Into the Hall of Vice
Page 26
A time existed when all he had were nightmares, but now, together, they made plans for their future and he revelled in the sound of it, looking forward to fulfilling their dreams. He watched her glide across the slates to stand beside him, hardly time at all to consider all he’d experienced to arrive at this moment, until she turned to him with a lovely smile filled with promises. She offered a remarkably elusive gift, her love. And he accepted, ready to return her affection with every ounce of his being. He clasped her warm fingers in his before the pastor and knew, in the deepest corners of his heart, he’d finally found home.
A Note about Traumatic Mutism
It is near impossible to generalise when discussing traumatic mutism or other similar anxiety disorders since clinical studies have proven each case individual. Thought to stem from psychological distress and a sense of anxiety and panic, persons suffering from the complicated disorder choose to remain silent rather than speak. Traumatic mutism, unlike selective mutism, stems from a traumatic event that prompts a person to withdraw and discontinue verbal communication. Even now, in modern times, mutism is a confusing disease, but much more prevalent than one would assume. During the Regency, when medical expertise was limited, Gemma and her family took the right course of action by not pressuring Rosalind to speak until she felt secure and ready to communicate.
Copyright
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First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2017
Copyright © Anabelle Bryant 2017
Anabelle Bryant asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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E-book Edition © April 2017 ISBN: 978-1-4740-6927-4