Susanna's actions demonstrate that she is continually working to heal. Jim Watson visits Susanna, asking her to run away with him, but Susanna denies his proposal and remains in the institution: “For ten seconds I imagined this other life… everything… was a blur. The vinyl chairs, the security screens, the buzzing of the infirmary door: those things were clear. “I'm here now, Jim,” I said. 'I think I have to stay here'” (Kaysen 27). Susanna wants to stay in McLean until she is ready to leave; his choice supports what the Buddha said: “There are only two mistakes one can make on the way to the truth; do not go all the way and do not begin” (Buddha). Susanna finds reassurance from McClean as she embarks on her journey. Susanna sees the young nurses on the ward who remind her of the life she could live: “They shared apartments, had boyfriends and talked about clothes. We wanted to protect them so they could continue to live these lives. They were our delegates” (Kaysen 91). Susanna chooses to take these reminders as a positive motivating force along her journey. However, Susanna is also surrounded by patients who suffer from different and more serious psychoses. These girls do not hinder Susanna's progress, but emphasize it