Chapter Five
CHAPTER FIVE “THIS WILL STING A BIT.” Yuri was tending to my bleeding scratches in the goldfish bowl. He opened the bottle of antiseptic and applied it to a swab. The medicinal odor transported me to the sick bay at school, conjuring up memories of playground battle scars, grazed knees and scratched elbows. I remembered […]
Chapter Four
CHAPTER FOUR “HELLO, ALICIA,” I said. Only a few days had passed since her medication had been lowered, but the difference in Alicia was already apparent. She seemed more fluid in her movements. Her eyes were clearer. The foggy gaze had gone. She seemed like a different person. She stood at the door with Yuri […]
Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE AFTER LUNCH I PROWLED THE CORRIDORS, looking for an exit. I was intending to sneak outside and have a cigarette, but I was discovered by Indira by the fire escape. She assumed I was lost. “Don’t worry, Theo,” she said, taking my arm. “It took me months to get my bearings around here. […]
Chapter Two
CHAPTER TWO I WENT TO FIND DIOMEDES to report on my meeting with Alicia. He was in his office, sorting through piles of sheet music. “Well”—he didn’t look up—“how did it go?” “It didn’t, really.” Diomedes gave me a quizzical glance. I hesitated. “If I’m going to get anywhere with her, I need Alicia to […]
Chapter One: Alicia Berenson’s Diary
CHAPTER ONE Alicia Berenson’s Diary JULY 16 I never thought I’d be longing for rain. We’re into our fourth week of the heat wave, and it feels like an endurance test. Each day seems hotter than the last. It doesn’t feel like England. More like a foreign country—Greece or somewhere. I’m writing this on Hampstead […]
Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN I WENT TO MEET KATHY at the National Theatre café on the South Bank, where the performers would often congregate after rehearsal. She was sitting at the back of the café with a couple of fellow actresses, deep in conversation. They looked up at me as I approached. “Are your ears burning, darling?” […]
Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE I DESPERATELY NEEDED A CIGARETTE. As I left the Grove, I looked for them in my coat pockets, but they weren’t there. “Looking for something?” I turned around. Yuri was standing right behind me. I hadn’t heard him and I was a little startled to find him so close. “I found them in […]
Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT I OPENED ALICIA’S FILE ON MY DESK. Diomedes had volunteered it: “You must read my notes. They will help you.” I had no desire to wade through his notes; I already knew what Diomedes thought; I needed to find out what I thought. But nonetheless I accepted it politely. “Thank you. That will […]
Chapter Seven
CHAPTER SEVEN THE THERAPY ROOM WAS A SMALL, narrow rectangle; as bare as a prison cell, or barer. The window was closed and barred. A bright pink box of tissues on the small table struck a discordantly cheerful note—presumably it was placed there by Indira: I couldn’t imagine Christian offering tissues to his patients. I […]
Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX PROFESSOR DIOMEDES’S OFFICE was in the oldest and most decrepit part of the hospital. There were cobwebs in the corners, and only a couple of the lights in the corridor were working. I knocked at the door, and after a moment’s pause I heard his voice from inside. “Come in.” I turned the […]