Paralysis

14th Level

Three days, three days now that I’ve been wondering, shut away in my hospital room, how on earth I’m going to face Guillaume, who no longer remembers who I am. Over the last few days, I’ve never been so emotional; I cry over the slightest thing. In fact, tears are streaming down my face and I can’t stop them.

The doctor enters the room and I quickly wipe away my tears.

_ Are you crying again? You really need to calm down. Don’t lose hope.

I nod.

_ Have you taken the drip out again?

_ I’m sorry, but I can’t keep that in my body; I might have a panic attack.

_ What happened to you?

_ I-it’s a long and painful story...

I lower my head and he writes something on a piece of paper, which he then hands to me.

_ If you can’t talk to me about it... here’s the number of a specialist friend of mine; he might be able to help you. Tell him it’s good old Francky from school; he’ll give you a good price

I take the piece of paper. “Dr Leonard Kinsley”.

_ Mr Grishwall left this morning. A young blonde woman came to pick him up...

What! He left with a blonde woman! That can’t...

_ A blonde woman? When you found me at home, what happened to the woman who was in my living room?

_ There was no one there but you and your husband.

_ No, no, no, that’s not possible.

I clasp my head in my hands. It’s not possible. I checked, though; she was dead, I’m sure of it.

_ Are you all right? You can leave today if you like. Would you like me to call someone for you?

_ My sister, I say, jumping up. Please call my sister

Sarah turns up in less than an hour. I rush to tell her everything. I can’t keep this all to myself any longer, I’m going to burst. Sarah is the eldest of us all, the wisest; she’ll know how to advise me.

_ What are you planning to do now? If she’s still alive, and especially if Guillaume only remembers her, you can well imagine she’ll never let him

_ I know, yes, and frankly I don’t think I can bear it. I want to kill her but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get near her

_ Calm down, you’re far too worked up. Let’s start by going to your place and seeing how it goes.

_ No... No, I can’t go home... What if she’s there...

_ I’ll be with you no matter what, I won’t leave you.

She managed to calm me down and convince me to go. 30 minutes later, we’re in her car, on our way to my place.

_ By the way, I’m pregnant.

_ Again!?

_ Yeah, unfortunately.

_ Are you going to have an abortion?

_ I’ll have to. Anyway, if I don’t, he’ll make me lose the baby.

_ *I sigh. He doesn’t realise he’s damaging your health

_ I reckon he just doesn’t care

We’re driving and I look at my sister. She’s so strong and so confident. Yet, even though she married the richest man, she doesn’t have a good life. She got married very young, barely 18. What’s more, her husband beats and r***s her. She’s had to have so many abortions already. But she’s learnt to cope with it; that’s life.

We arrive in front of this big, luxurious house of mine. We get out; Sarah takes my arm in a gesture of encouragement. We go inside, and there she is! Wandering around the living room as if it were her own.

I almost collapse to the floor; Sarah catches me just in time.

_ Oh, I’d almost forgotten about you, Samira says, looking happy

_ Who are you talking to?, asks Guillaume, joining us

He stares at me. Tears well up in my eyes.

“You… What do you want? Who on earth are you?”

“She’s an old friend, don’t worry, she’s just passing through.”

“You, never say such a horrible thing again,” I screamed, crying. “I’ll never be friends with a monster like you… Guillaume, I…”

I look at him and see confusion and a thousand questions in his eyes. “She’ll need time, don’t rush her.” Sarah tries to speak to him, but I signal for her to be quiet.

“I’m nobody,” I say, my face wet with tears.

I take my sister by the arm and we rush out.

Guillaume’s point of view

“That woman, I feel sorry for her,” I say as I watch her leave. “She looks like she’s in a lot of pain. I wonder why?”

“Yeah, forget about her quickly, otherwise it might spoil the mood.”

Khrystal’s point of view

We get into the car and I can’t help but bang my head.

_ What was I thinking? I mean, honestly...

_ Calm down, Khrystal, it’s not your fault. You did everything for him, you endured the worst suffering...

_ And now I’m chickening out. It’ll all have been for nothing because I can’t stand up to a viper...

_ Your worst nightmare. You can’t stand up to the woman who’s become your worst nightmare.

I burst into tears and throw myself into her arms.

_ She needs time to remember, but you need time to heal too.

We stayed like that for a long while. When I’d calmed down, we set off again.

_ Where are we going now?

_ I’d have loved to take you to my place, but because of my husband... it’s better not to. I’ll take you to a hotel. You can stay there for as long as you need

_ Thank you... That’s really kind

_ Don’t worry, it’s only natural

I’m lost for words; I’m exhausted – mentally, emotionally and physically.

We drive for about an hour before pulling into a car park opposite a large building. We go inside and I follow Sarah to reception.

_ Good evening, ladies

_ Good evening, do you have any rooms left?

_ Er... Yes, we have a single room with a view of the city, on the 17th floor

_ That’ll be perfect, thank you

_ Name?

_ Khrystal Darmende, I blurted out