Behind Closed Doors

After lunch with Diane and Esther, Jack locks Grace in her room. She has lived in the room for six months and he only feeds her when he wants to. One time, Jack left Grace for three days. There is no way out. She doesn’t have access to anything sharp, to a pen or paper, or even books. The window is barred. At the beginning, she tried to escape several times, but the punishments were so severe that she decided to stop trying. Once Millie comes to stay with them, it will be too late.

Since Grace does not have any stimulation in the room, she has become very attuned to Jack’s movements downstairs. When he comes home from work, he always puts his keys down and immediately goes to the kitchen to pour himself a whiskey. Then he moves from the kitchen to his study.

On this particular evening, after about half an hour, Jack comes upstairs: “The door opens and he stands in the doorway, my handsome, psychopathic husband” (93). He tells her that Mrs. Goodrich, the headmaster from Millie’s school, e-mailed them and would like to see them on Sunday.