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The room seemed to be closing in on Tamara. She could hear her heartbeat echoing in the silence and she was afraid. A feeling of hopelessness and despair filled her. The stress of the past weeks seemed to be too much for her to bear. She missed her sons and the confrontation with her mother had set her nerves on edge. She was tired of trying to stay one step ahead of the panic and anxiety that constantly invaded her body. It seemed she was never at peace in either body or mind.

Her heart skipped a beat, causing her to sit upright in her bed. She immediately tensed, waiting, waiting. When her heart skipped another beat, she jumped out of bed and ran to the window. Opening it, she breathed deeply the cool early morning air. 'If Bob Green could see me now,' she thought. 'He was so proud of my progress and so was I but now look at me! I'm back to square one! I can't even remember the things I've learned, much less practice them!' Tamara wept.

Although she had sworn that she would never call on her mother for help, Tamara's anxiety had reached a terrifying level. She needed to be near someone and if that someone had to be her mother, then so be it. It was too early to call Bob Green, although she knew his soothing voice and gentle encouragement would make her feel better. Pulling on her housecoat, she hesitantly knocked on the guest room door. "Mother", she called, "Are you awake?" When there was no answer, Tamara opened the door and called again. Though the room was dark and tears blurred her eyes, Tamara could see that the room was empty.

Mrs. Symonds sat in the taxicab, deep in thought. She wondered what Steven would think of her showing up at his house at such an early hour. Would he refuse to talk to her? And what about Beth? Would she resent the intrusion? "I'll soon find out," she thought as the taxicab drew up in front of Steven's home. Paying the driver, she walked to the door and rang the bell.

Tamara turned from the guest room door and headed for the kitchen. "My mother must be there," she told herself but when she flicked on the light, she saw that the kitchen was also empty. Glancing into the living room, her eyes fell on the empty space where her mother's suitcase had lain the night before. The suitcase was gone and Tamara knew her mother was gone also. She wanted to scream to the empty room and say, 'I shouldn't have expected you to be here, Mother! When have you ever been around when I needed you?' But she couldn't. The need to have her mother hold her was so great that it created an ache inside her. Tamara felt utterly alone. Had the world turned its back on her? The only one who seemed to care and understand was Bob Green. Going to the telephone, she dialed his number. Hearing his voice on the other end, she cried, "Can you talk to me, Bob? I'm in the middle of a panic attack!" It was then she realized she was talking to Bob's answering machine.

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