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This chapter is just lovely! I mean so many wonderful moments between the two of them. Jim starting to learn sign language. Cece beating him at chess. Just the time they share together.

However it all kicks up a notch with the start of the heart-to-heart that ends all heart-to-hearts. I just love it so, SO much. How they start to draw strength and courage from each other. How they're honest about each other. How they trust each other. Beautifully written.

Then a prank there at the end for that right bit of levity. You're right Cece is being a bad-ass and I'm hear for every minute of it. Hopefully I haven't run out of jellybeans by now cause this chapter deserves all of them.

Author's Response: Eric you ALWAYS warm my heart, I love your thought out reviews, I look to forward to them each chapter, and you always put so much effort in. I needed to write a chapter that showed the true beauty in Jim and Cece’s relationship, and how vulnerable they’re both being with each other which as you get older becomes even more hard. Especially as a changing 11 year old girl. Cece is such a bad ass in my mind, and even though she’s not dealing with some of the skeletons in her closet, I think it’s important for her to start to open up about what she saw and what she remembers. Thank you so much for these reviews, and of course I had to throw a prank in there too!

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Wow, the ASL. I don't know why I didn't see it, why I didn't know it meant something to be there in the earlier chapter. I took ASL class with my babies (they can learn to sign before they can talk so we learned a little ASL ourselves) so I guess it didn't strike me as odd they would know it, but now it's the aha moment for me.

Is this a nod to "A Quiet Place or perhaps a little more personal. But it hit me. I'd feel bad for this to happen to any family but to our beloved Halperts it's even more heartbreaking.

But I am excited for Uncle Michael. I can't wait to see how you present him and how he's changed. Can't wait to see what comes next.

Author's Response: Maxine, it’s a bit of a nod to both. I lost the majority of my hearing in the accident and now speak but also sign, so Although it’s hard to convey ASL in a story, I’m going to try. It’s also a nod to a Quiet Place. I’ve had the opportunity to meet John Krasinski multiple times and was on set with actress Millie Simms for the second film, she’s deaf in real life. It was one of the most amazing opportunities of my life. John has been so gracious every time I’ve been around him, and it’s help develop “Jim” for me too by knowing the actor a little bit more. I’m so excited for Uncle Michael! I’ve already jumped a head a bit and started writing that chapter lol. Thank you again for your reviews they make me smile!

Well, this was deeply downbeat. I appreciate that you're being unflinching in walking us through the trauma inflicted on this family and how they first started to come to grips with it while forcibly separated from each other. Nice to see Pam calling in some old friends for reinforcement... although Michael and hospitals sound like a potentially frightening mix!

I was wondering when the ASL bit was going to come back, looking forward to seeing where you go with that as Cece recovers and works on her father's recovery.

Author's Response: This wasn’t an easy one to write, but the honesty of a family being torn apart because of an accident is an all too real thing that happens, especially with current Covid restrictions. Pam definitely will need backup from her closest friends since Jim is currently absent, and although Michael may make a bit of a scene in the near future, I think he just might be the trick into helping Cece. I’m so glad you circled back around regarding the ASL moment, I was wondering if anyone would catch it and wonder but it has come full circle and we’ll see more of that as we go along on this journey. Thank you so much for your consistent and thoughtful reviews!

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Again, so moved, so swept away by this story. So glad I decided to read it.

Knowing this happened in your life, I can't help but wonder how much of your story is your own personal experience and how difficult that must have been for you and everyone in your life. It's weaved in so well to your story, the impact of this on the kids and how it takes away a little of their ability to be just a kid. The duality of CeCe being both child and having to grow up fast and be almost like a parent to her dad is so visible here.

On a personal note, love the fact that he loves Devil Wears Prada - the men in my life do, too. My son, especially. But what's not to love, that is a great movie and I just watched it again last weekend myself (my son ran into join me when he heard it on).

Looking forward to the next chapter.

Author's Response: Maxine, thank you so much again! I love hearing your thoughts. This story is deeply personal to me and very much related to my own experiences. It has been cathartic for me to work through them, but also to explore how a different family would handle it. I had to throw in a little nod to John Krasinski being a huge fan of Devil Wears Prada before he even met Emily Blunt, I love my little Easter eggs that I plant :) I’m excited to hear more of your thoughts. Another chapter coming soon!

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I think you struck a good balance in this chapter between hope and allowing us to feel good that Jim is awake and functioning and recovering on the one hand and recognizing that his regaining consciousness is the beginning, rather than the end, of his recovery - noting the longterm physical effects Jim needs to come to grips with and the psychological impact on his family and his relationship with them.

I'm looking forward to seeing Cece play more of a role, although I have to say I'm kinda with Pam that I'm not sure that disrupting her routine even further is necessarily the best thing for him. (Although I appreciate you noting here that this isn't entirely about Pam's motherly concerns, and there is an element here of how she feels like she's failed as a wife.)

Author's Response: Thank you so much for another review! Pulling your kid out of school isn’t an easy decision, and I think she’s feeling, as you mentioned, that she’s somehow failed him, and responsible for what happened to him. I will begin to explore that idea later as well. I think Cece’s presence is definitely going to have an impact on his recovery but also on their relationship. I’ve always envisioned him being closer to her, Relating to her personality more, and their relationship being one that’s based on similarities. I think that we’re going to see some aspects of what he’s “missed” as well. Thank you for continuing to read and review!

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You're right this is the start of the journey. However just the fact that Jim is sitting up and talking is lovely. They've all been through the wringer so it's going to take some time to get all those feelings out.

I love that Cece is the one to put some spark back into Jim's life. Being surrounded by those he loves I'm sure will be a huge balm to his heart.

Can't wait to see where we go from here.

Author's Response: Eric, I always appreciate your well thought out reviews, and responses for my chapters. I look forward to them every time I publish! Having Jim awake has really brought light into Pam and Cece’s lives specifically, and I think the joy that it will bring them will be refreshing as they continue to move through the journey of recovery which never is an easy recovery and comes with its own new challenges. Luckily, they have each other and the strength of their marriage. :)

Nice use of the flashbacks to give us some depth to the Halpert family. How Jim cares for his kids and how scared Pam was as he's heading into surgery. Nice to have that as it builds up your characters well.

Author's Response: Thank you! I wanted some insight into how Jim deals with “crisis” before their family is thrust into one, and give some intimate moments between him and his kiddos. I love writing his perspective and drawing from my own TBI, accident, and time in ICU and how that affected my wife has been hugely inspirational for this story

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After all the build up, this was a great way to bring this to a climax. Clearly both Pam and Cece are off kilter and have been for a long time. Jim's presense being the centering force in their lives. It might be a little cliche, but to have it be Cece's hand be the key to getting the breathing tube out was just lovely. From personal experience, it's not fun to wake up with a tube down your throat preventing you from talking or breathing on your own. It's not a pleasant experience to be extubated either, but the relief of being able to breathe and talk on your own again is indescribable.

That the first words out of Jim's mouth are "My girls," just hits the heart in all sorts of ways. After so long, that's the first thing he says. Lovely. Likewise having Pam watch as Cece's hard exterior goes away and she can let it go was lovely as well.

Great chapter.

Oof, another heavy chapter here. Especially coming from Cece's perspective. To have it that the kids bus hit Jim and Pam's car is just another hard hit. Just oof.

Author's Response: Eric, congrats on your little bundle! Thank you for taking the time to read, this has definitely been cathartic for me to getting through some trauma from my own past, and has been a great outlet for discussing real, tough, subjects. Thank you for sticking around!!

Oof, yeah. That one's tough. Really hoping Jim pulls through. Especially with a new baby on the way and Cece and Phil acting like that. Great writing to pull out a bunch of emotional beats though.

I just can’t keep reading. I’ve been in quarantine for almost 7 months now, it hasn’t been easy, and to read about this family being shattered is just too much for me 😞

Author's Response: I promise it gets better, but things will be rough for a bit :/

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Uh oh. Haha I’m a little scared to keep reading!

I do really like how much you can feel the love Pam has for Jim, though. Nice job conveying that, its sweet. But are you going to kill my Jimothy?!

Author's Response: I don't know! I guess you'll have to keep reading to find out, thank you so much for the support!!