Paula replied, ‘I am to say.’ Paula held Franzi’s hands together with her own and continued, ‘Franzi, I told him that THIS was MY decision. I wasn’t influenced by lust, confusion, or guilt. It was ALL…ME.’

Franzi exhaled and said, ‘I’m only saying all this because my doctors told me there might be some residual guilt or anxiety after going through…what we went through.’

Paula said, ‘Aye. But there’s no need to judge yourself or to put yourself in other people’s feelings toward you. It was there and I know how I feel about you.’

Franzi looked at Paula’s face and asked, ‘How do you feel about me? Knowing what I did..and..why I did it.’

Paula didn’t treat this like a loaded question with a bullet for an answer. She answered in a simple manner.

Using sign language and talking, Paula said, ‘I…LOVE…YOU.’

Franzi exhaled through her nose, smiled, and said ‘I believe you.’ Then Franzi said, ‘Umm, is it alright if I make one request before you go?’

Paula answered, ‘Of course.’

Franzi said, ‘Since you’ll be living in the flatshare, with me, do you think…that..maybe we could….finish everyday’ then Franzi gulped and finished in a clear voice ‘dancing to romantic music?’ She just got that last part out looking at Paula’s face half expecting Paula to drop her jaw.

Instead of dropping her jaw, Paula put her hand palm to Franzi’s and said, ‘I would love to.’

Franzi asked, ‘Really?’

Paula nodded "Yes" and said, ‘Really.’

Franzi said, ‘Ich Liebe Dich, Paula.’

Paula kissed Franzi on the lips. ‘Ich Liebe Dich, auch Franzi.’ And they kissed each other on the lips 5 times before calling it a night. Each time, before a kiss, one of them would say ‘Ich Liebe Dich’; back and forth, taking turns saying ‘I Love You’ in their own way.

Franzi’s psychological checkup came normal. Her session took an hour while Paula was away in the day. Among his questions, the doctor asked Franzi if she was only answering the way she thought he wanted her to. She denied it whole heartedly with an "I can’t believe you just asked me that" look on her face. But Franzi was as sane as the next maniac in love.

Dr. Burke commented, ‘Speaking as one who spent time in the lunatic asylum, I can assure you that being crazy isn’t as bad as it is made out to be.’