Chapter 29
SALEM PLACE
It is now a week or two after the previous chapter. J.J. and Rhiannon were sat at a table, drinking coffees that they had bought at the Java Cafe.
RHIANNON: You know, I'm really glad that Dad decided to come back here after everything finished up in Switzerland.
J.J.: I'm glad of it, too. How are you holding up?
RHIANNON: I'm okay. I'm finally starting to get better since the funeral's over.
J.J.: Yeah. My mom was out there. She said it was nice.
RHIANNON: it was. So, how have things been here in the two weeks I was gone?
J.J.: Same as always. Me and Joey still hang out all the time. Nothing's really happened lately, as far as I know.
Rhiannon finished her drink, as did J.J. Although she was starting to be happier, J.J. could tell that Rhiannon was still upset.
J.J.: Wanna go for a walk?
Rhiannon nodded.
RHIANNON: Sure.
J.J. and Rhiannon got up and started walking away. As they walked, J.J. put his arm around Rhiannon and she laid her head on his shoulder.
SALEM WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Marlena and Sami were having a chat.
SAMI: So, how is she?
MARLENA: Better, I think. She's showing signs of improvement. I don't think she's had a single blackout since the treatment began.
SAMI: That's good.
MARLENA: There's just one thing the puzzles me.
SAMI: What's that?
MARLENA: It's when you wonder about something that you can't make sense of, but that's not important right now. What is important, is what I'm puzzled about.
SAMI: What are you puzzled about?
MARLENA: Why you're in jail.
SAMI: You know, don't you?
MARLENA: Yes. Stryker told me.
SAMI: Sydney hadn't been herself over the last few weeks. Knowing her father, I naturally thought that he was doing something to manipulate her. Some form of mind control. So, when she went out one night, I followed her. She went down to the Pier and met E.J. I could tell that she wasn't entirely herself. Her voice was different. It was deeper and had an almost southern touch to it. And, she referred to herself in the third person. And, I watched it happen. But, I couldn't let her go to jail. I may not be mother of the year, but I do love my children more than they will ever know. So, I confessed to killing E.J. Sydney was only ten years old at the time, and she wasn't even herself. If she has Multiple Personality Disorder now, then she must have had it back then. It can't have been a recent thing.
MARLENA: No, it's not recent at all. I think she's had it almost her whole life. However, a few months ago, she experienced her first time of the month. It's often been thought that, when a child has DID, it becomes most noticeable when they go through puberty. But, please continue.
SAMI: That's really about it. I wouldn't allow my ten year old daughter to go to jail. So, I confessed. I don't think Sydney even knew that she had done it. You haven't told her, have you? I don't think she should know. At least, not yet.
MARLENA: No, I haven't told her. And, I agree, now is not the time to tell her. One day, when we think she's ready, if we think she's ready, we'll tell her. But, now is not that time.
SAMI: Well, at least we agree on something.
MARLENA: I think that she'd like to see you. She needs her mother.
SAMI: I'd like that, too.
MARLENA: Good. I'll bring her by tomorrow.
