The Power of Testimony

30 || ALL BUT NORMAL
sisters could get up and walk around at whim, but Bev was
stuck.
“ Here—​come this far,” Gail said, sitting a few feet in front
of her. Bev grunted and willed her limbs to move.
“Like this,” Connie said.
“I . . . can . . . do . . . it!” Bev snapped back. “Don’t . . .
help . . . me!”
“But Mom said to help you,” Connie said. “She wants us
to help you.”
Bev collapsed on the f loor.
“I . . . can do . . . it,” she said, voice muff led by the carpet,
where her face was now half-​buried. “Stop . . . helping . . . me.”
The next morning, Connie, Gail, and April came into the
bedroom holding a plate of runny eggs, a glass of juice, utensils,
and a dish towel. Bev stared at them, leery and confused.
“What . . . happened?” she said.
“It’s breakfast time!” April announced. Bev shook her
head and repeated, “What . . . happened?” They knew what
she meant.
“You were in an accident,” Gail said plainly. “You don’t
have to think about it.”
“I don’t . . . remember.” Bev’s face held unspoken questions.
Why am I in this room? Why am I in this bed? Why can’t
I move or speak normally? What happened to me?
“Everything’ll be fine, Bevie,” Gail said. “Look, we
brought you some eggs!”
April approached and set the eggs on Bev’s lap. Connie
gently put a fork in Bev’s left hand and helped her poke some
eggs, dribbling with yolk just like their mother always made