Effie

[fundamentally]

After the night and most of a morning spent in the hospital, John and Effie made it home. Princess was on Effie instantly, purring and chatting with her. John goes to make tea to soothe frayed nerves, and when it had brewed he also fetches Effie's hair brush. Not her wig brush, he'd made that mistake only once. Then he turns on the telly to a mindless cooking show and gently begins to untangle her locks. He knows she's well doped. He thinks the repetative motion might soothe her.

"When you've drunk your tea we'll go to bed. I'll deal with the police. You need your rest," he says.

Comments

[smiles_on]

She doesn't remember getting home. Doesn't remember most of what's happened since they sedated her for surgery, really. There isn't any pain, though she expects that will change soon, but the numbness is more than just the side effect of the drugs they've given her. She knows what that kind of numbness feels like. She's had a lifetime chasing that particular escape. This is something else, something deeper and maybe even a touch frightening. She feels so disconnected from herself, from everything that's going on, that it's all just...empty. Not even a trace of any emotion. Just a bone deep tiredness and an intense desire to wash the smell of the hospital off of her skin.

"John? Did the doctor say whether or not I could take a bath?" Effie remembers that there were directions given to them after the surgery but she can't recall what they were. She can't even be entirely sure she was awake.