After the year off to get over the tragic events that had so changed her life, Sarah had transferred to a new school -- a fresh break for everyone involved. Sure, the story of what had happened got around (Lake Point was not New York), but there was no grace from which to fall, and so Sarah had been able to fit in by fitting in.
That year off had humbled her and made her stronger. Gone were the old distractions and hangups. Now she was just Sarah, a beautiful, intelligent, caring young woman; confident, but not proud; certain, but not cocky; flip at times, but never mean. She was everything her parents could have wanted in a daughter.
She had a new boyfriend, a strong, gentle fellow who had quit the football team to focus on his studies. He wasn't brilliant, but he was far from an idiot, and as teenagers are wont to believe, they felt they were deeply in love.
*"Sarah: Can you hear me?" Dr. Anders asked.
"Yes," she answered dreamily.
"Good. Now, Sarah, you will not remember that we had this conversation. But you will remember everything that I tell you to do -- all of my commands, everything I tell you. But you will believe that everything I tell you is your own thought, your own belief, your own desire, your own feeling. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Tick, tock.
"Good girl." He paused. "You are in a dream. And, when you come out of it, you will have a whole new outlook on life. Tell me you would like that."
"I would like that." The response was no longer slurred. It was crisp and clear. A year of these treatments had molded her into a young woman who craved her new identity.
Tick, tock.
"I want you to answer every question I ask you by saying 'YES.' And, I want you to believe that 'YES' is the right answer to every question. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Again, confidence. This truly was his greatest project.
"You have been Sarah for a year now, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"And you've enjoyed it immensely, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"And it's made Mom and Daddy happy, hasn't it?"
"Yes."
"And you want to make them happy because they are your Mom and Dad, right?"
"Yes."
"And you are their daughter, correct?"
"Yes."
"In fact, you want to be Sarah forever, don't you?"
"Yes." Again, a strong, certain confidence. The Jon persona was very nearly gone. Time to complete the process.
Tick, tock.
"You want to do more than just play Sarah -- you want to be Sarah, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Because you've always really been Sarah, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"And you're really a young woman and always have been, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Tick, tock.
"Good girl, Sarah. You're doing very well. Now, I want you to look at something in a new way. Would you like that?"
"Yes."
He had changed the mix of the spray this time, adding a catalyst and increasing the dosage. It was time to put this matter to bed, to put the seal on his work forever.
"It is time to stop acting like Sarah, and time to be Sarah. From now on, you only think of yourself as Sarah. You have no memory of being anyone but Sarah; the very idea is ridiculous. You are the Sarah your mother has helped you to realize you have always been. Aren't you?"
"Yes."
"And you know that will make Mom and Daddy happy, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Being the Sarah your mother has taught you to be will make you happy, today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Tick, tock. The last one.
"And the next time you see me, you'll be relaxed, and happy to see me, but you won't know why. Isn't that right?"
"Yes."
"Good girl. Now, I want you to rest here. You will begin to come out of your dream. You will awaken and feel happy, rested and ready to be Sarah, now and forever. Do you understand?"
"Yes."*
Sarah smiled, a little short of breath, as Michael straightened up from kissing her. They were both headed to college next year, but they were headed to the same school, and she already had their lives together planned. Graduation, marriage, five children.
Would Zoe be her maid of honor?
She shook her head. What an odd thought. Zoe? Zoe who? That poor kid Jon's sister?
Smiling, she took Michael's hand as they went to class together.
