Page 41

Story: Sins of a Husband

Chapter Forty

DR. BURTON

The door slams shut. I let out a sigh of relief and walk over to my computer. My fingers automatically type 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' into the search bar, a term I've heard of but never encountered in my practice as a therapist. The cursor blinks impatiently as I scroll through patient cases and medical articles, trying to understand what just happened in my office.

Dahlia calls herself Katherine’s sister, but she’s not. She emerged from the depths of Katherine’s subconscious, taking over to protect Katherine from the devastating trauma her mother inflicted on her.

Dahlia is braver, stronger, and more resilient than Katherine could ever be. It was uncanny how different her voice was from Katherine’s. Every word and movement seemed calculated and precise. She radiated a confidence I had never seen before. It was eerie how different they were, leaving no doubt in my mind that the woman who spoke to me was not Katherine.

I need to do some more research before Katherine calls to schedule an appointment, so I press the intercom button on my desk phone.

“Cancel the rest of my appointments for the day. But if Katherine Tate calls, put her through.”