It had already begun earlier.
In that hospital room.
The moment the door closed behind Ethan for the final time.
For weeks, Vanessa had communicated almost nothing.
Now, slowly, she began making choices again.
Who could enter her room.
Who could touch her.
When treatment should pause.
Where her son would sit during visits.
What she wanted to know about the case.
Tiny decisions.
But after living under control for so long, tiny decisions mattered.
Her physical recovery required multiple surgeries.
The damage to her mouth could not be repaired quickly.
There were procedures.
Rehabilitation.
Pain.
