She was gone, the family soon realized, deep inside herself. Her eyes didn"t focus. She didn"t react to speech or stimulation. She would swallow water dribbled into her mouth, but not food. She took no nourishment, and she gave no sign whatsoever of awareness.
Three days crept past and she remained in this suspended state. On the afternoon of the third day, the doctor examined her thoroughly.
“Can you do anything?” Christopher pleaded.
“No. I"m sorry.”
“Is this the fracture?” Christopher asked.
“No. She"s withdrawn,” the doctor explained. “The fact she"s awake at all means the fracture likely isn"t going to kill her. Not this many days later. That would have happened much sooner. The broken bone will heal in the next six to eight weeks. However, if she doesn"t wake up and begin eating
