Heartwood

A heat wave has settled on the area, and residents are encouraged to remain indoors. Lena has not heard from TerribleSilence in days, and she is both worried and bored. She begins to reflect on her past. As Christine grew older, Lena filled journals with details about Christine’s development. When Christine entered adolescence, Lena began to worry that she could not keep her safe, and at 18, Christine eloped. The marriage ended in divorce, but Christine remained in Canada for a decade and became a nurse. After she returned, she began therapy, accused Lena of having spent more time observing her than mothering her, and cut off contact. Lena tried for years to reach out, but Christine never responded.

Suddenly, Lena’s computer pings. At first, she believes that TerribleSilence has contacted her, but the message turns out to be from his mother. Lena assumes that she is messaging with a hacker and asks if TerribleSilence is at his off-the-grid homestead. The individual asks if she is referring to the old campsite near Black Nubble and assures Lena that TerribleSilence, a 21-year-old man with a serious mental health condition, is actually in a hospital. The pandemic was difficult for their family, and since it ended, TerribleSilence has only intermittently taken his medication.