Part 35 (2/2)
Sometime during the long, dreary drive to Connecticut, she dozed off. She was awakened by a guard's voice.
”We're here.”
They had reached the gates of the Connecticut Psychiatric Hospital.
When Ashley Patterson was ushered into Dr. Lewison's office, he said, ”Welcome to Connecticut Psychiatric Hospital, Miss Patterson.”
Ashley stood there, pale and silent.
Dr. Lewison made the introductions and held out a chair. ”Sit down, please.” He looked at the guard. ”Take off the handcuffs and shackles.”
The restraints were removed, and Ashley took a seat.
Dr. Foster said, ”I know this must be very difficult for you. We're going to do everything we can to make it as easy as possible. Our goal is to see that one day you will leave this place, cured.”
Ashley found her voice. ”How-how long could that take?”
Otto Lewison said, ”It's too soon to answer that yet. If you can can be cured, it could take five or six years.” be cured, it could take five or six years.”
Each word hit Ashley like a thunderbolt. ”If you ”If you can can be cured, it could take five or six years. be cured, it could take five or six years.
”The therapy is nonthreatening. It will consist of a combination of sessions with Dr. Keller-hypnotism, group therapy, art therapy. The important thing to remember is that we're not your enemies.”
Gilbert Keller was studying her face. ”We're here to help you, and we want you to help us do that.”
There was nothing more to say.
Otto Lewison nodded to the attendant, and he walked over to Ashley and took her arm.
Craig Foster said, ”He'll take you to your quarters now. We'll talk again later.”
When Ashley had left the room, Otto Lewison turned to Gilbert Keller. ”What do you think?”
”Well, there's one advantage. There are only two alters to work on.”
Keller was trying to remember. ”What's the most we've had?”
”The Beltrand woman-ninety alters.”
Ashley had not known what to expect, but somehow she had envisioned a dark, dreary prison. The Connecticut Psychiatric Hospital was more like a pleasant clubhouse-with metal bars.
As the attendant escorted Ashley through the long, cheerful corridors, Ashley watched the inmates freely walking back and forth. There were people of every age, and all of them seemed normal. Why are they here? Why are they here? Some of them smiled at her and said, ”Good morning,” but Ashley was too bewildered to answer. Everything seemed surreal. She was in an insane asylum. Some of them smiled at her and said, ”Good morning,” but Ashley was too bewildered to answer. Everything seemed surreal. She was in an insane asylum. Am I insane? Am I insane?
They reached a large steel door that closed off a part of the building. There was a male attendant behind the door. He pressed a red b.u.t.ton and the huge door opened.
”This is Ashley Patterson.”
The second attendant said, ”Good morning, Miss Patterson.” They made everything seem so normal. But nothing is normal anymore, But nothing is normal anymore, Ashley thought. Ashley thought. The world is upside down. The world is upside down.
”This way, Miss Patterson.” He walked her to another door and opened it. Ashley stepped inside. Instead of a cell, she was looking at a pleasant, medium-size room with pastel blue walls, a small couch and a comfortable-looking bed.
”This is where you'll be staying. They'll be bringing your things in a few minutes.”
Ashley watched the guard leave and close the door behind him. This is where you'll be staying. This is where you'll be staying.
She began to feel claustrophobic. What if I don't want to stay? What if I want to get out of here? What if I don't want to stay? What if I want to get out of here?
She walked over to the door. It was locked. Ashley sat down on the couch, trying to organize her thoughts. She tried to concentrate on the positive. We're going to try to cure you. We're going to try to cure you.
We're going to try to cure you.
We're going to cure you.
Chapter Twenty-three.
DR . Gilbert Keller was in charge of Ashley's therapy. His specialty was treating multiple personality disorder, and while he had had failures, his success rate was high. In cases like this, there were no easy answers. His first job was to get the patient to trust him, to feel comfortable with him, and then to bring out the alters, one by one, so that in the end they could communicate with one another and understand why they existed, and finally, why there was no more need for them. That was the moment of blending, when the personality states came together as a single ent.i.ty. . Gilbert Keller was in charge of Ashley's therapy. His specialty was treating multiple personality disorder, and while he had had failures, his success rate was high. In cases like this, there were no easy answers. His first job was to get the patient to trust him, to feel comfortable with him, and then to bring out the alters, one by one, so that in the end they could communicate with one another and understand why they existed, and finally, why there was no more need for them. That was the moment of blending, when the personality states came together as a single ent.i.ty.
We're a long way from that, Dr. Keller thought. Dr. Keller thought.
The following morning, Dr. Keller had Ashley brought to his office. ”Good morning, Ashley.”
”Good morning, Dr. Keller.”
”I want you to call me Gilbert. We're going to be friends. How do you feel?”
She looked at him and said, ”They tell me I've killed five people. How should I feel?”
”Do you remember killing any of them?”
”No.”
”I read the transcript of your trial, Ashley. You didn't kill them. One of your alters did. We're going to get acquainted with your alters, and in time, with your help, we'll make them disappear.”
”I-I hope you can-”
”I can. I'm here to help you, and that's what I'm going to do. The alters were created in your mind to save you from an unbearable pain. We have to find out what caused that pain. I need to find out when those alters were born and why.”
”How-how do you do that?”
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