Linda
If this isn’t a good time I can try again later.
Linda
Good. Before we get started I just want to let you know that normally I see my patients in person.
Linda
Your mom told me that you won’t speak to anyone and you won’t leave your room. Is that correct?
Linda
And you will only talk through text messages.
Linda
I willing to begin our sessions like this but it’s my hope we can start meeting in person sometime soon.
Linda
Tell me how it began. Your panic attacks.
Taylor
I didn’t want to go. We used to go when I was a kid. Mom would take us.
Taylor
It was really hot. For September. Some of my friends wanted to skip fourth period and go.
Taylor
I shouldn’t have gone.
Linda
What happened at the pond?
Taylor
We were all swimming and having fun.
Taylor
I was on the beach.
Taylor
That’s when I saw her.
Linda
Can you describe what you saw?
Taylor
The back of her head. Her hair was braided into two pig tails.
Taylor
But she was all wrong.
Taylor
The rest of her was facing me. Her front.
Taylor
But her head was turned completely around.
Taylor
And it was like she was staring at me, even though her head was turned.
Linda
What was she wearing?
Taylor
It wasn’t a swimsuit. It was a blue hooded sweatshirt. I couldn’t see her pants.
Linda
Did anyone else see her?
Taylor
I started screaming, “there’s a girl in the water!”
Taylor
Everyone thought I was crazy.
Taylor
I think I have to lie down.
Linda
Ok. Maybe that’s enough for today.
Linda
We’ll speak again soon.
Linda
Taylor. I don’t think you’re crazy.
Linda
Hi Taylor. Are you there?
Linda
Did you leave your room today?
Linda
Have you left your room since we last spoke?
Linda
Why do you stay inside, Taylor?
Taylor
Because she’s out there.
Linda
The girl? The one with the pigtails?
Linda
Have you seen her in the last few days?
Taylor
No. She won’t come inside.
Linda
So where do you see her?
Linda
After you went swimming, how often did you see her?
Taylor
I didn’t see her again for a few days.
Taylor
I thought maybe it was just a one time thing.
Taylor
Then I started seeing her at school.
Taylor
She was peering in through the windows while I was in class.
Linda
By peering in, do you mean, you saw her face?
Taylor
No, only the back of her head.
Linda
Where else did you see her?
Taylor
At soccer practice. In the stands.
Taylor
If I drove home from school. She’d be crossing the street.
Taylor
If I went to the movies, she’d be waiting outside.
Linda
How often did you see her?
Taylor
At first, just once a day. Then everyday. Then every time I went out.
Linda
And she’s always wearing the same thing? The blue hooded sweatshirt?
Linda
I want to go back to the pond for a second. You said you used to go there with your Mom, but you stopped going.
Linda
Do you remember why you stopped?
Linda
Taylor. Did you know you had a sister?
Taylor
I did. I had a sister. I can’t remember her name, but
Taylor
She always wore… Pigtails.
Linda
Do you remember what happened at the pond?
Taylor
Kind of. It was fall.
Taylor
We weren’t supposed to go swimming.
Linda
Your Mom was talking with another mom.
Taylor
That’s right and we went in the water. In our clothes.
Linda
Taylor. What happened?
Taylor
We liked to dunk each other.
Linda
Did you dunk her? Your sister?
Taylor
Her jacket was too heavy. She didn’t come back up.
Linda
That’s right. She drowned.
Linda
It was an accident. You had blocked it out all these years. Going back to the pond must have triggered something.
Taylor
She’s gone. She left. But she made a shushing motion. With her finger.
Linda
The important things is she’s gone.
Taylor
I don’t think she’s gone-gone.
Taylor
She was the one who liked the dunking game so much.
Taylor
She would hold me under the water until I couldn’t breathe.
Taylor
Do you have a pool?
Taylor
Do you have any kids?
Linda
I don’t think that’s any of your business.
Taylor
Check on your kids, Mrs. Jordan.
Linda
Taylor, this isn’t funny. I can’t find Melanie.
Linda
Oh, my God. She’s in there! I can see from upstairs.
Linda
How did you do this?
Taylor
Is she okay? Your daughter?
Linda
Yes. Terrified. But ok. She said someone was trying to drown her.
Linda
That’s impossible, Taylor.
Linda
Wait. There’s something by the pool.
Linda
It’s a blue hooded sweatshirt…
Taylor
And I don’t think she likes us meeting.
Linda
We don’t have to meet anymore.
Taylor
It’s hard to tell.
Taylor
But I think she’s smiling.
