She nodded,
"I was hoping that the medicine they gave him
would bring him back to an even keel, that somehow
he would improve and we would at least have what
peace we had before. but..." She swallowed hard and
continued. "This is new. this sleepwalking. though."
She shook her head. "What will we do? Lock his
bedroom door?'
"Maybe it will pass. It might never occur again.
It's still too soon after the whole event." I suggested,
buoying up her hopes. She nodded, her shoulders and
back softening with another sigh.
"Yes, maybe. but I suppose we do have to
consider what to do if it doesn't. In any case. I'll call
his doctor and tell her about it, even though I know
she will only repeat her suggestion to put him in the
clinic."
We stopped talking when we heard him
returning. He had put on his windbreaker and was
headed for the door.
"Where are you going. Linden?" Mother asked. As if the question required a great deal of
consideration, he took a moment to respond. "For a walk." he said.
"I'll come out to join you in a while." I
suggested. "If you don't mind."
He paused. For a moment I thought he was
finally going to turn and speak to me, but he didn't
respond. He continued toward the front door, "Don't go too far," my mother called to him
with urgency in her voice.
"I've already gone too far." he said, opened the
door, and left us both looking after him wondering