It would cause her to return to the ice, the frozen comatose shell they knew as Norma. She could not communicate through the ice. The whole family would come at night and she would just lay there, surrounded by the ice, unable to move. Norma appreciated their visits.

She was also glad when the left so she could escape from the clutch of the ice. She looked forward to returning to the Other Lights. She was finding it more difficult to pull herself away from their fascination.

Their passionate attraction grew more intense each visit. She would lose all track of time while she was near them, and then suddenly she would feel the presence of Joshua, gently leading her away, back to the ice, back to the hospital bed.

Just before coming back, she would be aware of her family standing around her, looking down at her and she could feel their sadness. She wanted to tell them, to cry out, to touch them, to express her love for them.

They felt so close, and then she would enter the ice and become frozen. On this particular day, Norma was aware of the doctor standing with her family. The ice always prevented her from hearing what they said.