Summary

Chapter 55 finds Catherine sitting with Nicholas in the ICU. Catherine awakes from a nap to find Nicholas looking at her, not just opening his eyes but also focusing. The doctors say it is an excellent sign and that he should be able to leave the ICU soon. Catherine and Robert are both at the hospital, agreeing to both be with Nicholas as much as possible. Before going to bed one night Robert attempts to make an apology to Catherine for everything that has happened and asks why she never told him about the rape, but Catherine feigns sleep. "All she wants is to be able to sleep at last, with the knowledge that finally the truth has broken free" (311).

Nicholas continues to make progress and Catherine contemplates how she is going to tell Nicholas the truth about everything once he wakes up. Catherine...