Catherine Wilcox was awarded a full scholarship to law
school. Her father wasn’t supportive of
her going to school to further her education. In fact, he was both apathetic and distant to Catherine and her mother over
the years. Unfortunately, Catherine’s
mother was in extremely poor health; being a chronic smoker, emphysema had
gotten the best of her. On her deathbed,
Cathy’s mother explained that her dad was never faithful and had many affairs
throughout their marriage. Furthermore,
he was unhappy when Catherine’s mother became pregnant, and resented Catherine;
feeling he didn’t want any part of the marriage, nor any parental
responsibility. Her mother passed away
shortly thereafter, leaving Catherine determined to pursue her dreams.
Catherine was studying late at the university library one evening and
while she was walking to her car she was brutally attacked and severely
beaten. In the hospital, the emergency
room physician, Dr. Peterson, worked vigorously trying to save her life. He immediately felt a very strong connection
to Catherine; a feeling that she was his soul mate. Dr. Peterson never experienced those feelings
before, and didn’t understand why he felt that way to a complete stranger. These feelings would eventually become
mutual.
After being released from the hospital, Catherine suffered severe
and often chronic episodes of psychological depression from being victimized. Catherine would never be able to have
children as a result of her being raped. She was so devastated that she wished she had
died instead of surviving the attack and tired to commit suicide; ending up
back in the hospital. When Dr. Peterson
was informed of the latest events he wanted to do everything in his power to
protect and help Catherine get better. He
called Madeline Jessups who is an “intuitive counselor” to help Catherine. Madeline was a personal friend to Dr.
Peterson and considered to be one of the best in her field. Initially, Catherine was resistant to
therapy. Madeline eventually explained
to Catherine she too was a rape victim and has a child by the name of Samantha
from the attack. This is when real work
of healing started, forming a friendship as trust was established between the
two women.
Dr. Peterson and Catherine started dating briefly, although their
feelings for each other were mutual, Catherine was still struggling with her Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of the attack. She decided to terminate the relationship
based on her own fears and feelings of worthlessness.
With intensive therapy, Catherine slowly was able to gain control
over her life, learning to trust and love again. She becomes more free and mentally at ease
while legally trying to put the man that raped her behind bars. But truly disturbing things arise when Catherine’s
attacker is on the witness stand, in front of her and Madeline. There are
various disarming twists throughout the story that will shock the reader.
Catherine wants justice, fighting hard to help other women struggling with the
same issues. She becomes a victim’s
advocate; going on talk shows, news shows, getting her message out about abuse
against women. Her case was making news
both locally and nationally. Justice was
eventually served.
This victory is short lived when Madeline is diagnosed with a
brain tumor that is classified as a grade IV, Glioblastoma Multiforme. This type of cancer is one of the most deadly
and malignant types one can get. Dr.
Peterson tries everything he can to save her life. Read how Catherine copes with her close friend’s
illness, and how this makes her a stronger person. The final goodbye letter Madeline writes to
her friend really helps Catherine to come full circle in her life.
Dr. Peterson has always been Catherine’s biggest fan throughout
this moving story, never giving up that
one day he would reunite with Catherine. Catherine transformed before his very eyes; from a timid, battered
victim, into a woman whose strength knew no boundaries. Catherine and Dr. Peterson finally reunite,
and Catherine is able to love and be loved.
This book is well written and the characters are convincingly
portrayed. The darkness and poignancy of
this story enthralled me from beginning to end. What makes this story most frightening is that rape victims can be, and
often are, tormented by these same scenarios. In Laibachs' skillful hands, the psychological
impacts are brought home in a frightening way. I wanted the perpetrator to pay for what he did more than anything --
that's an excellent indication the story and its characters will touch readers
in a deep level. Yes, this book is also
a love story, but certainly not in the conventional sense. It will haunt you long after you turn the final
page.
