Marcy was in the passenger seat of Claudia’s car, both hands—one manicured, the other mutilated—resting on the medical pack she’d been given before leaving the hospital. There was so much advice on what should or shouldn’t be done in so many different situations—all of which she’d been talked through in careful detail during the past week—that she knew she’d never remember it all.

Apparently she needn’t worry because Claudia had it all written down.

Marcy hadn’t wanted to leave her hospital bed, had felt afraid of being parted from Ruth and Rohan and the rest of the team who’d taken care of her so tirelessly and tenderly for the past months. They’d become her family, the people she trusted, who explained and cajoled, teased and scolded, helped in every way, and knew when to leave her alone. They didn’t make her feel different, an object of pity, a freak, which was how it was going to be outside the ward.

She’d become especially attached to Angus, the psychologist, who’d been preparing her for today, and all the days to come. In her raspy voice she’d called him a bully, which had made him laugh with delight. She’d answered all his questions, though, and had apparently passed most of his tests. Last week she’d told him that she probably wouldn’t have been able to face things if it weren’t for his counseling. She didn’t actually know if that was true, but he’d seemed pleased to hear it, and she could see nothing wrong in making someone feel good about the kindness they showed.

She glanced down at her left hand, free of its splint for now (to be worn at night), and felt, as she often did at the sight of it, sickened, appalled by the fact that it belonged to her. She wanted to flick her wrist and make it disappear. It was horrible, purplish and hideously scarred, with misshapen fingers that could no longer function as useful extremities. It was as though looking at it, hating it, caused an intense prickling to flare up like red-hot pins, and she grasped the sorry appendage with her other hand to try and stifle the pain.