First of all, the following contains spoilers of “Love Never Fails” to those who haven’t yet read the story or the latest chapter. If you don’t want to be spoiled, please kindly pass.
I’d like to thank all of you for writing reviews to this new chapter, which is another long one. As you know, since Chapter 42 was already very long in my standard, I could only focus on Albert and how he coped with his disability after the accident. But I couldn’t ignore Candy again in this chapter, who was actually a victim herself. Here I’d like to share with you what I have read on the internet about victims like Albert and Candy.
A person who sustained a spinal cord injury might have a higher chance to recover if he or she could regain some movement or feeling within one week. To recover most functions might take up to six months or even more. Losses that remain after six months are more likely to be permanent. Unfortunately, for male patients, erections are the number one issue after paralysis. Even if they can “get it up”, the erection may not be hard enough or last long enough for sexual activity. Then, ejaculation is the number two issue. That’s why male patients might have lost their sexual function (male impotence). Nowadays, advance in technology significantly helps these poor souls. They can use special equipment or other means to work out with their partners such that they can have their own biological children.
There is no “typical” response amongst rape victims, but the symptoms and reactions may last a few days to a few months or even years. Not all victims show their emotions outwardly, and some may even appear as if ‘nothing happened’ or ‘everything is fine’ (denial). Nevertheless, almost all suffer profound internal turmoil, which may manifest in a variety ways like persistent fear or depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances such as vivid dreams and recurring nightmares, insomnia or night terrors, panic attacks, drug or alcohol abuse, etc. At any rate, the nature of the act, the relationship with the offender, the type and amount of force used, and the circumstances of the assault all influence the impact on the victims. Sometimes, when the victims seem to have recovered, their emotional pain may return anytime, which can be extremely frightening to them all over again. Regrettably, many survivors have reported that they were unable to re-establish normal sexual relationships with their partners or even shied away from any sexual contact for a long while. For more details, please read Rape Trauma Syndrome on Wikipedia.
In this chapter, whatever happened between Candy and Albert were totally my imagination, but I wanted to show that although Candy had been rescued by Albert before anything serious happened to her, she was traumatized no less. Yet the experience didn’t affect her too much during the day, and she didn’t shy away from being intimate with Albert physically. Of course, just before they came to their senses, both had known that Albert could now be sexually aroused, which was another encouraging sign towards his recovery.
Anyway, thanks for reading the above. I have spent quite a bit of time in research, and I’ve learned a lot myself too. 🙂
Also, I mentioned Helen Keller in this chapter, and I personally find her quotes very inspiring, which I want to share with you all:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/helen_keller.html
Finally, below is my response to your reviews on fanfiction as of today:
StormIsQueen: Thank you for reading! You’re the first reader who wrote a review to me. Glad you think it was worth the wait!
MK: Thank you for being eager. I hope you like the chapter.
Albertcraze: Nice to hear from you again. Yeah, big day coming soon! Thanks for your encouragement!
Albertsan: Thank you for your compliment. Yes I have the idea in my head, and I hope when you get to it you will find it romantic. 🙂
Ihbarba: So happy to know you really love this chapter, my dear friend! Yes, many emotions indeed, but unlike the previous one, this one is happier!
Florcita: Muchas gracias por leer! About Terry, so you agreed with my descriptions? Wonderful! About Albert and Candy, beautiful love scene? I’m very happy to hear that! Saludos! 🙂
Angdl: Thank you for your compliments and kind words! Very encouraging and touching to me! Thanks again! 😀
sayuri1707: Muchas gracias por leer! I will try my best to update soon, about Albert, Candy and Terry! Saludos!
Patty Castillo: Muchas gracias por leer! I agree, Terry didn’t even try to contact Candy after leaving London, which is… sigh. About Candy, she was lucky to have Albert to love and support her! Yes, Albert is a gentleman… hee hee hee. True love will wait. I agree. 😛 Saludos!
Lissette LN: Muchas gracias por leer! Thank you for writing to me in English. I appreciate your kind and encouraging words! I’m so happy you like this story! Saludos!
EnakaT: Thanks for writing a review, and I know you’ve been following. Don’t worry if you don’t have time though. About that comment, I’ve never heard of it LOL. Glad you like my update, and thank you so much for sharing my Facebook page with others more than once. I appreciate it!
CandyFan72: Thanks for reading again, and you’ll be reading their wedding and Terry soon. Thank you for your encouraging words!
lcolina: Hello there, It’s nice to hear from you again. So happy you love my story and my drawings. I’ve got a new picture in mind, and hopefully I get the time to do it. Thank you for following!