Chapter Thirty-Three

Billy approaches Stephanie and leans in behind her, “This is your mom?”
Just as she turns to answer him, Dr. Winters steps into the room and quickly approaches the woman on the bed. “What’s the story?”
Stephanie and Billy give each other a glance before he says, “Well, I’m going to let you guys handle this one. I’ve had a long day and I’m off duty.” Billy gives Stephanie a reassuring grip on the shoulder a moment before turning to leave. “See you soon.”
“This woman was just brought in by a Waterville paramedic team,” Stephanie begins. “She was found wandering on the state highway and was extremely agitated until a few moments ago.”
“What changed?” Dr. Winters asks as she reaches down to take the woman’s vitals.
“I’m not sure,” Stephanie is careful of what to say. “She heard my name was Stephanie and then just seemed to gravitate to me. She instantly calmed down and hasn’t stopped staring at me.”
The woman on the bed now turns to look at Dr. Winters. The doctor is in her mid-forties with short, black hair cut above her shoulders. Her blue eyes almost piercing as she looks over the woman in the bed.
“Well, she seems fine now. Maybe we should just let her be for a bit?” Dr. Winters says as she heads for the door. “We can get her a mild sedative to help her through the night and check on her in the morning.”
“O.K..” Stephanie starts to walk out of the room when the woman quickly becomes agitated again and thrashing about in the bed. “Stephanie..don’t leave me! Don’t! Not again!” the woman screeches at the top of her lungs.

Claire is stepping out of the front door of the Municipal Building and takes a deep breath, “Thankfully that is all over.” After a moment, Claire begins walking up the street and notices someone acting strange. Stopping again to get a better look, she notices the man on the other side of the street starting to walk one way and then the other and turning back around again as if trying to figure out which way that he should be walking. This time he turns just right and she sees a better look of his face.
“Greg?”
She can not believe her eyes and quickly crosses the street to approach the man.
“Greg? Are you O.K.?” Claire asks the disoriented man.
The man turns and looks the Claire directly in the eyes but is slow to respond. She can see some faint scarring on his face and around his scalp.
“Greg? Do you know who I am?” Claire questions.
“Claire?”
“Yes. You do recognize me?”
“Yes, Claire,” the man begins almost in a mumble, “I know who you are but why do you keep calling me Greg? It’s me…. Dr. Johnson. Brad’s brother-in-law.”
Claire is speechless as she sees Greg’s body turn in front of her and walk away.