The Time Traveler’s Wife: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Sunday, September 5, 1993 (Clare is 22, Henry is 30). Clare finds Henry looking through a physician’s desk reference, in which he is looking for something he might be able to take to avoid time traveling during his and Clare’s wedding ceremony. They discuss eloping, but Clare argues that their wedding is a key opportunity for Clare’s father to show off. The drugs Henry is considering are anti-psychotics that will block dopamine receptors in his brain. Clare is horrified by the potential side effects of these medicines. Henry asks Clare if she ever has doubts about their relationship. Clare assures him that while she worries about him, she has no second thoughts about them getting married.

Monday, September 6, 1993 (Henry is 30). Henry waits in a rundown neighborhood for his friend Ben to come home. He runs into Gomez, who is there as a lawyer helping a client. Ben arrives soon after, and Henry says goodbye to Gomez. He and Ben go inside; he waits while Ben makes coffee. Henry studies his friend, whose AIDS diagnosis leaves him wondering constantly if he will be okay. Ben assures Henry his medication and lifestyle having been helping him tremendously. Henry tells him he’s getting married. Ben asks if Clare knows about his condition, and Henry responds that she does.

Henry produces a handwritten composition for a drug called risperidone. He explains that it won’t be invented for another five years, but he thinks it will help keep time traveling episodes at bay. Ben is hesitant about the side effects too, but he eventually agrees to synthesize it. Henry invites him to the wedding. In the meantime, Ben offers Henry another morphine-based endorphin stabilizing drug, which he takes immediately. Henry leaves Ben’s house and finds Gomez waiting for him outside. Gomez offers him a ride home. Noticing that Henry is high, Gomez takes him to Clare and Charisse’s apartment so he can be supervised.

While Henry sleeps in Clare’s bedroom, Clare sits in the kitchen with Gomez. She thanks him for helping Henry, and Gomez responds that he would do anything for her. Gomez asks her why Henry has gone to Ben, who he has heard primarily likes to help cancer and AIDS patients. Clare explains they are searching for something that will help Henry during the wedding. Gomez demands to know why Clare is marrying Henry in the first place. Clare doesn’t answer because Henry calls out for her from the bedroom. She goes to him, and they lie in bed together. Henry tells her that the drug Ben gave him is too debilitating for him to use during the ceremony. Clare is worried, but he reassures her that they know he lives to be at least 43 based on future versions of him who have visited them.

Monday, September 27, 1993 (Clare is 22, Henry is 30). Clare arrives at Henry’s apartment in preparation for their visit to the opera that evening. She finds him on the floor having an adverse reaction to the risperidone pill that he requested Ben synthesize for him. Clare calls both Ben and 911. At the hospital, Ben arrives and apologizes profusely to Clare. She tells him Henry will be okay, and that she doesn’t blame him. Clare then makes Ben promise not to give Henry anymore drugs. He agrees.