Within My Eyes

For nearly six years, Billy had gallantly come to the rescue of the girl, now a woman, who had completely made his life worth tackling. In retrospect, he knew he had spoiled Herin unmercifully, but how else could he hope to make up for such a grievous mistake?

Billy had been in Sri Lanka, working on a film as the stunt choreographer that day, four years ago. Shooting was ahead of schedule and Billy looked forward to returning home in ten days to Herin, who was seven months pregnant with their child. He had left her with his adopted parents in Sunapee, New Hampshire, to assure she was in the best of care during his absence.

The telegram arrived late that afternoon on the set.

Billy, Please return to Sunapee immediately. It is with the utmost difficulty that I inform you that Herin went into labor last night and, regrettably, your son did not survive the evening. Herin is in terrible straits. I have sent my jet along to hasten your return. With love and sympathy, your father, Livio.

Billy didn’t pack. Without delay, he went to the airport and boarded the jet his father had sent.

His arrival to his parents’ Eastern wooded mansion hadn’t gone unnoticed. He barely set foot on the ground when a knot of servants and his parents emerged from the house. Billy didn’t care what they had to say; he only wanted to see Herin. Ignoring his mother grasping for his arm, he headed towards his father. “Where is she?” Livio didn’t look as if he were handling the events any better than Billy. “Father, where is Herin?”

“She’s in the nursery,” his mother responded. “I have tried to keep her in her room, but the girl won’t stay.”

“And I suppose locking the door never occurred to you, Cassandra,” Billy responded with meaningful anger towards his mother.

“It isn’t just the nursery. She’s been tearing the house to shreds looking for where we’ve stashed her baby. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, William, but the girl is quite mad.”

“You be sorry, that’s a reach. Herin will be fine now that I’m here. I should’ve never expected that you would take care of her. And when I said to lock the door, I meant the door to her room.”

“We did, darling. She crawled out onto the window ledge and down the trellis.”

“What?” Billy was stunned.

“William, your mother has been fretting terribly over what has happened.” Livio spoke in a weary voice. “She has been doing everything she can to help her.”

“How would you know, father? You just got here yourself from what the pilot told me. How do you have any idea what treatment Herin received?”

“Your mother would never--”

“Never? When have you ever paid attention to anything she has ever done? Believe me, Cassandra gives a completely new meaning to the words, ‘Mommy Dearest.’ If I had known you were leaving, father, I wouldn’t have left Herin here.” Livio was quiet. Billy gave his mother an evil look as he passed by her and into the house to find the girl; he had thought he left in capable hands.

After many minutes of searching and calling her name, he discovered Herin huddled in a corner of the observatory.

“Baby, why didn’t you answer me?” She was wearing a thin cotton nightgown, and her blonde hair was a matted mess. She noticeably shivered from the summer’s early evening breeze, which entered through several of the room’s many windows. Billy grabbed an afghan and put it over her shoulders. “It’s cold up here, Herin. Come downstairs with me.” He reached out for her, but she recoiled.

“No! I can hear everything from here. Listen.” Her eyes looked glazed and wild.

Billy could hear servants’ voices from the kitchen wing, nothing notable. “Herin, get up.”

“No! I have to be here when he cries. He needs his mother.” Herin pressed her ear closer to the wood floor.

Billy wasn’t prepared to accept his mother’s opinion that Herin had gone crazy, but there wasn’t much evidence in his camp to support her sanity. The kind, thoughtful approach was not going to work. He pulled her forcefully to her feet, and then swept her into his arms. Her protests tightened his grip until they had reached his bedroom, where he deposited her on the bed.

Herin scrambled out of the bed, headed for the door, but Billy was the wiser and quicker. The door shut; the key turned, securing them in the room together. Billy’s smug feeling of success rattled when she opened the window. Billy pulled her bodily back into the room.

“What the devil is going on here, Herin? Talk to me.” Billy stood between Herin and the one window in the room.

“You’re a part of this. You’re helping them,” she accused.

“Helping