BIPOLAR

Chapter Five: The Past

     Sarah settled into the familiar couch in Dr. Lee's office, the soft cushions enveloping her weary body.

    "Sarah, how have you been coping with Juke's death?" Dr. Lee asked, her voice warm and gentle.

    Sarah's eyes drifted downward. "It's been tough. The kids are struggling, and I'm trying to hold everything together."

    Dr. Lee nodded sympathetically. "That's understandable. And how about your bipolar disorder? How have the episodes been treating you?"

    Sarah hesitated. "I cut myself when I was cutting Apple's. I couldn't feel any pain, so I continued until Jamin stopped me. I lost my meds but he found them and I took them."

    Dr. Lee scribbled notes on her pad. "Have you noticed any triggers?"

    Sarah thought back. "Stress, lack of sleep...and the investigation."
   
    "You still can't sleep huh?," Dr. Lee asked.

    "No. And sometimes if I do I'll only sleep for an hour or so."

    "Sarah, what do you see when you dream?", Dr. Lee asked.

    "What I see?", Sarah asked confused.

    "One thing that I've learnt about you is that your brain knows what's wrong with you but you refuse to ignore its signals. I think you saw something in a dream and you are afraid to face it. Tell me Sarah, what is it that you see?"

    "I have no idea what you are talking about", Sarah refused.

   "C'mon Sarah tell me."

   "Its Tamani and Juke", Sarah said.

   "Tamani? Oh that girl who died in that accident. You've never told me about her", Dr. Lee said as she began to write in her notebook.

    "It happened about six years ago. She was a sweet girl, she just turned nineteen and she was so happy she couldn't stop screaming", Sarah said.

    "Who was she to you?", Dr. Lee asked.

    "My friends daughter, we had been friends for so many years I think since high school."

    "What was her name?"

    " Grace. Grace King. She was a smart woman, very talented. We became detectives together we were the best of friends...until that day", Sarah said now becoming uneasy.

   "What happened?" Dr. Lee asked picking up another notebook.

   "I was taking uh Tamani for shopping and then when a entered a store I forgot my wallet in the car so I told her I'm going back to the car to get it and then.. I-I-I couldn't see her when I  got back. I searched and searched I even called her multiple times but I couldn't find her". Sarah started to become emotional.

   "Here take a tissue". Dr. Lee gave her a tissue. " What happened afterwards?"

   "I went down to the station and I reported the issue and I was given the case. Grace was disturbed so badly, she couldn't eat or sleep all she wanted was Tamani back. I made it my mission to find her. Luckily Tamani had a necklace that she wore everywhere, I gave it to her as a gift. It would send out it's last location and what it sent was where she was being kept." Sarah began to hyperventilate and cry.

   "Hey, Sarah are you okay?", Dr. Lee asked concerned.

   "Yeah yeah I'm fine", she said as she wiped her tears.

   "I-it was an abandoned building. It was a storehouse for a company that used to make phones. In the managers department was where she was being kept, sh-sh-she was in a bad condition even though she was there for a few days. So the officers and I  picked her up and just a-as we were about to leave I felt someone's murderous gaze so I picked up my gun and fired it be-be-behind me."

   "Take it easy Sarah I don't want you having another episode", Dr. Lee began to feel worried.

    Sarah began to cry.

    " The officers thought I-I was crazy but I could feel someone watching me with murderous intent. I told them to wait because I felt that she was about to get killed. Uh then I saw a man behind Tamani so I pushed her away and shot but I think I missed. I-I-I shot Tamani in her leg, she screamed and I tried to help her but she tripped and..", Sarah's head began to flood with memories of Tamani falling through the window.

   "She fell and died. That's why you keep seeing her and Juke in your dreams. You think you killed Juke, don't you?"

   Sarah's eyes became red because of all the tears she had let out.

   "Would you look at the time it's 8pm", Dr. Lee pointed out, "Sarah, you did not kill Juke, we will talk about this later. Go look after your kids I'll see you tomorrow."

   Sarah wiped her tears for the final time. " Oh yea you are right. Thanks."

  As Sarah picked up her phone from the front desk, she found many missed calls from her housekeeper. The housekeeper also sent her a message that sent a chill through her spine and filled her with fear and worry.

    Jamin is missing.