did the world stop spinnin'?

stay with me

Benny had already returned to the room, Görel and Heléne were with him talking and making him feel better, that day he had cried twice for not being able to remember anything, he felt very emotionally fragile and dependent on Frida but because she felt so alien to him, he could not help crying.

Frida, for her part, had gone to the doctor to talk to him about the situation they were going through, she needed the advice of a professional to know how to handle the situation in the right way, because she did not have the slightest idea and did not want to make a mistake. Mona, Ludvig and Peter accompanied her, at least to listen to what the doctor had to say and to come to a decision together.

At least the clinic gave a feeling of calm. The afternoon sun penetrated through the office blinds, Frida and Mona were sitting in front of the doctor, who was reviewing a folder with the medical history of his patient Benny, while Peter and Ludvig were standing behind them. "I don't know what to do," Frida said in a broken voice and cleared her throat. "The fact that Benny believes that I am still his wife, that we are still married, and that he does not recognize his wife Mona has me very puzzled. It is as if we are stuck in 1979 and I do not think I have the strength to face this situation," she confessed. "What should I do?"

The doctor, who was a man in his fifties with thin-framed glasses and a serene expression, stopped reading and looks at Frida with understanding. "I understand how difficult this is for you, Mrs. Reuss. Retrograde amnesia can be extremely disconcerting for both the sufferer and their loved ones. In Mr. Andersson's case, the fact that his memory has stopped in 1979 is a reflection of the brain trauma he suffered. His mind is, in a way, seeking stability in what was a safe place for him."

"So, what should I do?" Frida whispered. "Should I play along? I don't want to lie to him, but I also don't want to cause him more confusion or make him feel helpless because I am the only reality he knows right now," she said.

"For now, yes, it's the best..." the doctor replied. "Unless, in these cases, we doctors recommend not forcing the patient to face a reality that his mind cannot process at this moment. If you play along and maintain his version of the facts, it would help him reduce the anxiety and stress that could be generated by discovering a present that is unknown and terrifying for him."

"What about me, doctor?" Mona asked after having remained silent for that whole time, "I am also his wife and I cannot separate myself from him."

"Of course, it is important that you receive emotional support. But I think that for now you should understand the situation."

"When Benny has to return home, how do we explain to him that he will go with Mona and not with Frida?" Peter intervened, trying to be logical.

"We will tell him that it will be like this for a few days to help him recover, then with the therapies he will understand why and face reality. But we must observe how he reacts that first night at home with Mona," the doctor gave his opinion. "I want to make it clear to you, as his close relatives, that in these cases the patients can have violent episodes and denial, due to the same confusion in their memories."

They heard Frida take a deep breath, who had been looking at a fixed point in the room. "I never thought I would be in this situation again," she confessed.

"I want you to know that none of you are not alone in this, neither are you Mrs. Reuss." The doctor assured them. "Once Benny is more stable, we will begin rehabilitation therapies. I have already given Peter the information from the psychiatrist who will be handling his case here at the clinic, and although it will be a long road, but with time, it is possible that he will recover part of his recent memories."

"I promise to do whatever is necessary to help him, so that he can soon recognize his family as his own," Frida looked at Mona, trying to reassure her.

"It is the best we can do now, for him, for you, and for the others. Let us remain calm and patient, because he now needs a lot of support. Everything will gradually become clearer."