MARK- “Okay, Peter. I know you felt bad about this morning, and I also know there is a very good explanation as to what is going on. I just want you to know first of all, you are not in trouble, and we think you are doing an amazing job with the twins, but over that last week or so things have seemed a little stressful for you. We want to help. And we need you to talk to us. I thought maybe you would be more comfortable with just talking to one of us to begin with. So tell me, what is going on with you?”
PETER- “Yes, there has been something going on, but it has been going on before I came here. I have been in therapy going on my third year, with Dr. David Davis in Windenburg. I was tested for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, which was negative and the doctor feels that I may suffer from hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations. Sometimes I do not have to be going to sleep or just waking up, these sometimes occur if I have went without sleep or am under a lot of stress or just physically tired. And... I spent a few months at Brymoore Mental Care Facility.”
MARK- “Okay, so you have hallucinations then, seeing things that aren’t there?”
PETER- “Yes, exactly, but to me they ARE there. And it is not things, it is always my brother, Joseph.”
MARK- “And by your brother, I assume this is your brother that died in the fire?”
PETER- “Yes, and I never had these hallucinations or ghost sightings until after he died.”
MARK- “That is common many times when there is a tragic death of a loved one, especially if they are young. So, can you tell me the circumstances around your brother’s death. I know you said it was a fir, but can you be more specific? I mean if you want to, you don’t have to.”
PETER- “This is really difficult, but--
MARK- “It’s okay, you don’t have to, we can go on without---”
PETER- “No, I need to.... It happened three years ago. I was twenty-two and he had just turned eighteen. Joseph and I were really close. We went to a party of a family friend and he and I rode together and decided to go back home early before the rest of the family. We live on a pretty large estate and Joseph loved riding the horses. So he decided that evening he was going to take Lincoln, his horse out for a quick run. After about an hour one of our stable hands came running into the house screaming saying there was a fire in the stable house. I called the fire department and headed towards the stables. When I got there Alonzo, our stable manager was coming out of the stable which was engulfed in flames with Lincoln and tow other horses. But Joseph was no where around. I yelled asking where he was and Alonzo said he was inside the stable but could not locate him. I ran into the fire screaming for my brother, but the flames were to high and strong and I couldn’t get into to even look for him. Alonzo pulled me back. The fire department finally arrived and it took hours to get the fire out. Of course by this time my parents and the rest of the family were home as well. The fire captain said they found Joseph’s body in the back of the stable under a burlap cover. There were no burns, but he died of smoke inhalation. My father started yelling at me telling me it was all my fault, I should not have let him go out there by himself and that I was the older brother and should have been more responsible. Mother started yelling at him telling him it was no ones fault and they fought. I left. I went to a friends house for the night....
MARK- “Peter...I am so sorry. Your father should not have----
PETER- “He was right though. I should not have let Joseph go out there by himself.”
MARK- “But you had no way of knowing there was going to be a fire. Your brother’s death was not your fault, Peter. These hallucinations may very well be due to unresolved guilt. “
PETER- “These are NOT hallucinations, this is my brother, and now he is here, and he is communicating to Logan and Jonas!! I was just trying to protect them from him this morning. It was Joseph I was yelling at!!”
Peter was sobbing as he said this. Mark just sat there quietly for a moment, looking at Peter, knowing how this young man must have felt and all the guilt he was carrying for no reason.
MARK- “Our minds can cause us to feel and see and do strange things, Peter.”
Peter just shook his head in defiance.
MARK- “Okay... but why do you think your brother came here with you now, and why does he want to hurt the twins?”
