Gloria woke up and was advised she was being moved to another floor, because she was finally getting better.

Her mother had been basically living in the CCU since Gloria’s hospitalization. She was there when her daughter was on death’s door: there through the many medical procedures: and there when the police came to question her about the murder. 

It was also during this time that her nurse Jessica and Elizabeth Saunders figured out why they looked familiar to each other. Gloria and Jessica had been best friends in grammar school and were almost glued to each other, until they weren’t. Gloria had gone from being a happy open friend to a complete silent stranger, literally overnight. Mrs. Saunders never did tell Jessica what happened; Jessica figured it out as soon as she came to know how they knew each other. Part of her internship had been in a women’s crisis center; Yes, Jessie knew not the exact facts, but she knew how day can turn to night in one brief moment.

During all this time, she would talk to her daughter, even when she was sleeping. When Gloria was awake, they began to get to know each other, and gradually, her mother had convinced her to come live with her and let them both begin again.  “It could be a new beginning for us both,” offered the older woman.

***

Gloria was moved again, this time to a floor to get medicine and start some physical therapy.

Her mother took this time to sneak out of the hospital for a drink and a shower – actually a lot of drinks.  She didn’t realized how overwhelmed she had become by the offer that she had just made. 

When Gloria was about to be released; Ms. Baker, her social worker, asked her if she had a plan for where she would be living. Smiling, Gloria announced she would be moving in with her mother.

Then Ms. Baker asked how she planned to deal with her addiction. Looking puzzled, Gloria told the worker “I have no plans on ever using again”.

 “We never do have plans”. She then explained the disease of addiction and how even when we wanted to be well, it doesn’t go away.

The worker had been talking to Mrs. Saunders over the past weeks, and had seen the co-dependent relationship that was brewing. Elizabeth had a history of looking the other way, just like she did when Gloria was being molested by her father, then her step-father.

 She turned her head even when she was being beaten in drunken rages; always believing she had done something to deserve such harsh punishment. The situation was an invitation to a perfect storm. The social worker also knew there was nothing she could do about either woman except invite Gloria into a state funded residential program.

***

When her mother was a no-show at checkout time, an aid wheeled Gloria out of the hospital with a laundry list of instructions. She climbed into a cab and rode to the park.  Her mother had dumped her one more time, and she didn’t have any place else to go.

Besides all the medications she needed, Gloria was to go to the county re-hab as soon as she was strong enough get around. The hospital had enrolled her in a mandatory outpatient treatment program. At this time, she was too weak to give a shit where she was or where she was going, she just wanted to sleep.

When Gloria awoke she was only half aware that she was in the park, under her favorite bush.  Eventually, she recognized her surroundings.

Gloria was supposed to begin drug rehab today. Everyone thought that she was being released from the hospital in her mother’s custody, and she had been mandated to go to the hospital drug rehabilitation center six days a week from nine till three.  Gloria could be sentenced from five to twelve years on too many counts to mention. She had no idea of what to do next. 

***

In another world, Grace and Belle were having tea in her new studio, which was not much different than Belle’s little apartment. 

At first, Belle thought it was steam she was seeing; it looked kind of like steam. Apparently Belle looked alarmed.

“What’s happening to you child, you look like you just saw a ghost.”

When the steam began talking to her; Belle listened carefully, she knew about sight, knew it ran in the women of her family.

“I believe your husband is trying to tell you something, Grace. Let me listen for a moment.”

“You stop that talk, you’re scaring me.”

“Shhhush, I am getting a message for you, write this down.”

Grace scuttled for a pencil and paper and was about to jump out of her skin.

Then, with a rapt look on her face, she sat back down.

“Your husband, Ben, is that right?”

“Well, Yes.”

“Ben says you are not to worry, he is just as fine as could be and he says to tell you he will watch over you with love and protection.”

“Where is he?”

“He says he is in a sweeter place and he feels wonderful.”

“He says tell you, ‘Coochie Coo,’ and that would mean something. Says he is always here but it took a lot to bring it to my attention, so we won’t hear him anymore.  He says to say, ‘You still are his Coochie Coo girl; you always will be;’ and that he loves you dearly.”

With that, Belle’s head dropped between her knees and she would have fallen off her chair; had Grace not grabbed her.

“I still can’t believe what you told me, except I heard it with my own ears and there is no way you would have known what Ben called me.”

“I said that? That’s never happened before, I am feeling a little woozy, Grace, could I have a little more tea and another one of those biscuits?”

“Of course child, you look exhausted; just settle down while I heat things up.”

By the time Belle headed back home; she was fine, better than she had been in months.