Chapter 28

           TherehadbeentimeswhenI’dwanderedaroundinadazeforaslongastwoweeksafterashocktreatment,livinginthatfoggy,jumbledblurwhichisawholelotliketheraggededgeofsleep,thatgrayzonebetweenlightanddark,orbetweensleepingandwakingorlivinganddying,whereyouknowyou’renotunconsciousanymorebutdon’tknowyetwhatdayitisorwhoyouareorwhat’stheuseofcomingbackatall—fortwoweeks.Ifyoudon’thaveareasontowakeupyoucanloafaroundinthatgrayzoneforalong,fuzzytime,orifyouwanttobadenoughIfoundyoucancomefightingrightoutofit.ThistimeIcamefightingoutofitinlessthanaday,lesstimethanever.

           AndwhenthefogwasfinallysweptfrommyheaditseemedlikeI’djustcomeupafteralong,deepdive,breakingthesurfaceafterbeingunderwaterahundredyears.Itwasthelasttreatmenttheygaveme.

           TheygaveMcMurphythreemoretreatmentsthatweek.Asquickashestartedcomingoutofone,gettingtheclickbackinhiswink,MissRatchedwouldarrivewiththedoctorandtheywouldaskhimifhefeltlikehewasreadytocomearoundandfaceuptohisproblemandcomebacktothewardforacure.Andhe’dswellup,awarethateveryoneofthosefacesonDisturbedhadturnedtowardhimandwaswaiting,andhe’dtellthenurseheregrettedthathehadbutonelifetogiveforhiscountryandshecouldkisshisrosyredassbeforehe’dgiveupthegoddamship.