The Persistence of Memory | ✔

17

Nina thought of Iris and Nat, and what they would think when they found out she'd left town—that the police were looking for her. She thought of her father, who'd already been through more than enough. The last time she'd seen him they'd walked out into the warm sunlight and cool wind, both feeling like a blessing after she'd been stuck indoors while recovering. He'd been worried then, and rightly so, but Nina had done her best to be strong. Now, she found it harder to do when she had no one to be strong for.

At that moment, a memory surfaced in her mind, one that Nina was no longer certain was her own. A warm presence, the laughter of a child bubbling up, and the feeling of a familiar presence that could only be described as comforting.

Mom, Nina thought, the word appearing in her mind unbidden. She thought of the smiling image of her mother that had once hung on the wall of her home. More than anything, Nina thought of all the times she'd sought out her mother for reassurance and the ease with which she'd been given it. Now, Nina wondered once more if maybe Alice hadn't done the same thing at a time when—for reasons still unknown to Nina—she had needed someone to be there for her.

She knew something was wrong, that's why she left Fearnley's treatment to someone else, Nina thought, searching amongst the mess of notes she'd hastily gathered for the rough timeline she'd worked out. So she went home. Went to her family. But what did she know and why did she leave? Was it really just to ease her mind?

It was her best guess, but it still seemed wrong. Alice seemed like a pragmatic person. She was, from what Nina could gather, direct and independent. It was difficult to think of her going home for something as simple as some familiar comfort in a time of need, not when something was bothering her so deeply about the work she was doing. Especially not while she worked with a patient like Fearnley, someone in whose progress she was so invested.

Unless that was why she left. Maybe something happened, something that made her distance herself from her work for a short while. Nina recalled Alice not being as involved in her own case. When she thought about it, that seemed peculiar. It would have been a good opportunity to see the effects of her work.

Nina leaned back in her seat, the chair creaking once again though this time the sound went ignored. Her brow was furrowed, a slight frown on her face and a far off look in her eyes as she lost herself in her thoughts.

Something drove her home, something related to her work. Nina decided that was the best trail of thought to follow at the moment. There was a chance that if she found out what it was that made Alice leave her work behind the whole puzzle would come together.

"Pull the right thread and the whole thing will unravel." Once again, the old piece of advice came back to Nina. I just hope this is the right thread.

What little of the weak sunlight that made it through the thick storm clouds and filtered in through the narrow space between the curtains was quickly fading. Night was still a ways off, but Nina didn't feel comfortable driving around just yet. Besides that, she didn't know where she would go next, her mind not being made up about what her next step would be, not with all of the uncertainties she was surrounded with at the time.

With that, Nina turned back to the records in front of her and the neatly written notes Alice had jotted down. Outside, the rain strengthened gradually until it became a downpour. The sound of the rain beating against the ground was a steady, almost soothing sound. It cut through the bleak silence Nina found herself in.

She eyed the small television set in her room, and finally decided to turn it on. The sounds of one of the many procedural shows flooded the room and made Nina feel a little less tense. As had become a habit, she left it on, despite not caring for the show.