“The blow came like the torrent below, hard and swift and unexpected. She screamed - and fell…”

Monica offers “Jade” (as she comes to call her) a safe haven for food, rest, and companionship. Monica sees to it that Jade is looked over by a doctor, who is only able to tell them it may take hours, even days before she has any recollection of who she is; head injuries affect people in different ways.

Author Kristen Heitzmann provides an extraordinary effort in the details of her story:

“The wind ruffled her hair with caressing fingers, and she took in the beauty of the golden sand licked by the frothy surf, fringed by lush, blooming foliage. A few lanky palms stretched up under the noon sun, ruffled by the breeze…” (p. 230)

While they investigate, Jade is on her way to acceptance by this community. Through dialogue, Cameron tries to aid her memory by asking unexpected questions. While this technique proves to be somewhat helpful, Jade’s own recollections are seeping out of her trapped mind in small increments.

“She supposed familiarity could leach the magic from anything ~ unless one was in the unique position of finding nothing familiar, not even oneself. A wave of panic rushed in like breakers before her. Each times she had awakened, she’d expected it all to come back…But found the same blank wall…” (p. 21)