"You know what I think," Dr. Bell said, "I think you should write that article. You don't have to publish it but it could help you get your feelings out."

"That's a great idea," Dwight said.

"Absolutely," Marsha agreed.

"Okay," Trudy said, "I'll try it."

She paused.

"I need to get myself a computer," she said.

"You will do no such thing," Marsha told her, "Your dad and I will get you a computer."

I should have seen that coming, Trudy thought to herself.

"Thank you, mom," she said outwardly.

Marsha stroked her daughter's hair.

"I love you baby," Marsha said.

"I know you do," Trudy replied, "I love you too. I love dad and I love Adrian too."

Dr. Bell looked at his watch.

"I'm afraid our time is up," he said, "But can your family be here again next week? I'd like to talk about why you feel like you've turned their lives upside-down when you've made their lives right again."

"Sure," Trudy said.

"This session is on the house," Doctor Bell said.

"Thank you," Trudy replied.

Dr. Bell smiled and left.

The food came a little while later. Trudy took 3 slices of pizza and a helping on lasagna. She was really hungry.

"How do you feel," Dwight asked Trudy.

"I feel a lot better," Trudy admitted, "I've been living with this guilt for so long. It's a relief to get it off my chest. I know I have a long way to go but this is a good start."

"Are you going to print the article," Adrian asked, "DICKOVER is in Rome so it's safe to do so."

Trudy cracked up.

"Dickover? That is so funny," she said.

Marsha and Dwight laughed too.

"I don't know if I will or not," Trudy said, "But I do know writing this will help me to feel better so I'm going to do it."

"Great," Marsha said, "Come over here. Let's pick out a computer for you."

Trudy rolled her wheelchair over. They ended up picking an HP Surface Laptop.

"It's perfect," Trudy said smiling.

Marsha paid with her credit card. It came to $1,600 with tax."

The pain in Trudy's leg started up really badly.

"I need one of the pills," she said.

Marsha got her a pill. Adrian brought her a glass of milk. Dwight helped her onto the couch. She put her leg up on a pillow.

"Thanks for being so patient with me," Trudy said, "I know that I haven't exactly been easy lately."

"Trudy," Adrian smiled, "You've been the best thing that ever happened to all of us."

"I know," Trudy said, "But my emotions are all over the place. I don't know which way is up and which way is down. I don't know the right way to think. I feel like… I feel-"

"Like your mind is pulling you in a million different directions?" Marsha supplied.

"Yes. That's exactly how I feel. How did you know that?"

"Everyone and her sister has felt like that before," Marsha said, "It's normal. You've been through more than most people have."

"Do you think that I'm going to be a good mother," Trudy asked.

"I don't think it. I know it," Marsha said, kissing her forehead.

"When I get better," Trudy said, "Maybe we can go swimming."

Trudy loved swimming.

"That's a great idea," Marsha said, "I just got a new bathing suit the day we found out you were still alive. I haven't used it yet."

"What color is it," Trudy asked.

"Ironically; it's green," Marsha said, "It's a two piece."

"Cool," Adrian said, "Maybe we'll drive over to your place so we can go swimming in your pool."

"That would be great," Dwight said.

"Absolutely," Marsha added.

"I need to get a swimsuit too," Trudy said.

"We'll go shopping together," Marsha replied, "My treat."

"Thanks," Trudy said.

Her eyes started to feel heavy. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

While Trudy was sleeping Dwight, Marsha and Adrian sat outside in the living room.

"My poor baby," Marsha said wiping a tear away, "I had no idea how much guilt she was carrying around for something that was absolutely not her fault. The only one responsible for what happened was Rickover-"

"Rickover the Dickover," Adrian said.

Dwight nodded in agreement.

"Just because he has a dick doesn't give him the right to be one," he said.

That did it. Marsha and Adrian started laughing and couldn't stop for over 3 minutes.

"It's true though," Dwight said.

"Did Trudy ever tell you two what happened when we were in Singapore," Adrian asked.

"No," Marsha replied, "What happened?"

"She was assigned to cover the Olympics in Singapore," Adrian said, "I went with her. As we were going, she absentmindedly kicked a pebble. She was arrested for doing so because and I quote, "the pebble could have gotten in someone's eye." I was stunned. That was insane. Well, we get to the judge, and she interposes the "lightest sentence". She sentenced Trudy to 12 strokes of a bamboo cane on the back of her legs, her back and her… ahem"

"What kind of backwards country is that!" Marsha exclaimed.

"Extremely backwards," Adrian said, "She was trembling and in tears even though she was trying to stay calm. I stepped in. I begged the judge to allow the sentence to be carried out on me instead of Trudy. The judge absolutely said yes to that but questioned why I would want to do it."

"I would have done the same thing," Dwight said.

"Me too," Marsha added.

"Did Trudy have to watch it," Dwight asked in a horrified whisper.

"Yes. She was crying more than I was," Adrian said.

"Did it hurt," Marsha asked.

"It hurt," Adrian admitted, "But it was worth it. I can't imagine how I would have felt if Trudy had to go through that."

"I can't even begin to imagine," Dwight said, "That… oh my GOD."

"Trudy felt guilty about that for months," Adrian said, "But every time I would tell her, "You did nothing wrong."

"How long did it take for you to heal," Marsha asked.

"It took eleven days," Adrian said.

"Holly ****! That's a long time."

Before the conversation could go any further Adrian heard Trudy stir.

"I'll be right back," he said, "I just want to check on Trudy."