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forever. The only sound was that dog downstairs. I started to mentally tune in to the barking and go into a kind of trance. It took me by surprise when Dr. West actually spoke.
“We’ve been here before, Alicia, haven’t we?”
I looked at him blankly. I wasn’t sure what he meant. “Have we?”
He nodded. “Yes. We have.”
“I know you think I’m imagining this. I’m not imagining it. It’s real.”
“That’s what you said last time. Remember last time? Do you remember what happened?”
I didn’t reply. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. I just sat there, glaring at him, like a disobedient child.
Dr. West didn’t wait for an answer. He kept talking, reminding me what happened after my father died, about the breakdown I suffered, the paranoid accusations that I made—the belief I was being watched, being followed, and spied upon. “So, you see, we’ve been here before, haven’t we?”
“But that was different. It was just a feeling. I never actually saw someone. This time I saw someone.”
“And who did you see?”
“I already told you. A man.”
“Describe him to me.”
I hesitated. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I couldn’t see him clearly. I told you—he was too far away.”
“I see.”
“And—he was in disguise. He was wearing a cap. And sunglasses.”
“A lot of people are wearing sunglasses in this weather. And hats. Are they all in disguise?”
I was starting to lose my temper. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“And what is that?”
“You’re trying to get me to admit I’m going crazy again—like after Dad died.”
“Is that what you think is happening?”
“No. That time I was sick. This time I’m not sick. Nothing’s the matter with me—apart from the fact that someone is spying on me and you won’t believe me!”
Dr. West nodded, but didn’t say anything. He wrote a couple of things down in his notebook.
“I’m going to put you back on medication. As a precaution. We don’t want to let this get out hand, do we?”