CHAPTER 32
“It takes something more for our lives to return to normal…”
ISABELLE CAMPBELL
Colin was finally home.
They’d brought him back in a wheelchair, and for the past week he’d barely spoken to anyone. Talking to him felt like having a one-sided conversation—he’d only answer with the bare minimum, never more than three words at a time.
He spent most of those days sleeping. I didn’t know exactly what kind of damage that torture had done to his mind, but I knew he needed someone to push him forward—and that someone had to be me.
“I need you to do the physical therapy exactly the way it’s supposed to be done.”
Silence. He didn’t even look at me.
Colin didn’t argue, didn’t fight back. His mind was somewhere else, detached from everything around him. He couldn’t move without the wheelchair, and his face was still slightly swollen from the beating.
“Colin, are you listening to me?”
He turned his eyes toward me for maybe three seconds—no words, no emotion—then stared off again, back into nothing.
Trying to talk to him, to motivate him to take therapy seriously, was exhausting. Knowing him as I did, I could already tell it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing about Colin ever was.
“I’ll make sure you do every exercise right,” I said softly.
I decided to give him some space for now—but even as I stepped away, my mind was already racing, planning how I’d stay close enough to guide him through every step of his recovery.
I tried to go about my daily routine in the mansion, but it got harder with every second I spent away from Colin.
The need to be near him was eating me alive. Even though he wanted—and probably needed—space, something inside me wouldn’t let me stay away. Every now and then, I’d find some excuse to check on him, even if he didn’t say a single word.
It was during one of those moments, on my way to his room, that I saw Hanna coming out, followed by Helen.
My daughter didn’t look happy—her little face said it all. I already had a feeling what might’ve happened.
“What is it?” I asked, crouching down so I could see her better. Her eyes were red, and her head hung low.
“Uncle Colin didn’t talk to me. He didn’t even look at me.”
I rested my hands on her tiny shoulders.
“Sweetheart, he’s been through a lot. Colin’s really hurt.”
That part—explaining things to Joshua and Hanna—was the hardest.
Until a few days ago, they thought everything that had happened was just part of a game. But I had to tell them at least a little of the truth about that terrible day.
I didn’t tell them everything, of course—just that the mansion had been robbed and that Colin had been badly hurt.
I couldn’t lie to them. They saw him often; they deserved to know something.
“Hmm. But is he gonna talk to us again?”
“I’m sure he will.” I forced a small smile. “Go play with Joshua for a while, okay? He needs someone with him right now.”
“Okay.”
After she disappeared down the hall, Helen turned to me with a warm smile.
She always finds hope, somehow. It comforts me to see that in her, even if I’m only human—and part of me can’t help but question everything, doubting more than I should.
“Colin’s going to be himself again,” Helen said, catching the worry on my face. I hadn’t been sleeping much, and more than once we’d run into each other in the middle of the night.
“I just hope everything turns out okay.”
“He’s strong. What Colin did for you and the kids proves how much you mean to him. Trust me—time will help.”
I thought about her words and then hugged her tightly, holding on for a long time. I cried against Helen’s shoulder.
To others, the man Colin has become might not seem like much. But I know the truth—my feelings for him are real. And enormous.
I spent some time with Lauren. Lately, I’ve been practically living at the mansion, and my friend texts me every day asking how I’m doing.
I know isolating myself isn’t healthy—neither is constantly replaying everything that happened—but I just can’t get my mind to switch off. It’s hard.
“How’s he doing, hon?”
We were sitting in a small restaurant in the neighborhood. I needed to get out of the mansion, clear my head for a bit.
“About the same. He barely talks—and this time, no exceptions. Not even with Hanna and Joshua, and he’d been chatting with them a lot before everything happened.”
“I know all of this has been really hard on you,” she said gently, trying to comfort me.
“Yeah.”
“I’m here for whatever you need, okay? You can count on me for anything.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Lauren’s always been the kind of friend who shows up when you need her—kind, dependable, the person who listens without judgment. I knew I hadn’t been giving her much attention lately, but I promised myself I’d do better.
“With everything going on, I didn’t even ask how you’ve been.”
“Oh, you know... the usual.” She smiled. “Working too much, no time to have any fun.”
“Well, that’s gonna change, you can bet on it,” I said, meeting her eyes. “When Colin gets better, you and I are going out again—doesn’t matter where.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Count on it.”
We talked for over an hour.
Something in her eyes told me she was sad about something, but I couldn’t quite tell what it was. Still, I knew she’d open up eventually—Lauren knows exactly how persuasive her best friend can be.
Today was Colin’s first day of physical therapy, and I was standing face-to-face with Lucas, his therapist, who looked awkward as he tried to explain something I already knew was coming.
“He… well, he refuses to do the exercises. Won’t look at me, won’t talk, and he’s been dropping weights on purpose.”
“Can I have a moment alone with him? Maybe I can get through to him somehow, I don’t know.”
“Of course, whatever you think is best.”
I stepped into the room we’d be using for therapy.
Colin sat in his wheelchair, staring out the mansion window without blinking.
I walked closer, but he didn’t move his eyes.
“I need you to do the exercises.” I rested my hand gently over his, and he immediately pulled it away.
“Colin, please.”
For the first time, he looked straight at me, his eyes burning with anger.
I couldn’t truly understand the pain he was going through—everyone fights their demons differently—but it was clear he wasn’t okay.
“Isabelle… get out,” he muttered through clenched teeth.
“I will—but first, you’re doing the exercises the therapist gave you,” I said firmly.
“Get out!” His voice rose, fury twisting his features.
“Colin, I told you, I’m not leaving until—”
“Get the hell out!” he shouted, jerking in his chair.
“I’m not going anywhere! You’re doing everything the therapist says, and I’ll be right here to make sure of it!” I stomped my foot, refusing to back down.
It was hard for me too—but I’d go to the ends of the earth to help him heal.
“I’m not doing a fucking thing! You hear me?!”
“Oh, yes you are! You’ve helped me and my family more times than I can count, and now it’s my turn to do something for you. I don’t care if you curse me out or hate me for it. If that makes it easier for you, then fine—hate me. But you will do every single exercise.”
Colin grabbed something beside him and hurled it against the wall, shattering it.
“If you wanna act like a sulking child, that’s your problem. It doesn’t faze me.”
“I hate you, Isabelle! I hate you so damn much!”
“And I love you… so damn much.”
My eyes filled with tears as I said the words, but I forced myself to stay strong.
Colin’s expression stayed furious; he turned his head sharply away.
“You’re gonna get through this, Colin. You can bet on it.”
I walked out of the room.
I’d said too much—laid myself bare—and now I had no idea what effect telling him I loved him like that would have on his mind…
I thought that as the days went by, Colin would start coming back to himself and finally do the exercises the physical therapist had prescribed—but that wasn’t what happened.
“Unfortunately, he’s still refusing to do them. He’s really weak. I don’t know what else to do, Isabelle.”
The therapist was honest with me again, and from his tone, I could tell he was worried. Colin needed to move, to work his muscles—to try.
“I’ve explained everything to him, even what’ll happen if he doesn’t follow through. His muscles will atrophy, and soon it might be too late to reverse it.”
“I’ll handle it. Colin needs a reality check. You can go for today—tomorrow’s a new day.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, clearly skeptical.
“Yes.”
I had to try something. I had to push past my own limits somehow…
About ten minutes after the physical therapist left, I went to where Colin was.
I wasn’t about to let him destroy his own life like this—especially when part of me still felt responsible. If he’d never met me, none of this would’ve happened.
“Tomorrow you’re going to start doing that physical therapy properly,” I said, no sugarcoating.
“I’m not doing it.”
“Colin, your life depends on this. So does walking again—without that wheelchair. When are you going to stop being so damn stubborn?”
“Leave me alone. I’m not asking twice.”
“Not happening. How long are you planning to keep acting like a child, huh?” I crossed my arms, practically shouting the words.
“Get out!” He shifted angrily in his wheelchair, his face twisted with rage.
“Guess you want the hard way then. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have company during every single therapy session.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“This is my house, and—”
“Not my problem. From now on, we’re doing things my way.”
“What do you mean, you’re going to do that?!”
“Exactly what you heard.”
Henry was at the mansion, but Colin had been treating him the same way he treated everyone else—cold and distant.
I’d just told Henry what I planned to do—or rather, what I was going to do.
“Having Hanna and Joshua spend full-time with Colin might actually be a good idea…” He looked up, mulling over my words.
“He’s running out of time, Henry. And that’s not me being dramatic. If he doesn’t start taking physical therapy seriously, some of his movements might become permanently compromised.”
“I know. Something’s going on with him—it’s not right. I just don’t understand why he refuses to do the exercises. It’s strange, to say the least.”
“I don’t understand it either. But this is the only thing I could think of, and I really hope it works.”
He’s been on my mind twenty-four hours a day, and it’s wearing me down.
I shouldn’t think like this, but I feel obligated to help him. I don’t know—maybe it doesn’t make sense—but after everything he’s done for me, it wouldn’t be fair to let him give up on life.
“As stubborn as he is, Colin’s strong. I’m sure he’ll come to his senses and think about the people who’ve been there for him all this time.
If he doesn’t start that therapy, I’ll talk to him myself—straightforward, no sugarcoating.
And another thing: I don’t just want him to start.
He needs to take it seriously. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t help him push through this. ”
It was obvious Henry cared about Colin—about his health. He knew how difficult Colin could be, but he also understood him better than most. His help would matter. I was sure of it.
“Everything’s going to work out, Isabelle. Don’t worry. Colin’s gonna pull through—and go right back to annoying everyone in this house.”
I smiled.
Deep down, I wanted to believe he was right…