Free Retribution (Sebastian Trilogy Book 3) by Janey Rosen Page A

need one of those in order to help those whose minds are poorly. ”
    Like mine? He encourages me to continue.
    “What Scarlett said…she told me she’d been seeing Alan. My husband. She said she’d slept with him. ” I try to recall my conversation with Scarlett with clarity but my head is foggy, my thoughts blur until I’m less sure what is factual and what I think she implied. I decide to tell Doctor Fairfax everything in the hope that he can piece together the real from the imagined and conclude that Scarlett did, indeed, murder my family and is trying to kill me too. He listens intently, making notes as I talk. When I have finished, I take a deep breath and hold it as I await his confirmation that Scarlett is a murderer and I’m not insane. He looks up from his notebook and frowns. I exhale dejectedly.
    “Elizabeth, ” he says gently. “Ordinarily, I would have asked you to start at the beginning and explore your childhood. However, as you were eager to tell me about Scarlett, I felt it best to let you continue.”
    “My childhood has nothing to do with this, ” I protest vehemently. “I had a happy childhood, got good grades at school, got married, and had kids. Insignificant compared to murder, I should think.”
    “Indeed, ” he acquiesces. “I’ve taken on board your concerns regarding Scarlett. I’m not decrying them as inconsequential or unfounded. What I’d like to do now, though, is to focus on grief, if I may, so that you understand how bereavement can acutely affect your wellbeing…and your reasoning. Losing a child suddenly…is possibly one of the most painful losses that one could experience, Elizabeth.”
    “No shit, Sherlock, ” I murmur.
    “Yes, truly. I believe that what you are experiencing is what we term grief-related major depression with psychosis. ” He stops and observes my reaction, which is one of faked disinterest as I play with a lock of my hair. “It’s relatively rare, but it would explain your hallucinations, misplaced anger toward others, tiredness and paranoia—all of which Sebastian tells me you have been experiencing. ” I want to protest but decide to allow him to continue. The clock on the mantelpiece indicates half his time is up; this will soon be over.
    “Bereavement such as yours is a major stress, Elizabeth. Studies link such bereavement to major depression. If I can explain…there are cognitive and behavioural adjustments, which the body automatically makes after such a profound loss so that one can reach a comfortable place where happy memories can sit alongside the feelings of loss. In your case, I don’t believe these adjustments have been made. Do you understand so far?”
    “No, but carry on. ” I sigh.
    “Okay, I’ll try to explain. In grief alone, the intensely sad feelings begin to give way to more positive emotions. The sad feelings are still there, but they become less frequent. With major depression and grief together, there can be more debilitating symptoms such as impaired psychological functioning. ” He takes in my blank expression with a frown. “Unless treated, it can lead to hallucinations, belief that your deceased loved one is around you, anxiety…I suspect you have developed delusional thoughts and paranoia because of the trauma that you suffered with Alan and Joe’s sudden passing. Do you recognise any of what I have just told you, in your own behaviours of late?”
    “Joe came to see me. ” My whispered words are written down. “He came to wish me a happy birthday. Are you saying that my son’s sweet words to me were my imagination?”
    “What do you think, Elizabeth?”
    “I don’t know what to think anymore. ” My eyes meet his and implore him to help me.
    “Shall I tell you what I think? ” he asks quietly. “I think you would benefit from a course of bereavement counselling. In addition, I would like you to prescribe some medication that will help you in the short term. ” He retrieves a prescription