"Can we talk? That is, if you want to talk." Lucy asks Mary.
"I'm going to talk to everyone this afternoon, and I'll talk to you then. Right now, I have to go."
Mary walks downstairs and outside into the minivan where her mother is waiting for her. They are going to the police station together to talk to the detective. They finally arrive, and Mary is getting annoyed. Annie has been saying comforting words the whole ride there and she's sick of them.
"Mom, stop. Nothing you're going to say is going to make me feel any better or make me want to do this. It's just too soon. You and Dad are already making me talk to everyone today, why do I have to do this too? I don't want to confess everything to a complete stranger! I'm barely OK with telling it to my own family!"
"I know, but if you want to report the rape, you have to do this. I'm sorry."
"What if I don't want to report it then? No one asked me about this."
"Fine then. I'll go inside and tell them you've changed your mind and you don't want to come in."
"Ok."
Mary gets back into the car and starts to cry. It's OK. It's OK. I'll be all right. Calm down. Annie comes back out to the car and sees Mary crying. "I know you don't want to talk to any of us, and that's fine. But we all just want to help you. If you refuse to talk though, we are going to force you to go into counseling soon. That's counseling with a professional, not Wilson." She tells her. "What do you guys have against Wilson all of the sudden? You liked him before." Mary says, truly perplexed over her mother's attitude. "We are just looking out for you. We don't want you to get hurt again. Its too quick for you to get into a relationship." Annie says. "Who says we're in a relationship? I don't understand why we can't just be friends. He's coming over today and maybe everyday, so get used to it." She yells, getting angrier by the second. "Mary, you're right. We do like Wilson. It's just that it isn't healthy to attach to him like this. You can't depend on him this much. He has a son and a job, and his own life. He might not be around forever, either. I'm only looking out for you. It would be better if you latched onto, let's say Lucy, for example. Just don't fall too hard too fast Mary." Annie tells her. Rather than try and argue, Mary nods. I know what she's saying, but she doesn't understand. And so what if I fall for Wilson? At least he'll stay with me and protect me.
Mary goes home and spends the rest of the day staring out her bedroom window, lost in her thoughts. She looks over at her clock, and it reads 4:20. She goes to find her parents.
"Wilson's going to be here in a few minutes. I'll talk to everyone once he gets here."
"Okay. I'll start rounding everyone up."
Mary walks into the living room to wait for Wilson. Five minutes later he arrives.
"Hi. How are you doing?"
"Not good. I'm really stressed. I've been fighting with me parents all day. They just don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"You and me, or the better the lack of there being a you and me."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't want to cause any problems. We'll go."
"No. You're not going anywhere."
Eric walks into the room, and sees Wilson sitting there. "Wilson! Just the person I wanted to see. Why don't you come talk with me for a minute."
"Sure Reverend."
Mary starts to say something, but stops herself. Let them talk. I've- we've- got nothing to hide. "I'll watch Billy for you Wilson." Reverend Camden and Wilson go into the kitchen to talk. Wilson looks nervous, and refrains from making eye contact.
"So, Wilson, how've you been?"
"Fine, sir."
"Look, I'll just cut right to the chase. Are you pursuing this friendship with Mary in hopes of getting back together with her?"
"No, not at all. Mary and I are just friends. And besides, we've already agreed not to be anything more than that for at least a long, long time."
"That's good to hear. But I worry. We both know Mary. Just don't lead her on. She's nowhere near being emotionally ready to start a relationship."
"I realize that, sir. But you don't have to worry, the last thing I want to do is hurt Mary."
"I know, but, well I guess I'm jealous. I want Mary to come to me for help, or at least someone in the family. I really have nothing against you, I just wish she chose a Camden to help see her through all of this."
"Well, trust me, I'm not trying to take her away from you. She's called me for help. I'll suggest to her though that maybe she should start confiding in someone else, someone like you."
"OK, thanks Wilson."
"And believe me, I know what she's doing really isn't normal. I went to the library today and looked up some stuff about rape. I read that usually people who are raped don't really talk to anyone for a long time after it happens. And she's confided so much in me…"
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"Well, she told me that when it was happening she wasn't scared."
"Oh really? Well at least she's thinking about it. That's a good start. Thanks for you're time Wilson."
"You're welcome. I'm glad we had this talk. Mary told me that you and Mrs. Camden have been fighting with her over me. I hope that all will stop now."
"Don't worry, it will. It wasn't intentional, it just happened."
"I know."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Annie and I will watch Billy for you while you sit in there with Mary."
"OK. Thanks."
The rest of the Camden clan comes down the stairs, and is anxious to talk to Mary. Wilson walks out of the room, bringing Matt along with him.
"Mary? Matt's here. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Matt walks into the room, and sits down on the couch opposite Mary and Wilson. Mary is sitting there, hugging her knees and holding Wilson's hand. He smiles at her, but she doesn't react.
"I…um, wow. Are you alright?" Matt starts.
"No"
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Not really"
"Ok. This is all just, I don't know. I feel so bad for you. You must be feeling awful. How could this have happened? I feel like it's my fault."
"It's not."
"OK. So you know I'm here for you if you need to talk, right?"
"Yup."
"Anything you want to say to me? Tell me about?"
"Nope."
"OK then. I'll send the next person in. Thanks for this great talk Mary. I feel like you really opened up to me."
Wilson gives Matt a look that says "Not now" and he nods. He walks out of the door and is followed by Simon.
"Hi Mary."
"Hi."
"Um, I know you probably really don't want to talk to me, and I don't have much to say either, so I'll make this short. I just wanted to tell you that if you ever wanted to talk you could come to me, but I know you'd probably go to Mom or Lucy instead."
"I know. Thanks."
"Your welcome. You look really tired. How much sleep have you had?"
"Practically none."
"Oh. That explains it. Well, um try to get some sleep. I hope you feel better. I'll send Ruthie in now."
Simon leaves, and Wilson turns to Mary.
"You haven't had any sleep?"
"I slept a little."
"For how long?"
"Remember when I slept when you were here early this morning?"
"Yeah."
"That was it."
"Mary, that isn't good. You have to get some sleep. No wonder you're so cranky towards all of them. As soon as you're done with them I want you to sleep."
"I can't sleep."
"Why not? You must be exhausted."
"I can't turn off my head. You read my letter. Would you be able to sleep if all of that was floating through your head every two seconds?"
"No, I guess not. But I still want you to sleep."
"Ok, fine. I'll try to."
Ruthie walks through the doors and plops herself down on the couch next to Mary.
"Are you still awake?"
"Yup."
"Ok. So, did it hurt?"
"Well, he was pushing me around, squeezing me, and he threw me onto the bed. That hurt."
"Oh."
"Were you scared?"
"I don't know. I don't remember it all that well."
"How can you not remember it? It was only last night. Are you lying to me?"
Wilson chimes in, "Sometimes when really bad things happen to people, their brain tries to protect them by forgetting what happened."
"Oh. Then how come daddy still remembers about his heart attack?"
"Because he lived through it and he's OK now."
"So Mary's not OK?"
"No, she's not."
Ruthie shrugs her shoulders. "She seems fine to me." She runs out of the room, and Lucy walks in. Mary turns her head the other way; she's too embarrassed to look at her. They sit in silence for a while, and then Lucy finally speaks.
"I'm still in shock. I can't believe this happened to you. I…I don't know what to say."
Silence.
"Do you have anything to say to me?"
Silence.
"Ok. Are you alright?"
Silence, again.
"That's a stupid question. You couldn't be all right. I wouldn't be all right if I were you. I'd be a wreck."
Still more silence
"Why aren't you talking to me?!"
"Because I'm ashamed, ok!"
"Why, you didn't do anything wrong. This is not your fault."
"Because, when I look at you, I see perfection. I feel tainted; like no one will ever want me. I feel like a rotten piece of fruit." Mary says, eerily calm, with out raising her voice and with no expression.
"Don't feel like that. I'm far from perfect, and you're not as far as you think."
Silence yet again.
"Ok, what I really want to know is why you aren't flipping out. It's weird. If I were you I would be crying uncontrollably or something. I know I'm more emotional than you , but you have to be feeling something. Why are you so calm about all of this?"
"I think its because I have Wilson. I'm really not this calm, I swear, but when he sits with me I just feel so content. I still feel everything I was feeling before, but now that he's sitting here with me all of those feelings are suppressed."
She raises Wilson's hand with hers and puts both of them on her knee. She lifts her head and looks into his eyes, as he stares back into hers. He squeezes her hand and she blushes. Tears form in her eyes as she comes back to reality. She turns to face Lucy.
"Look, I realize that you want to talk about all of this, but I really don't. So please be patient, give me a couple of days, and then we'll talk again. I promise. Ok?"
Lucy nods, and walks out of the room, leaving Wilson and Mary alone on the couch.
"OK, if that's everyone I'm going to go. You need to get some sleep. You look really tired."
"No, stay, please. I don't want to be left here alone with all of them."
"Um…Mare, I think I should tell you something. I talked with your dad before. He said that all your family wants is for you to take comfort in spending time with them, not me. And after listening to all of this today, I agree that's exactly what they want. I'm here to help you, but I almost feel like you're hiding. You spend time with me so you don't have to deal with listening to them. Sooner or later, you're going to have to listen. I enjoy spending time with you, I really do, but you have to spend time with your family, too."
"That's not the only reason I want you here with me. Everything I said to Lucy before I meant with all my heart. I feel so safe and connected when I'm with you. When you weren't with me today, I felt all confused. You help me to see things clearly and I thought you understood me. I guess you don't."
"I do understand you. I get it, all of it. I'm just saying it wouldn't be a bad idea to spend me time with your family."
"I know, but I need you. I can't imagine getting through this if you weren't here to help me. You can't just leave me."
"I won't. If you really want me to stay that badly I'll stay. Just think about what I said."
"Ok. I will."
"How about I go get Billy and we sit and watch some T.V. for a little while."
"Sure. I'll find something for us to watch."
Wilson leaves the room and Mary switches on the T.V. She flips through the channels until she finds something all three of them might enjoy. Eventually, she comes upon "The Lion King" Perfect, a Disney movie. Billy and Wilson come into the room. Billy jumps onto the couch next to Mary, and a huge smile comes across his face. "'The Lion King', my favorite!" he shrieks, and is instantly glued to the television, in his own world. Wilson sits down on the opposite side of Mary. He puts his arm around her and says, "Here. Lie down; try to get some sleep." She nods and leans against him, putting her head on his chest. After 15 minutes she is asleep.
The movie eventually ends, and Wilson gently shakes Mary awake.
"The movie's over. We're going to go. You going to be OK?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Ok. I'll call you tomorrow. Go back to sleep."
Wilson and Billy walk out the door, and Mary goes upstairs to go to back sleep. She sleeps for eight and a half hours, from 6:30 to 3:00. Suddenly, she starts to scream in her sleep. "No! I'm sorry! Don't do that! I said no! Robbie let go of me! No! Don't touch me!" Lucy hears her cries, and rushes over to wake her up. She shakes Mary until she wakes up. Lucy sees the fear in her eyes, and is frozen. "Um…you were screaming in your sleep," is all she could manage to get out. No knowing what to do, she goes and tells her parents. Her mother storm through the door almost instantly after Lucy leaves and runs to hug Mary.
"Were you having a bad dream?"
"Yeah, sort of. More like bad reality."
"Oh, sweetie. It'll be OK. You're home and you're safe. We're all here; nothing bad will happen to you."
"I know. I'm OK now."
Annie reluctantly leaves the room, but lingers outside their door for a second to make sure she was really all right. Mary lies back down and rolls over in her bed and starts to cry. That was really scary. I'm not Ok. I don't want to call Wilson again. I'll just wait till the morning. I should be all right.