Even though she's out of the hospital, there's still a long road to go in terms of healing. Very accurate picture of the panic attack. One phrase latching on and won't let go despite all outside influence. Felt very real. I'm glad she was able to get the pills down to break out of that cycle and start to get some rest.

Dwight starting to make amends for what he now knows was wrong. Feels like Angela had a hand in that too. I like Angela here. While she is strict, she can be open and kind. I see that here. Especially when there's a job to do.

Dwight trying to not accept any gratitude feels very Dwight. I can hear his thoughts go something like one should not be thanked for doing one's duty.

And then there at the end, she's safe. She's cared for, and she knows Jim will still be with her. It's a very touching scene.

Hope we get more soon. Really liking this one.

Author's Response: Thank you so much.  Panic can be different for some and I wrote my own experiences, so I was glad it hit for others as well.  I really wanted to hit on the repeating perseverations thought but also show that Pam, at her core, looked for the way out and trusted Jim and Helene to rescue her. 

Apologies that it's taken me a bit to get to reviewing.

Anyway, nice to see that Jim is making sure she knows he's not going anywhere and also giving her as much agency as possible. Making sure it's ok with her that he can come with her.

Ella saying she hopes to never see Pam again is a great line. One I've used myself over the years.

Then here comes Dwight to offer a place of refuge. Great moment there.

Author's Response:

Same!  Ella’s line is mine and I was happy to give it!

 I am glad I am continuing to bring the right mix of confusion and dedication of Jim’s canon character to this.

and? Yes… my sweet Dwight is a factor :) 

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OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I love Dwight. He is the best in this story. Dwight deserves the world.

Author's Response: I have such a gigantic soft spot for him, I read a lot of ‘the psych of characters’ and have seen him described so negatively.  I see him as a wonderful Autistic adult who is particular and masks to do his job, but struggles interpersonally.  I felt I could bring out that side of him here.

Very powerful moment for both of them. To be honest and supportive at the same time. To know that they're there for each other. The image of them sitting on the floor in each other's arms is a powerful one. Pam feeling in a place of safety where she can rest. Jim knowing this is where he belongs. Right at her side. Powerfully moving for both of them that they can find their way back to each other after all of this.

I did catch the "Without Words" reference there. Nice little tie in for sure.

Author's Response: The moment with the floor kind of wrote itself and happened organically without my preplanning… made me very happy when I read it back d84;a039;

Always love it when Jim can confide in Larisa like that. Most times it's seen that they have a pretty strong bond and you did it justice. Jim's smart to unload some of these feelings on a trusted source who will also give him the straight hard truth. He's going to need it. Felt like a good way to get him set up to face Pam.

Author's Response: I am glad to know other authors have seen the same thing in a VERY unknown relationship with the youngest Halpert. I haven’t come across her to any great extent … but I have not read as many fix here and I intend to 🥰

Finally some sense talked into him! I loved your take on Larissa.

Author's Response: I truly plan to have Larisa around more in future… I liked where my head canon took it!

I'm very glad to see that Pam is realizing there are still kind-hearted (in their own ways) people out there who have her best interests at heart. It's probably something she hasn't believed about herself in a long time. A bit of Mama Bear Beesly there with some tough love. Letting Pam know Roy's not worth HER time is a powerful statement. It feels like she's giving Pam agency back. if Roy's not worth Pam's time, Pam has the choice to just leave him and that's that. Of course it's probably much more complex, but the idea is there.

Finally Jim and Pam will see each other. Hopefully they've learned a bit now about assuming they know what the other is thinking. Can't wait to read the next instalments.

Author's Response:

I liked that Mama Beesly walked a fine line, trying to hold to letting Pam make her own choices...but she recognized that knowledge and understanding INFORM choices and she needed to remind Pam of that.

I cannot WAIT to write what comes next!!!  It is hopefully going to be as wonderful as I am sketching it down! 

More steps forward for sure. Rather than assuming she knows what he's thinking, she's listening to her mom. Good. Probably going to need a lot of that going forward as well. I also really like that she's asking for him. Good on her.

Author's Response: I am so excited to have finally brought it back to when she asks to see him.  Can't wait to write more to add on to the next few chapters this week!

Feels like this is the first step in a long road of finally talking about everything. Letting it all out to trusted people. Good for her. Interesting that though she doesn't want to see Jim right now, she also doesn't want him to go away. Feels like she has realized that when he said he's not going away he meant it and that he's also respecting the boundaries she's put in place for now. A man respecting her boundaries probably feels like something new for her at this point in her life. So it feels like a step forward in progress. Good for her.

Author's Response: Pam is absolutely at a place she is no longer in panic mode, so she can think a bit more, but you are right...having anyone truly respect her wishes is extremely foreign.

Nice to get some of the transition time. How Pam was reaching out for help and trying to put security measures in place. Roy acting like this, being unable to let her go or let her get away is seen in a whole new light. No wonder he was so nervous whenever the cameras were around. He's scared. Scared of everything she knows he's done to her and her ability to let everyone know that. Good bit of backstory for sure.

Author's Response: Exactly..given the nature of how horrible he has been to her, I have to find a way to fit that brief 'back together' in and this seemed kind of natural..hitting on both how often people do get back with abusive partners, how hard it would be to be surrounded by all these trappings of a wedding she had been planning.  It was a bad time.

Aw she’s getting there! I love how she didn’t give into the compulsion of thinking over and over again how she impacted them to reassure any uncertainty. You can tell she is beginning to accept her limits and her lack of ability to be certain about anything. It’s hard to resist, but it allows her to see that she really is safe. She’s also talking a lot more which is so helpful in healing! I’m loving getting to see her improve. She finally starting to respect herself and gain reassurance. Don’t let anxiety control you, Pam! You don’t deserve it because the letting the anxiety control you is letting Roy control you and we all agree he is NOT allowed to do that anymore!

Author's Response: ABSOLUTELY!  This whole writing is a HUGE love letter to all my past and future clients that I have seen through these types of situations.  It takes time, patience and unconditional love from so many people to help us heal in relationships.  Not saying this is over for her, there will be SO Much more to come....my brain will probably make the dang thing 100 chapters!  HAHA

Poor thing! I can really feel how intense her emotions are here.

Author's Response: Gotta get the shame and guilt thoughts out...purge them 💔