Voices

Sandra went to the doctor and told them her story carefully; she repeated many of the details two or three times and gave a blood sample (which confused her). The doctor asked her questions about eating, sleeping, the quality of her stools, and any history of sudden onset mental illness in her family. Throughout the appointment, Sandra told the truth and let the questioning exhaust her. “Do you recognize the voices?” “No.” “Do they whisper in your ear?” “No.” “Do they tell you to do bad things?” “Oh, heavens, no!” She kept an open mind about the pills they gave her to try. “Call back in 48 hours and let us know how you’re doing,” the doctor had instructed (and Sandra promised that she would). Back at home, she hurried to set the picnic table and spread out a lovely summer lunch - enough for 4 or 5 people. She heard a whisper and, shivering a little, called out, “Ready in a jiffy!” Shoving a serving spoon into the potato salad, Sandra remembered the doctor asking her if the voices were heard in clear words or just sounds. “Words,” Sandra had replied, but she did not share that they called by her full name (with the original middle name she’d abandoned decades ago). She heard another whisper and answered, “I’m here! I’m right here! Let me see you!” and what stepped out from the edge of the woods took her breath away.