Page 12 of Dual

Nothing happens. Then... her fingers twitch again, more pronounced this time.

"What do you notice?" Dr. Ezra asks.

Anna swallows hard. "It feels... different. Like... more."

"More?"

"Like the buzzing isn't just mine." Her voice cracks on the last word.

My heart aches. I want to pull her into my arms, to shield her from this. From everything. But I stay still. This is her fight, and my role is to stand guard at her side.

"That's very brave, Anna," Dr. Ezra says.

Anna shakes her head slightly. "I'm not brave," she whispers.

"Yes, you are," I say, calm but sure. I'm not sure if this is some sort of hypnosis, but if I can land any truths that have a hope of sticking, I want to affirm all the things I know my Anna is. "You're brave and so, so strong."

"Now focus on observing a memory together," Dr. Ezra says, voice steady as always. "You'll just be observing it, notreliving it. The goal is to notice, not to judge or change anything."

Anna gives a stiff nod, her jaw tight. I feel her heartbeat in the space between us, even if I can't touch her.

"Is that okay for both of you?" Dr. Ezra asks gently, and I know he's not referring to me. Wow. Has he managed to actually get both Anna and Mads here at the same time? If so, it's a breakthrough. I know Mads has been stubborn about coming out during these sessions when Dr. Ezra tries to coax her forth. Was Anna right? Is it me being here that's the difference?

She hesitates, then murmurs, "Yes."

"Good. Domhnall, your role continues to be the same—be here, be supportive, and remember, there's no need to fix anything."

I nod, my chest heavy with all the things I want to fix but can't.

Dr. Ezra shifts his gaze back to Anna. "Keep your eyes closed if it feels safe. Take a deep breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth."

Anna's eyes flutter but stay shut. Her breath is shallow at first, then it gradually deepens.

"Now," Dr. Ezra continues softly, "I want you to bring to mind a memory. Something neutral or mildly emotional. A safe memory. Domhnall, is there one you'd like to suggest?"

My throat feels tight, but I manage to say, "Maybe one of our picnics by the Dublin River. When we were teenagers."

Anna's brow furrows slightly, but she doesn't open her eyes.

"Perfect," Dr. Ezra says. "Anna, Mads, I want you both to observe this memory. No need to fully step into it, just watch it like a scene in a film. Notice what you see, what you feel. Take your time."

The room falls into a thick, almost sacred silence. I watch Anna's face, the tiny shifts—a twitch of her lip, the crease between her brows deepening.

"What do you notice?" Dr. Ezra asks after a long moment.

Anna speaks first—at least I think it's Anna—and her voice is flat, clinical. "The grass was damp. Not ideal for a picnic. Domhn brought a blanket, but it wasn't thick enough to keep the moisture from seeping through."

I feel a small smile tug at the corner of my mouth. Trust Anna to remember the technical details.

"What else?" Dr. Ezra prompts gently.

"The sandwiches were poorly made. The bread was a little stale. And he forgot the mustard," she adds, matter-of-factly.

I huff a soft laugh. "Guilty."

Dr. Ezra smiles but keeps his focus. "Thank you, Anna. Now, can Mads share what she notices?"

There's a pause and a shift in Anna's posture. Then her voice changes slightly. It becomes warmer, breathier, with a note of wildness beneath it.