and familiarity. We'll start with trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy to help her process her experiences in a safe space. Gradually, we'll incorporate exposure therapy to help her face her fears in a controlled and supportive manner."

Charlotte's eyes remained sharp, but a flicker of hope appeared. "Alright, let's give this a chance. But know this—I will not tolerate any more setbacks. Sophie deserves the best, and I will make sure she gets it."

Chris reached out and gently took her hand. "We had no time to get her settled before Kay flipped her world upside down. I think the plan will work. But it's going to take time, patience, and a lot of support. If we can give her that, I believe Sophie can start to heal."

Charlotte squeezed his hand, her anger giving way to a cautious hope. "Alright, I'll trust you with this. But you have to promise me, only the staff you hand-pick will be near her. No one else."

Chris nodded firmly. "You have my word. We'll do everything we can to help Sophie."

She raised a brow. “I have one more question. Why did you tell me Kay’s name? You opened the Institute up for a lawsuit.”

“I’ve found honesty is the best policy.” He smiled.

With a sigh, Charlotte wiped away her tears. "Thank you, Chris. For everything."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this. For Sophie."