Into the Storm by Melanie Moreland

“Nothing. I figured it was just a delayed reaction to the attack and I kept quiet. I just found more and more excuses to stay here. I didn’t have to go anywhere. One click of the mouse brought almost everything I needed to me. For a while it was so bad I didn’t even go to the door. Whatever was delivered was dropped off in the mudroom and I would get it after they left.”
    “ What changed?”
    “ My assistant, Cecilia. She acted as a liaison between me and my publishers, brought me things I didn’t want to order online, checked up on me, and so many other things, I don’t think I could list them all. I thought I was fooling her. I thought I was fooling everyone. But she showed up on one of her bi-weekly trips with Maggie, and it all came out. The next week the webcam was installed and I started sessions with Maggie again. She also sent a local person in that I talked to and who could monitor my medications and work with me in person. Actually, it was his idea to get Bear.”
    Rabbit looked at me quietly for a moment, and then squeezed my hand. “And things got better?”
    “ Not right away. It was all baby steps. But, eventually, I was able to leave the house and move around the property. I got to know the delivery people and was able to go out and greet them without a panic attack. I could walk Bear around freely. Work in the barn. Mow the grass. Simple things I couldn’t do before.”
    “ But you still can’t leave?”
    I sighed and shook my head. “Every attempt has failed. Badly.” I stood up and began to walk around. “Maggie died a couple years ago. I tried other therapists but none of them were right. Dave still comes to see me and we talk but nothing else has changed. After all this time I don’t think it ever will for me.”
    “ What about … doctors, vet visits, that sort of thing?”
    “ Cecilia takes Bear for his checkups. I get house calls from the local doctor and even the dentist. Unorthodox, yes. But, at the risk of sounding like a snob, you can do anything when you have the money to pay for it. And, I have the money.”
    She was quiet for a moment, and then looked at me, her brow furrowed.
    “ Don’t you get … lonely, Joshua?”
    I sat back down and picked up her hand. “I do, occasionally. Really though, I was never much of a social person, Rabbit. I was always a loner. Even my chosen vocation, before this happened was done alone for the most part. And, really, when things are up and running around here, I see and talk to people all day on the computer. I talk with my publishers, editor, Cecilia, other people. I write and edit. Occasionally, a friend comes to visit. Cecilia is still here every couple of weeks. At night I read, listen to music, watch TV, sometimes play a game on the computer; do what most people do with their downtime. I just don’t leave my property. This is my life, Rabbit. I’ve come to accept it and I’m okay with it … most of the time.”
    For a few minutes, there was silence. Her voice was husky when she spoke up again. “Do you have any family?”
    “ No. I was an only child. My parents died when I was in university. There’s … just me.”
    “ Ah,” was her quiet reply.
    She stood up suddenly, causing Bear to huff in displeasure at being disturbed. “I’ll be right back,” she murmured, as she left the room. I looked down at Bear, who was staring directly at me.
    “ She’s not going to the bathroom is she, boy?” I asked. His great head shook as he snorted at me before jumping down and moving closer to the fire.
    I got up and followed Rabbit. As I suspected, she was in the bedroom, standing in the dark, crying. I pulled her into my arms. “Don’t, Rabbit. Don’t feel sorry for me. Please.”
    She shook her head against my chest. “I don’t. I just … I can’t stand the thought of you alone. I’m sorry about your parents. About losing Maggie. For what those bastards took away from you.”
    Stunned, I held her closely, rocking us. Her