Chapter 6 - THE NIGHTMARES
Lily had been seeing therapist Dr. Naomi Hart for eight months.
After Claire’s death, nightmares were expected.
Then they changed.
Originally:
car crashes.
Mommy disappearing.
rain.
Later:
dark rooms.
being trapped.
being unable to call Daddy.
Naomi asked when that started.
Three months ago.
Ryan froze.
That was before he discovered the freezer punishment.
Naomi’s notes said:
Child reports Grandma uses “quiet place” when child is “too wild.”
Naomi had asked what quiet place meant.
Lily said:
“Garage.”
Naomi assumed:
a chair,
a corner,
a supervised calm-down space.
Why not ask more?
Because Lily changed subject.
No obvious safety disclosure.
Then one note:
Lily states, “Grandma says Daddy gets mad if I tell.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
Naomi looked sick.
“I should have followed that.”
Maya said:
“You documented it. Now we understand it.”
Then another note.
Lily’s anxiety was strongest after Evelyn’s care periods.
Not Ryan’s.
May you like
The symptoms Evelyn used to argue Ryan’s home was unsafe may have been caused partly by Evelyn herself.
That changed everything.
